Should I ask for a job?
Hey WSO,
I recently finished my freshman year in a target Canadian commerce undergrad program. I had no idea what I was getting myself into entering the school as I had never heard of IB and the sort until I made new friends whose parents work in capital markets. (Mine are farmers)
Unfortunately I realized way too late how useless online applications are for getting started in any Canadian or US banks, and how important connections are for getting any summer analyst (clout) positions.
Side Note: I got my summer finance internship by walking into a manufacturing company's office in my neighborhood with my resume in hand and asking for a job lol.
I have been trying to build my network and started reaching out to people I've met who are high-ups in major Canadian banks or who have worked in US BB firms.
I have never done a real coffee chat or informational interview before and want to know how direct I should be when talking with these people. I obviously want to hear what they did to get started in finance, but how aggressive should I be with them? Should I be honest and just ask for their help getting a job? Should I build the relationships before asking? How is the best way to ask for help?
I really don't want to offend these people or come off too strong and I would appreciate any advice!
Thanks in advance
Don't ask off the bat. Nobody wants to pull for someone they do not know, don't like, or seem like they're just using them for career progression.
Ask interesting questions that you are actually wondering about them, the firm, and about banking in general that can't just be googled.
Don't be one of those kids that asks cookie cutter questions that are used a hundred times over on a daily basis to fill dialogue. Those kids are dweebs.
Thanks for the advice,
Looks like a have a bit more research ahead of me. I really don't know many of them too well and the last thing I want is to bore them OR have them think I'm a dweeb
Network with a few lower level people over the phone. Get the hang of things. Have a few generic questions prepared, but try to keep the topics more personal. Some people are naturally good at these things and some people naturally bad. I was bad, so the first few phone calls didn't go well, but they got progressively better. Don't directly ask for a job at the end of your first call. Make connections, keep in touch, and when applications open up, reach out and then ask for their help in the recruiting process.
Thanks for your insight,
Hopefully I'll become a quick learner after some phone calls.
Should I be talking to the lower level people to get a better understanding of each firm? And then try to build my way to the higher ups?
That's what I would recommend. It gives you a bit more practice and you can find out some interesting facts about the firm. Then when it comes time to networking with VPs (who can get you interviews) you have a bit more to talk about and can say you spoke with x number of analysts.
Thanks for your insight,
Hopefully I'll become a quick learner after some phone calls.
Should I be talking to the lower level people to get a better understanding of each firm? And then try to build my way to the higher ups?
Lower level (analyst/associate) does not mean they are less important or less helpful.
Not only are they more relatable and receptive, but they also have more pertinent recent experience for you to absorb (an analyst's perspective on work and the firm will be different from an MD's). They are often the ones that compose the majority of recruiting teams, and are most excited to get the students they like into future analyst roles.
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