So, I recently accepted a 2023 SA offer for an EB and got invited out to a dinner with people from the firm that graduated from my same university.
I’m really excited to start interacting with the firm and building relationships 1+ year from starting which means I don’t want to fuck this up. Is there some advice / guidelines you monkeys could give me about how to approach a dinner like this and not mess things up?
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Literally just be normal and don’t be weird or come off as too much of a hardo. They probably want to hear about all the fun you’re having at college to relive their college days again.
Some tips:
- Read online about dinner etiquette (eg. which cutlery to use, how to pass around food, eat bread, etc.)
- Suggest you don't eat anything with gravy - minimize the risk of spilling something
- Only drink if you are over 21 (assuming you aren't) and don't use your fake (I repeat DO NOT)
- Keep the conversation casual (yet professional) for the most part - try to connect on a personal level. You don't want to ask work-related questions (what's your fav. deal etc.)
- Don't treat this as a pre-interview networking call - you already got the offer they are just trying to interact with you socially
- Don't say anything that you wouldn't during the internship - don't bitch about other people
- don't focus on just one person (don't spend talking to just person A when there's B, C, D, E, F also sitting around you) and if there are other interns make sure you talk to them as well
Let me know if you have any questions
Side note: the analysts you are gonna interact with probably won't be the analysts you will work with. they are probably completing their first year (they'll mostly leave next June) or their second year (in which case they'll mostly leave this summer) so if at all you want to focus on building relations, put a higher weight on associates and up.
In a similar situation so appreciate these tips. Had a few ppl (analysts through VP) at my firm reach out and tell me to come visit them this summer (before I start in SA 23) to “hang out at the office, go around the city, and get drinks”. Two points I’m not sure of: 1. Should I ask them to reimburse my flight/hotel (since it’s far from my home)? I’m fine paying as I don’t want to make it a big deal but not sure what standard practice is. And 2. If they said drinks but I’m not 21, do I tell them that or just casually drink if they offer to get it for me or something like that? Am indifferent about drinking either way, just want to make the right decision socially lol.
Officiis minus ipsum dignissimos maxime. Aut voluptas quia accusantium.
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