best time for networking
hi guys I am going to be a freshman this fall and I was wondering when is the best time that I should start networking with alumni and upperclassmen. thanks in advance
If you're not networking before you set foot on campus, you're already behind. Start networking now!
Apparently some people can't take a joke
I would go to info sessions on campus, but wait to do networking calls with bankers until you are closer to your recruiting process. It's hard to maintain a strong connection over 2 years, and a lot of people that you talk to may not even be at the firm anymore. Definitely doesn't hurt to make a few connections that you feel can be very strong. But, don't go HAM in networking until sophomore year.
It's a good idea to talk to upperclassmen as soon as possible.
Echoing the above, most important thing is to get to know the upperclassmen (particularly seniors). Best way is to usually get involved with the finance clubs and reach out to the e-board/advisors in the spring once you have a better idea of what you want to do. At least at my school, analysts have a lot of say in the recruiting process so if they get to know you early on as a freshman, it will be very helpful since they will be a first/second year analyst when you recruit.
Also, as a quick aside and in response to a previous comment, some of my strongest connections and those that have helped the most have been alumni who had already left the banks I was recruiting for. Think about it - if they left a year or two ago, the analysts still at the bank likely were helped by them so a recommendation carries a lot of weight. Just a quick tip and something I think a lot of people don't consider.
Oh, and try to enjoy your freshman year. Get good grades, start to think about what internships you want, etc. but have fun and don't go too 'hardo' early on...
thanks for the advice, do you think it would be a good idea to start contacting seniors through LinkedIn now or should I wait until I am actually in college. I don’t want to seem like a pushover.
I would definitely not recommend reaching out to anybody before you get to campus. Enjoy your summer and try to go to some clubs, take some classes, etc. in the fall before reaching out to people for coffee chats.
I was also referring to seniors when you are on campus as a freshman (so the people who are finishing finals as a junior right now). I would wait to reach out to the current seniors (graduating class) until after you at least finish most of your freshman year.
Pls request them all now lmao it would be funny if they ignored you on campus.
Networking with upperclassmen is a great idea from the start. Join any IB clubs or finance clubs or whatever the groups are that seniors with IB offers are in. Seniors will be the most helpful as they will be full time analyst your sophomore year when SA interviews start. Juniors can also be really helpful because they'll have done the SA internship and can potentially give you contacts at the bank they interned at. If recruiting is late they may also be in the first few months of their FT when you're recruiting for your internship. So definitely make use of the upperclassmen if you can.
In terms of reaching out to alumni in the field, theres some pros and cons about doing it early. I'm at a nontarget and networking is the only thing that got me into the field, but I made a lot of mistakes and wish I did things differently. Ideally you'd spend your Fall actually learning what IB is beyond just a good career to start out in and a way to make a lot of money. Actually understand what the job is at a high level and some specifics as well. You can start networking in the Spring with alumni. If you're confident you can go straight for people at BBs/EBs/MMs, but I'd probably practice a bit with people at local boutiques. You'll probably make some mistakes in the beginning and better to make it with them than a large bank. Best case, you may get a freshman internship out of it. Once you feel like you know a bit more about the field and you're confident in being able to speak to people, start reaching out to alumni at large banks.
My mistake was not being able to maintain the relationships for a long period of time. Recruiting was pushed back from when I thought it would start my year and so a lot of relationships I developed dissolved because our communication waned. If I had to do it over again, I'd probably reach out earlier, around the beginning of my sophomore year. Have initial conversations, and keep them updated as new things happen. Maybe you had a really good call with someone at a BB, and then a few months later you got a sophomore internship, I'd send them an update about that to keep the conversation going. And then maybe as you're networking with more people such as someone at an EB, you can reach out again to your BB contact and ask what they think of recruiting at a BB vs an EB. This can prolong the relationship over a year rather than a few months and is much more natural than reaching out once and then when recruiting happens asking for a referral.
thanks for the advice, would you also recommend not contacting anyone until I get to campus?
I am also going to a non target.
Yeah I would definitely wait. You want to go for natural relationships, find a mentor, ask for advice, not reach out this early and look like a hardo
Holy shit this kid must be at a nontarget. The tryhards don't leave room for anyone with a life anymore.
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