How useful are information sessions

I go to a target school and top BBs are already starting to have their information sessions. Only problem is that I have a crap load of school work and extracurriculars and these information sessions usually run 2 hours each * 6 banks a week = a lot of time I can't afford. I have already interned at a BB this summer and been to countless info sessions before, where I talk to people collect business cards, and carry a half ass online correspondence.

Honestly, how useful are these things especially for BBs? I mean they already have a formal structure for recruiting. How useful will meeting someone at an info sesh? How can they vouch for you other than the low chance that they interview you? Do they just say you can put me down as a reference?

Thanks guys, appreciate it. And I've already used the search function... no clear forum about this topic, or at least not in the first 5 pages.

 

Not very. If you wanna interview there and they go on campus I'd definitely go (i.e. make sure you're on the list), but do you really think the however many guys there each getting gangbanged by ten students are going to remember you all that well (unless you were super amazing or really really terrible)? Probably not. Get their business card though if you wanna network with them.

 

I'm in the exact same situation as you right now..
Last year, I collected many business cards and utilized them to get the first round interviews for summer internship at BBs. So I'd rather recycle them again this year rather than mingling with a bunch of other kids. I saw nobody taking a note of interesting candidates anyway. Or should I start over again? I kinda agree with BabyBuster, though I thought having a BB name on my resume alone would be enough when it came to full-time recruiting...

 

I agree with Babybuster. While 99% of the time they seem to be a waste of time, there is always the small chance that it will pay off. After one info. session when everyone was in brown-nosing mode I actually hit it off with a really fratty Director. We kept in touch, I got a first round, and eventually got the internship. Not to mention, if you're trying to break into IB at a BB, having a lot of 'work' should be no excuse to miss these opportunities...

 

I am actually starting to follow up with the people I meet and the responses I have been getting are pretty positive, from invitations to go down to their floor and actually shadow some traders to other introductions/coffee. I hear that if someone likes you or if you keep up with them, they send your name through to HR and that's how they distinguish between the 1000s of resumes with 3.9 GPAs from target schools...

 

i remember not going to one of the sessions and when interviews rolled around I was asked if I came out to their event....upon saying no, she instantly marked down something on her paper.

On top of that, make sure you remember a few of the people's names that you spoke to just in case they ask who you met.

doesnt hurt...only helps your chances at the end of the day.

 

It really just shows your interest in the company. If helps to get names of the people you spoke with since they will ask during interviews if you mention your presence at the sessions. Some of the people there are pretty honest and will tell you what actaully happens at work during the meet and greet time.

 
Best Response

Its a must go

Here's what you need to do. Sleep through the entire presentation (or do what we analysts do, scour the audience for potential ass to tap later that night).

Wait for the presentation to end and watch as the nerdy asians rush to talk to the recruiter. Do not talk to the recruiter, (s)he will have little influence on whether you are going to get an interview or not.

Instead, go and chill with the analysts and see if your personalities mesh well (ladies are no longer impressed by us being 'ibankers', only you college fucks still get a hard-on over it); if they do, the analyst will put in a good word for you, if they don't then the bank's culture likely doesn't match your personal culture.

 

yeah I think thats what I'm going to do. Pretty much plan is to go listen to the info session, then since the recruiter will probably get swamped, ask the a few questions afterwards, submit my resume, and then go back to my car hoping I didn't get a ticket :P

 

not really a guessing game, but I can see why you woulnd't say since you are secretive about your job, but yeah I know its mainly for us to get information + get some face time with recruiters etc.

I was actually deciding between going to the info session on campus, and going to the info session at NYC, decided to go with the campus one, because this way a) its more convient b) they are coming to campus, so that makes it a target school and c) I figure there'll be less people on campus compared to NYC where I figure there'd be people from other schools

 

It can't hurt. But then again, I don't see how much it can help. Use it as an opportunity to try out new talking points or something. If you feel compelled to go after an interview, come up with a high risk-return strategy, since you really have no downside.

"There are three ways to make a living in this business: be first, be smarter, or cheat."
 

cc66 -

holla_back is right to an extent - going to an info session with dozens of other people isn't likely to help you stand out to the adcom rep that much b/c you're one of the masses. Overall, though, it is a good idea to engage with a school as part of the application process, although it doesn't have to just be through an info session.

Attending events and talking to members of the community isn't literally going to make-or-break an application, but it can be a plus factor in a few ways . . . it will convey that you really are interested in the program (especially important for Tuck/Columbia), it will help you speak more authentically and vividly about why you want to attend X school, etc. Reach out to students (usually schools will have some listed on their websites), go to a visit day/sit in on a class if the schools are nearby (find out if they offer webinars if they're not close to you/it's not feasible to travel), etc., and then plan to leverage those interactions in the "why X school" part of your essays and in your eventual interviews. It might sound pretty obvious, but you'd be surprised how many candidates don't do this.

You can also look at it this way . . . if I'm reviewing two generally comparable, quality applications but can only accept one, am I going to pick the candidate who didn't connect with my school/community in some way or am I going to pick the one who attended an event, took the time to talk to students, etc.? The latter example is the pretty obvious choice, also because it's more likely he's going to accept the offer, and that's important from a selectivity/yield perspective.

Regards, Jon

Jon Fuller Senior Admissions Counselor Clear Admit, LLC 215.568.2590
 

I went to a presentation yesterday for UBS. They essentially said they are focusing on full time right now. However, you get valuable contact information by attending. I plan on keeping in touch throughout the fall and hopefully that pays off in the spring.

 

Honestly, I think they're useless. Uncomfortable, awkward, and usually not useful. However, what you ABSOLUTELY want to do is try to get into any dinners they may have afterwards; if they have small-group invite things, apply for them. That's where you can have a comfortable conversation with someone who isn't fending off 500 young whippersnappers. I got my summer analyst gig in part because one of my 1st-round interviewers was also present at a small gathering (the firm rented out a restaurant dining room and did hors d'oeuvre and such) and we had enough of a talk such that he remembered my name.

More generally speaking than my personal experience, common sense dictates going to them unless something absolutely critical comes up otherwise. It can't hurt you, so long as you don't make an utter fool of yourself, which is difficult. You're gaming for that one analyst or associate who's going to meet you and remember your name for one reason or another, and who might be able to pick you out of a pile as he's thumbing through 400 resumes. Of course, make sure the resume isn't going to make him laugh when he picks it out.

 

I actually got connected to a SA position directly due to the info session. Didn't plan on going, hadn't networked any previously, but went, and had a good time getting to know a few of the people there. Then, this was the entry to getting an interview. I would say that many times this allows you to stand out, and just helps push your name and resume out of the pile.

 

I always end up running into people from info sessions at bars later that night. They're usually pretty chill and offer to put you on the company's tab. Better to show up to the info session than to not show up.

 

Explicabo alias ea excepturi pariatur ullam eum. Ad neque cumque molestiae ipsam molestiae dolor sunt. Accusantium aspernatur velit officiis sequi id. Eos placeat exercitationem nihil error porro. Laudantium quia est aspernatur saepe soluta distinctio facilis.

Corporis repellendus omnis velit. Ratione natus dicta tenetur et quia. In rerum aut qui nobis nesciunt. Voluptatibus earum quo eos.

Error est quo modi voluptatibus quaerat earum. Inventore odit architecto eligendi. Qui magnam consectetur voluptatem est quia. Dolorem alias perspiciatis atque nobis officiis dolores optio. Cupiditate eos ratione suscipit ut. Aut nostrum numquam laudantium ipsum. Sunt excepturi pariatur debitis.

Ipsam fugit accusantium ipsam vel autem eius. Officia voluptatem maxime rerum non. Cum eligendi quisquam ab. Et omnis iure dolore ea facilis est hic voluptas. Nemo ut sint aut quas omnis ducimus.

 

Ad dignissimos velit mollitia ad cupiditate eum fugit. Aut quos corrupti adipisci natus accusamus hic. Rerum tempore repellat ea. Aliquam dolore voluptatum adipisci ipsa quidem sequi inventore. Earum velit repellendus quos eos quam quo a. Eum facilis porro enim et quo id. Corporis qui quisquam alias.

Esse vel qui est dolorum doloribus non animi. Et nobis facilis odio omnis consequuntur placeat labore. Sit repudiandae est non placeat voluptatem. Hic officia voluptates sunt ut.

Officiis laborum praesentium est commodi doloribus est. Officiis est non doloremque impedit consequatur maiores ut. Illo sequi porro porro corporis fugit voluptatem. Reiciendis saepe eos aut repellat voluptates repellendus quod.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”