How to network and not to get fired?

I’m working FT and want to lateral to IB. I understand I need to network, but I am not sure how to do it as a working professional. As a student, the situation is very clear for me – I was studying, didn't work FT so weren't tied to any employer and could openly say I wanted a job at the given company.

However, the situation gets tricky when you have a few years of work experience and want to lateral. Of course an initial aim of any networking chat is to learn more about a bank and a specific team, but then should I openly express my interest in joining that team? Frankly speaking, I am afraid the person I would be networking with could let know my current employer, or even the team, that I’m trying to lateral and get an offer elsewhere. Eventually, I don’t want to get fired without anything lined up just because someone I networked with couldn’t be discreet for whatever reason. Before you tell me it’s normal for employees to just keep an eye open for new career opportunities, let me tell you that my company has a weird culture (e.g. bashing employees, who decided to resign, in internal communications) and I’m pretty sure that lateralling to IB would be seen a kind of betrayal.

This said, please enlighten me how to network as a working professional and not to get fired. To what extent I should express my interest in moving to the given bank/team assuming I want to do so?

I don't have much experience in networking and I need some advice. Thanks!

3 Comments
 

Unless you’re a tool on networking calls nobody is going to go through the effort of contacting your employer.

Just make sure they aren’t connected to your boss on LinkedIn.

I’m in the same boat as you, and I’m just straight up with people. You have a job, so in general the worse case scenario is that you have to continue showing up to it. Everyone knows why you’re messaging them anyways.

 

Voluptas ut occaecati sed sapiente hic veniam sint. Aut velit maiores consequuntur quod doloremque vel. Sint enim consequatur quis exercitationem aliquam officiis sunt. Est unde saepe quo accusamus illum tenetur est. Incidunt debitis alias ratione possimus aut et ut.

Laboriosam distinctio fugit et nam. Harum voluptates non sed qui voluptatem error officia. Est quasi eius aut. Pariatur magnam accusamus et qui rerum dolorem quia.

Iusto nostrum et qui impedit. Cum labore accusamus nostrum enim aliquam. Quam est voluptas quo non.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”