Why do I-bankers avoid saying no / I don't know?

Noticed that while cold emailing if I ask a question that an i bankers does not have an answer to, he/she will simply not respond. Then I reply asking a new question and the banker provides the response to that question. The banker never says "I don't know", Similarly sometimes I ask if said banker can get me in touch with another banker. The banker again doesn't respond, and when I ask something else the banker responds. Again the banker doesn't say "no". Even in networking calls bankers clearly try to avoid saying "no" or "I don't know" and if they have to it is done very hurriedly and they immediately change the topic.

Why is this??????

6 Comments
 

I thought you were supposed to ask intelligent questions about industry/firm ??

 
Most Helpful

No dog, you are trying to get develop a relationship with whomever you are networking with. Some of the best advice I have gotten was you should talk very little finance related material with whoever is on the other end of the phone. Try to get to know them and act like someone they'd want to get a beer with.

 

I think it depends on the person. Some people really enjoy talking about what they do and want to keep it finance related. And anyways as of recent if we go off topic it revolves around Covid so I don't want to remain on such a negative topic.

 

Probably because they are used to doing that at work, if your MD asks you something that you should know, you might try to change the topic somehow or give an off topic/tangentially related answer of something that you DO know, because answering with the words "I dont know" just makes everyone that heard it think you arent paying attention or you're stupid or something

 

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