Who should I be networking with exactly?

I am a first year at a target LAC, think Williams/Amherst. I am interested in some kind of finance mainly focused on investments. The end goal would be to work at an HF; however, I have been thinking recently and I wouldn't mind working at a Mutual Fund either because the work-life balance is so much better. However, I don't want to give up on the HF dream, and I know HF requires two years of IB.

My question is who should I be reaching out to right now? Should I be reaching out to IB, HF, MF, or anyone with a finance job? I am also looking for some work this summer and I know that IB is impossible, so I'm even more confused about who I should be talking to.

I would love some advice from people who have gone through this already.

4 Comments
 

You should be reaching to people that you want to be friends with. The goal isn't to network, the goal is to make friends and you add to their life and they add to yours. After that, you let the rule of "people like to do business with their friends" work for you and let the opportunities come in due time.

 

I'm still new to networking so sorry if this is a stupid question.

Should I be asking about the HF industry when I have an informational interview with the person? I don't want to be seen as the stupid freshman that thinks he is going to get a HF offer out of college because we both know that is not happening. But if I don't talk about his job, what am I supposed to ask about?

 

SIGH

Who said anything about networking??? Not me. I said, "go and make friends".

Go and read "The little black book of sales" by Gitomer and you will understand everything.

 

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