Actual Skill involved?

Not being a dick but it seems like what you really lack is ability to think independently. If you just watch the clip I sent you, you will see that there is such thing as stupid questions. In order to avoid appearing stupid, which is probably the worst thing that you can do even at junior level, here are things that you can do:

• Fucking google anything that you want to know in the first place.

• Read up whatever you want to know before you ask anything.

• After that, ask a direct and thoughtful question which is relevant to the right audience. Don't ask questions to people who don't have the answer to or who would rather not answer that. I see a lot of people do that and it is a major turn off. Here are a few examples:

1) Do not go and ask a MD how to run an excel macro. Ask him big picture items like how does Fintech will change the investment banking industry. If he were a well known MD who already made his position on this topic very clear on every media platform, don't ask that same fucking question. Is like asking Jamie Dimon CEO of JP Morgan what he thinks about Bitcoin. As a bank who worries about fintech taking over the banking business, his position is already very firm that he does not support cryptocurrency but the blockchain technology behind it.

2) Do not go and ask a IBD VP whether he hates his job or whether he is thinking of moving to PE. Damn right he is thinking about that. The fact that he is still stuck there meaning that he cannot move for now. Instead ask him about how each sector and product groups that he is covering is doing and what do he thinks about the market.

3) For analyst, don't go and ask him about corporate culture or big picture items. He probably doesn't care that much. He spent most of his time doing decks. But he will be a good person to tell you when the recruiting season will start and how to expedite that process. Or how to prepare for the interview.

• Think the effect of asking a question. Are you trying to figure out something by doing so? So after that questions, how should you follow up? What is the end goal of this conversation. In your case, 100% of the time is how to move up to the next step. What is the next step you say? To get hired at an investment bank. And if anyone that you talked to have you thought of what is he thinking inside?

1) Is this guy an idiot? 2) If I vouch for this guy is everyone at the office going to think that I am stupid? 3) Is he going to present himself well if I present him to my managers? 4) Is he a clown who can't do technical work that I have to go fucking teach him everything? 5) Does he maintain professional composure that I don't need to worry about him exploding or doing stupid shit in front of the clients? 6) Is he going to look professional? I mean like coming to office with oversize suit? 7) Is he relationship savvy like good with dealing with people? Or is he going to say the most politically incorrect thing in the meeting? 8) Is he going to be such a fucking tool that all he is going to do is pester me with work and I cannot even relate to this guy outside work? 9) Is this guy even reliable? If I dump work on his table 5pm today, can I expect him to get his shit done when I get to my office 9am the next morning?

So if any of these concerns come up and you are just messing up left right and center then you are basically over. And before you ask your question on this forum, have you thought any of these things?