Networking with Boring Business Majors?
Been doing some networking for SA ‘25 purposes. My university doesn’t have a business school and undergrad alumni in IB studied a range of things from politics to maths.
From my conversations with alumni and also other bankers from non-business major backgrounds, I find such people much more interesting and easy to connect with in comparison to those with business/finance majors (Wharton, Ross Gies, etc).
I don’t get the point of the business major fundamentally because it seems like a lot of training is given on the job which levels the playing field anyhow. To me, they come off a bit bland because they didn’t spend 4 years studying something non-finance related. I’m quite young and this probably is a naïve take, but I’d love to hear what others think. Also, more actionably, would be great to hear the best ways to engage such people with business backgrounds in networking. I’m a bit of a nerdy guy so I like to throw around some politics or philosophy with the people I talk with and I just don’t get that opportunity with the business majors, which makes it challenging to really connect.
You don't need to study finance to do well on the job - everything is learned from various modeling courses, interview guides and stuff from your own reading and discussing with others.
And if you think your networking chats are boring, wait til you actually start the job and hop onto 3-5 zoom calls a daily to walk through miscellaneous diligence topics on boring ass companies with monotone speakers. Meanwhile you have to frantically jot down notes from some 60 yr old canadian dude rambling about robot parts. I'd rather spend an afternoon doing networking calls any day if I could
Understood — thanks for the insight. Part of my issue is around how I can best connect with people who just studied finance. Any advice on that? (Fully recognize that this sounds like I have Aspergers)
Networking can indeed be more stimulating when you have a variety of topics to discuss, and it's understandable that you might find conversations with non-business majors more engaging due to their diverse academic backgrounds. However, when networking with business majors, it's important to remember that everyone has unique interests and experiences, regardless of their major. Here are some tips to help you connect with individuals from business backgrounds:
Find Common Ground: Even business majors have interests outside of finance. Try to uncover these by asking about hobbies, passions, or extracurricular activities they might be involved in.
Discuss Industry Trends: Business majors are likely to be well-versed in the latest industry trends. Engaging in conversations about recent developments in finance or the economy can lead to stimulating discussions.
Ask About Their Experiences: Inquire about internships, projects, or courses they found particularly interesting. This can lead to deeper conversations about their personal take on business topics.
Share Your Perspective: Offer your insights from your non-business studies. Discussing how politics or philosophy intersects with business can provide a fresh angle and make the conversation more engaging for both parties.
Be Curious: Show genuine interest in their journey and how they view their business education in the context of their career goals. This can help you understand their motivations and aspirations.
Talk About Extracurriculars: Many business students are involved in clubs, societies, or other initiatives. Talking about these can reveal more about their personality and interests.
Discuss Career Aspirations: Find out where they see themselves in the future and share your own goals. This can lead to a mutual exchange of ideas and advice.
Remember, the key to successful networking is to build genuine relationships. By showing interest in the person beyond their major, you can create meaningful connections that may prove beneficial in your career. Keep an open mind, and you might be surprised by the interesting conversations you can have with business majors.
Sources: Some Thoughts on Networking, The Best Networking, Cold Calling and Cold Emailing Posts on WSO, 10 Friendly Reminders While Networking for SA Programs (from a BB Analyst Perspective), Don't Throw Away Your Shot - Networking with Senior Professionals as an MBA, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/asset-management/qa-breaking-into-the-asset-management-industry?customgpt=1
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You’re a cerebral guy, most business majors aren’t. Most business students just like sports / going out / etc. You have to get used to being surrounded by people who are just as smart but just didn’t take an interest in intellectual pursuit in college. Obviously this is not true for everyone who studied finance. Many will be just as interested in politics / philosophy / books as you. You just have to figure out common ground to talk about. I have had plenty of good networking calls talking about everything from frats to books.
This thread gives me major Ivey league circle jerk vibes
IVY*
💀 proving the point, go be a professor if u want to think all the time
idk i prefer networking with fratty business guys because we spend half an hour talking about sports/clubbing/bar hopping and then they end up introducing me to other bankers, pushing my resume, etc in the end
if you want to "pick their brain" and talk nerd stuff go ahead tho
Fax
Never been clubbing/bar hopping and the sports I do are not mainstream (swimming/water polo). I'd like to be able to connect with everyone in some way or another though, and what you said does make a lot of sense. Did you mean following professional sports? If so, where do you recommend I start, given that I don't follow any sports? I know this sounds profoundly retarded.
Nerd
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