Help a Student Out

Dear execs, associates, analysts, students and everyone else, 

I am genuinely asking for your advice on recruiting for basically any BB/boutique/ MM finance internship role (IB, Asset Management, HF, PE, etc.) and really would appreciate any feedback. So, here it goes:

Stats: 

• I'm currently a Sophomore at a large uni (known but non-target) and have a strongish GPA in finance & econ
• I have a few international internships already dating 2-3 years back ranging from unknown to notable places but keep in mind in a completely different country (not an international student tho)
• I have decent extracurriculars not finance society or alike but think more student-managed funds and did few courses (so overall my resume is quite strong)
• Summer 2025 doing an internship at a prominent Fed Reserve

Questions/Challenges: 

• How does Networking even work? I really struggle with networking and have basically done 0 networking. I can have great 1-on-1 convos but not reach to people. I also just dont understand it. Like I message someone on linkedin pref alumnni, they get back to me, we speak for 15-30min about their day to day etc and then what?? Do I hint at a referral, email them before or after I apply to a job? How many people should I even speak to for a specific position I'm applying for? How do I stay connected not be 1 of many random people they wasted their time on? When is even a good time to message them in the day (morning, afternoon, evening, does it even matter?
• How important are technicals? What do I need to know, how much and what if I don't. My school doesn't even teach dcf/lbo until much later. Do I just grind on it and learn it all? If so what resources do people use?
• Online Assessments/Hirevue, do they matter? How much weight do these online assessments have like pyremtrics, suited etc? They are lowkey designed to fail and don't let you retake for months. Also hirevue (I literally freeze up in these videos even if I know what to say I sound sooo nervouse and scared).
• Recruiters! How do I navigate them or dont? Fo I contact some recruiters I met at events and ask for chats? No/Yes? If I do what do I even speak about?
• LinkedIn Game: Have 500+ connections mostly students from my uni but have connected with a fair few industry people but too afraid to reach out. But do I post every corporate event I go to (think like discovery summits) or just like pitch competitions and such?

I have a gazilliion more questions but this post is already quite long, so would appreciate any advice on the above specially on networking and technicals.

Sincerely, a very grateful student.