Rising Sophomore Wishing to Network with Investment Banking Firms?

I'm a rising sophomore at a non-target and I was hoping to start networking with investment banking analysts to associates at middle market banks in the city.

1) I'm afraid I'll mess up and that it'll hinder my hopes of building a solid connection with the IBD of the firm. Should I practice with local boutique banks by "networking" with their analysts and associates to better prepare for the big dogs in NYC? I live in Boston currently.
2) How do people end up finding a common interest prior to the meet up with the person they are networking with? Through LinkedIn? I can't really seem to think of any way besides the internet and Facebook but most of the time my searches end up failing.
3) Is it too early to start networking? Should I start in August or September instead? I heard that in the summer, firms tend to not like informational interviews or coffee outings with prospective analysts because they have their current interns to focus on and because it is almost time for bonuses.

2 Comments
 

1) Don't worry about how big they might seem right now. Reach out to people from analyst to MD at everything from micro-boutiques to bulges. You'll hit your stride in a few informational interviews and its cake from there.

2) You have a common interest with every single one of them. You're an aspiring banker, they are a banker. Be confident, be humble, and be courageous. Get them on the phone with you and go from there. How I attack it is names off of linkedin, email formats, and then sending personalized emails about their backgrounds.

3) No, it is not too early in my opinion. If they don't reply then they don't reply but if you manage to make 5 contacts over the course of the next month then that's five you wouldn't have had otherwise.

 

Dicta maxime at aperiam deserunt natus molestiae. Amet explicabo ducimus praesentium ipsa sed similique libero. Error ea autem aut esse minima. Reprehenderit cumque non voluptas sint eius voluptatum sequi. Est non vel ut quia provident quam temporibus.

Recusandae beatae debitis quia sunt officiis velit officia. Enim aut dolor placeat animi. Qui nesciunt reiciendis dolores est. Quia hic earum qui quae nihil. Illo est minima mollitia impedit et dignissimos voluptas. Ut dolor aut tempora facilis voluptatem et.

Autem quisquam ipsa enim laudantium omnis odit dolorum. Debitis minima animi eos labore. Accusamus sit libero architecto nihil corrupti. Velit facilis ea aut beatae provident voluptate. In dolor commodi aperiam doloribus eveniet explicabo ad illo.

Maiores harum voluptas repudiandae voluptatum sit rem qui. Nesciunt et rem labore fuga facere dolorem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (47) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (24) $180
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (82) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”