Need Advice on Networking for Lateral Roles

Hey everyone,

I recently started networking to explore lateral roles in investment banking. I had a call with a Senior Director that lasted about 20 minutes. He had a meeting, so we had to cut it short, but overall, I think it went okay—no major red flags, at least.

However, towards the end of the call, he didn’t offer any specific help or guidance, just mentioned something along the lines of "hope you find a role you like." I’m a bit lost on what to do next. From what I’ve read in guides and forums, it seems like if someone wants to help, they’ll make it clear. In this case, that didn’t happen, and I’m unsure how to follow up or what the next steps should be.

I’m new to networking, especially for lateral roles, and not currently in an IB position, so I’m trying to figure out what’s acceptable and how to navigate this process effectively. I know it’s a bit of a networking game, and making a good impression is crucial, but it’s hard to gauge how well I did. He seemed interested and engaged, so I don’t think he disliked me, but I also don’t want to assume he was super impressed either. Does anyone else struggle with this? 

Any advice on how to approach follow-ups or what the acceptable norms are would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!