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.

52 Comments
 

Supposedly they track who has and hasn't come; plays into giving out interviews/offers. I would only go to the banks that you're interested in working at full-time. I haven't personally been on the other end of the interviewing table at a BB, so can't confirm, but this is something I've widely heard from friends.

 

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.

 

what should you ask recruiters at these information sessions when you talk to them personally to make a good impression?

 

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.

 

It doesn't hurt going to these sessions. My firm definitely checks the attendance of the info sessions and the pre-nights to gauge interest.

 
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 what is with all the geeky Asians trying to move in on banking? Oh well most if not all of them are socially retarded so they wont make it anyway.

 

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

 

Sorry... not playing the guessing game, dude. Don't worry; it doesn't matter either way. You'll do fine. Info sessions are more for you guys than for us anyway.

 

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."
 

Usually they have alums/current students at these things so you can ask them about the specific aspects of the school you are interested in and get their take on things. Also, it's a chance for you to network with them and the admissions officers.

 

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
 

From my application experience, it didn't matter. It's more for you to immerse yourself in the community and see if the school "clicks" with you or not.

 

at my school they give presentations for the summers in like Nov or something, but nobody will be surprised if you are only a junior and show up for the FT presentations.

 

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.

 

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