Can you network TOO much?
As the title says. Currently I have landed an interview at a BB through one contact, while at other BB's I have yet to go through the FT recruiting process yet (they haven't started yet or are waiting to hear back from SA's). Should I continue to network at every BB although I've already received an interview and haven't?
Assuming I'm on the recruiters' "radar", would it come off as "excessive" if I continue to schedule cold calls with contacts at the firm?
Thanks
Can you make TOO much money?
Same answer applies.
Bad analogy. You can absolutely network TOO much and become that guy. As an example, we once had a kid apply for an analyst role through every single member of our firm via email, LinkedIn, cold calls, and friends of friends. He also contacted multiple recruiters from the same agency who were working on the mandate. The guy became a running joke even years later. Most firms have an HR department and/or use recruiters to avoid these types of situations.
OP, let the recruiter do his job and if you really feel the need make sure to only contact 1 or 2 people from the same shop. None of this is to say that you should not be taking advantage of people in your network (friends, family, colleagues, alumni, etc.) but you don't' want to become another Rob Van Winkle.
I've heard the same thing from BB contacts, they haven't started yet, waiting on interns (well the contacts at certain banks, haven't talked to every BB).
I thought most places tried to finish FT recruiting by the end of October? But as someone looking for a FT position, I won't complain it guess.
Are you asking if you should stop trying at other firms? Unless like @junkbondswap said above and you'll be viewed as a stalker because you've gone overboard you should try to land at other places because you have an interview and not a job.
And Vanilla Ice was applying at your firm? Awesome.
Too much networking? - Should you cold email everyone? (Originally Posted: 03/10/2012)
I have been cold-emailing several analysts and associates at a few MM and boutique IBs. All have given me an informational interview. Would you cold e-mail the rest of the junior bankers until you have e-mailed everyone or would you stop? Most of these places have ten to 15 junior bankers.
Everyone at a given firm? I'd take a long-term perspective and email just a couple at one firm. Then I'd stay in touch with them and after two months I'd ask them if they'd be willing to introduce me to more of their peers.
If you email everyone you'll probably just become a running joke around the office.
Such a thing as too much networking? - Have been aggressively networking (Originally Posted: 07/30/2012)
hey all
so i have been aggressively networking throughout ibanks (BB and MM alike) since last spring, in an effort to get my name out there for SA recruitment.
one bank for example, i have sat down with 5 different analysts within the same group. they literally all sit near each other. is this overkill? im usually cautious of my body language (relaxed, laid-back) and make sure to talk about non-business things to show im a chill dude, but i can still imagine the analysts would get annoyed of the same kid going around and sucking up to everyone.
i guess this is directed to the analysts out there who are involved in recruitment. am i going overboard? i actually really enjoy networking and the conversations usually go well (i think), but im wondering if there can be too much of a good thing.
thanks
Just keep doing what you're doing, there's no such thing as too much networking unless you're a pest. Your situation could be perceived as interest in the group. Just keep networking, and ask for referrals.
I agree that you should network as much as possible but do not become an annoyance. I had this one kid who would call or email me once a week to discuss headlines he read in the journal pertaining to our portfolio companies.
There is no such thing as overexpanding your network, but there is such a thing as overusing one contact within that network. Don't become a hindrance to them. Only call/see someone if you have some real questions lined up, and let them control the flow of the conversation. Ultimately, especially with analysts and associates, it's more a matter of getting them to like you so they think they could stand spending 100 hours a week around you.
call them everyday until they either agree to meet with you or give you a job offer. they tell you to fuck off, you tell them, fuck you! pay me! right to their face. u spam their inbox, do whatever you have to do.
i once called this big swingin dick over and over again. he wouldnt return my calls, his secretary kept cock blocking me. so i just showed up at his office on his birthday with a box of cuban cigars. believe me, they let me in. when i got into the office, this is what he said:
"This is the kid, calls me 59 days in a row, wants to be a player. There ought to be a picture of you in the dictionary under persistence kid."
..you know, in the end, life comes down to a few moments, this was one of them.
We're about to enter a Great Depression. Don't you want a president who's already dressed for it?
Try not to over-do it. It is not uncommon for a bunch of analysts to joke around and make fun of the kid who sends a stock email to each analyst looking for info or an interview. You're far better off picking your spots rather than trying a blitz approach within a single company.
~~~~~~~~~~~ CompBanker
Hit the nail on the head. We all talk and if some guy it blasting everyone in the group to meet up for coffee it can be seen as a bit annoying / too keen. Sounds like your conversations are going well so keep up those relationships but mix up your networking unless you are very set on that particular group and you've expressed as such.
In OPs case, isn't it unusual in the sense that his aggressive networking with one group didn't backfire? I have multiple contacts within one group that I'm really interested in, but just don't know if contacting both of them would be ideal.
you're doing it exactly right. keep it up.
In this job market I don't think you can network "too much". Be persistent and keep in touch with everyone you meet. Good luck!
keep it goin man, as long as you stay in tune to what other people are thinking of you and you know you aren't bugging them, you're doing what's necessary to at least guarantee an interview come recruiting season.
networking is the key! as long as you've proven yourself to the contacts in your network in the past, they won't mind helping you out because i've found that most understand how hard the recruiting process is on us these days. nowadays being recommended is also such a big part of having even the slightest chance of being looked at... for me, networking was a HUGE part and one of the primary reasons I got as far as I did, especially since I wasnt from a target school and the competition pool this year is much larger since college grads are competing directly with experienced professionals as well... I say network your heart out!
you have to keep a good balance of staying in touch, but not getting on their nerves. which is hard to do. but i think its really important not to over due it
Did you ever make the analysts aware that you have been talking to all of them? So if you talked to Jack and John last week, and you meet Jim this week, do you say something like "Oh hey do you know Jack and John at your bank?"
that depends entirely on whether you are charming/funny/bro enough such that the analysts actually like spending time with you. and only you know that.
Networking - How much is too much? (Originally Posted: 06/24/2013)
For the bulge bracket banks, how many people is it too much to network with or within a certain group at a bank, how many people should you network with?
600, anything below that. you're good
Well realistically, networking with SAs, analysts and associates won't really help you too much. Try to aim for SVPs or MDs (since VPs obviously don't have the time), and go for 2-3
Of course, this is already very hard in itself.
Such a thing as too much networking - Sophmore finance and accounting at non-target (Originally Posted: 11/15/2007)
Vitals: Sophomore Finance & ACC @ a non-target, decent state school. Looking for something to leverage myself into a Summer Analyst position next summer.
I talked with a gentleman at Lehman in IM who said he would pass my resume along to HR. I got the impression that there was a pretty decent chance I'd get called for an interview. I just recently found out that a guy in my fraternity who graduated in '90 also works at Lehman. I do not know what division he works in.
Is talking with guy #2 worth it? Will it help get me an interview any more than the gentleman who has been there 15+ years or will it just be time wasted?
Call him.
What can it hurt? Maybe the older guy forgets to send the email, maybe everyone in the office thinks he's a jackass and doesn't listen to him. Maybe HR gets his email and forgets about you accidentally.
Worst case scenario, HR gets your resume twice, with two positive recommendations. Call your other guy.
Too much networking? - Possible to do too much? (Originally Posted: 07/23/2010)
Is it possible to do too much networking? HR just emailed me basically saying I received your contact info from various people in firm, our professionals get alot of informational interview requests and can't handle them all and to contact HR directly if I had questions. I mean, I have emailed/messaged on LinkedIn a lot of people but what's weird is I've only talked to one person on the phone there (and only one with my resume) and only three people have responded to my emails/linkedin messages. Not to mention my emails only request to talk to them about their career path and mentions nothing about searching for jobs/interviews/internships. Additionally, I haven't been annoying (in fact I've only sent one email/linkedin message to most people). Is it safe to assume I just killed my own chances?
I would just forget about that place. It looks like people can't simply hit the delete button and have decided to send your info to HR. Move on, not worth it.
that is a polite way to say get lost for now. try contacting later during the recruiting season with alumni; i am sure you know the process
Well, should I call HR anyways and try to do some damage control (ie. say sorry for contacting professionals, I was advised to reach out to as many people as I could)? I actually know who the HR contact is as I talked with her during summer internship recruiting as well (back in the spring), not to mention she still remembers who I am. Although I didn't even get an interview for summer internships
Also, for future reference should I just avoid so much networking? I've never really limited myself on how many people to email/call cause there are so many people who just don't respond but...
Just send HR a brief apologetic email and let it be. I don't think you networked too hard, just some places might have sand in their vagina and not appreciate someone being proactive. Then again you might be understating how much you hammered this place. Take it for what it is, a blow off. Move on and keep hitting it hard.
Sorry to revive a dead thread, but perhaps when you sent it to their work email addresses, HR has a way of tracking it?
Anyways, has anyone else experienced this? I am thinking about cold-emailing or cold-messaging people on LinkedIn and definitely would not want this to happen to me...
Is it possible to "over network" with a particular office? (Originally Posted: 07/19/2012)
I'm interested in working FT at a BB in a regional office that is fairly small (around 30 people) with about 10 analysts. The school I go to is a regional target so we have a few alumni there and I've met a few people at the firm already. I've had drinks with 2 analysts, coffee once with another 2 analysts, and met an analyst at an info session. I've also had a call with a VP at the firm earlier. One of the analysts I got drinks with said he could set me up with some other analysts that I haven't met yet and aren't alumni. I'm just wondering if I'm being too keen and may be "over networking" with this one office. Should I focus on the people I know now or should I try and meet all the analysts/associates I can?
There is no issue with what you're doing. You want them to remember your name without being annoying.
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