How should networking calls go?
I had a few networking calls with alums in IB. They were all pretty similar and all lasted about 30 minutes but they all felt very robotic.
I start off every call by giving a quick introduction of myself and then ask about the other person (If they have not shared their experience already). I try to comment and ask questions in response to what the other person says but I generally need to resort to a questions sheet. In no call did I feel myself "clicking" with the other person or the call going well. I found it hard to change the topic to something not work related.
Is this standard? I've heard people say that the best chats they had we're mainly about personal lives and hobbies outside of IB but I can't seem to shift the topic to something more casual. This is mostly because I don't have info of the other person from their linkedin page that shows what they are interested in.
Also, I attend a LAC where most people in IB did varsity sports. I find that I am at a backfoot since I am not one myself.
Think abt the break down between how much time you’re speaking and how much time they are speaking. If the split is 20/80 or 10/90, then it’s basically an interview and you will no doubt sound robotic. U want it to be 30/70 for seniors and 40/60 for juniors. U obv want them to talk more than u but I gotta add something to the conversation
Alr Thanks.
Try and open the conversation on more of a personal note before getting to the point of the call, which is asking about future opportunities at their bank or potential introductions to friends/colleagues. When speaking more personally, try and be relatable. Ask them where they live, if they enjoy the city they are in, how it was to transition from college to full time working, do they make time for the gym. You should be genuinely interested in the answers to the questions and they are non-technical so you should be able to add more to the conversation at this point. Then at the right time, and it will take reps in order to develop the judgement to read when the right time is, pivot to business. BRIEFLY mention why you are interested in IB, their bank, and why you specifically reached out to the person you are speaking to. Try and react to the comments from the other person rather than referencing a question list. Staring at a question list will bring you out of listening mode. Take notes so that when the other person is done speaking, you can remember what you wanted to say in response. It takes reps. Schedule lower stakes calls first for practice.
Makes sense. Thanks for the reply.
When I was coffee chatting I made a rule I would never break: never let the banker have the last word after a question. It is so awk after hearing an answer just going straight to the next question because it really just sounds like an interview and unnatural. The whole time the banker is answering, you're listening of course but also coming up with a follow up remark so there's no dead air. And you don't need to follow up with personal super in depth detailed response. A simple "oh yeah like you just mentioned I try to get outside every now and then because its the best way for me to unwind and get away from it all after hours of study" and then the banker will respond with "def, like this one time my associate and i were at an outing and..." or he/she might say "well me personally i like to walk around the office and catch up with the others" and boom you're talking about something that isn't work. Don't force it though. Eventually, you will move on to the next question.
Also, something I noticed with mine is that some bankers might just be having a bad day so its really up to you to carry, but this is something out of your control and HAVE to stay motivated and pick up the bankers slack. They could also be slammed and you can hear them type away at their comp knowing they're not really interested in talking to you at the moment. You just have to accept this because its gonna happen. Just stay upbeat because then it'll sound like a relationship past its expiration date. Bonus points if you ask a really good q and somehow sorta revive their spirits because it gets them thinking about something that isn't work
Use these two pieces of advice and you'll have plenty of calls that go past the 30min mark which if it does, is a really good sign. Also, completely agree with what the guy above me said.
Good luck!
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