Networking call just to learn / versus trying to gain something

So this is a strategic question I have regarding networking calls. I have been aiming for and have been having 5-10 networking calls a week before I head into my year at a top US MSF program: many have been with school alumni.

I have been having generally good networking calls and have heard great advice regarding how to frame my internships during recruiting season in interviews, understanding company culture and nuances of different groups and verticals, etc... but I have not been explicitly asking for references for interviews, further connections (sometimes they offer it themselves, etc...)

Also I think I have been picking up a lot of confidence jus talking to a variety of people in banking and other verticals and have been learning how to ask good questions which has been good.

Am I harming myself by not being more upfront in asking for something tangible out of each networking call? In some way I feel as if just having a genuine call and learning from them for now, and then reaching out again closer to recruiting season might be better, but then again I feel others who are networking may be gaining more value today.

Any thoughts? 

1 Comments
 

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