Networking / Senior Year advice
Hello
I am a senior at a non-target college and have accepted a full-time offer for next summer at BB Bank within their CRE balance sheet lending group. I am also an intern supporting research, leasing, and marketing functions for a real estate private equity firm with AUM>$50B.
I still feel like I am not doing enough, especially in networking. I have always been really bad at networking and have never really done it successfully outside the scope of an internship, with people I didn't already meet in some capacity.
Additionally, if you have any other advice about what I can do to develop professionally, I would greatly appreciate it.
Networking is literally just "making work friends." Most of the time, friendships spring up over shared experiences or shared interests.
Shooting your shot at talking with a real estate exec is not all that different from shooting your shot at a girl you want to date. Either way you're quickly trying to find common ground to make a connection and then asking them to grab coffee.
Bring that rizz, as kids your age call it. Shoot your shot.
Hi,
Thank you for the rather colorful analogy, that makes a lot of sense!
Hey there!
First off, congratulations on your full-time offer and your current internship! That's a fantastic start. Now, let's talk about networking. It's not about being the loudest in the room or knowing everyone. It's about building meaningful, professional relationships. Here are some tips based on the most helpful WSO content:
Transition Short-Term Connections into Long-Term Relationships: Remember, we're not building personal but business relationships. Our goal isn't to become best friends, but to engage professionally.
Mutual Respect and Value: Professional relationships come from a sense of mutual respect and value that you have to build on your own. Show interest in self-growth and career development, understanding of your industry, and respectable charisma.
Consistency: Keep in contact. Follow up every 2-3 months with individuals that seemed interested in you. Send emails, set up coffee chats and phone calls.
Be Giving with Your Time: Treat those employees below you the same way you would treat those above you, which shows maturity and leadership.
Make Your Network Work for You: If you portray yourself the right way, your network will grow exponentially, because people you meet will share positive traits about you to other people.
Prepare Before Meetings: Make it a point to remember people's names. Take interest in what they do at work, but also outside of work.
As for professional development, continue to learn and grow in your field. Stay updated with industry trends, take relevant courses, and always be open to feedback. Remember, every interaction is a chance to learn something new.
Hope this helps! Feel free to reach out if you have more questions.
Sources: Networking 101 – 8 tips from a “non-target” school student, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/asset-management/qa-breaking-into-the-asset-management-industry?customgpt=1, Introverts Who Learned to be Successful Networkers?, Want to get me on the phone? Here's how - a networking overview.
As a student, you have the awesome cover of simply getting to be "interested in your industry/work/career/story/etc." Use this to your advantage!
1) Find people you are genuinely interested in learning from/more about - should feel less forced if you actually want to ask them questions.
2) Reach out to them, tell them you are a student and interning at xx/yy.
3) Ask if you can set up time to chat to learn more about "xxx" - ("How you developed an expertise in the net lease marina space", "How you transitioned from cattle auctioneer to managing director at Ares", "You experience acquiring Cinemark Post Oak - I grew up across the street!" - whatever, all made up examples)
4) Then don't sell yourself!! Impress them by asking good, thoughtful, interesting questions and get them talking about themselves.
Obviously you won't always get a meeting, but this is a pretty useful framework because 1) If you are actually interested in these people, it should be easy/exciting to come up with questions and talk to them, and you'll learn things you want to know and 2) People HATE being sold to by a college kid but generally love opining on there careers when the questions are sharp, and so next time you reach out their recollection is "oh I had a great coffee with that kid he seemed sharp, let me take his call".
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