An important piece of advice for all of you prospective monkeys attending info sessions with banks (or any other type of firm for that matter):
When you follow up with bankers after the event (which is very important to do), make sure to specifically reference things that you spoke about at the event. Otherwise, the banker will probably have no idea who you are, despite the nice 10-minute conversation you had. Even if your name rings a bell to them, they won't remember which of the 25 conversations they had was with you unless you remind them.
I had a few people follow up with me after an info session I did last week and not a single one made it easy for me to remember who they were - which is sad, because I really liked some of the kids I spoke to at the event, and had some really interesting conversations (surprisingly).
Just thought I'd put that out there.
Emailing Networking Contacts after an Information Session
It is important to follow up with contacts after any networking event or informational session. The advice above is key when following up after an event. More than likely, your contact had conversations with more than one person who's interested in their field. Additionally, those conversations may have been similar. That is because your mutual connection to the person is the same as everyone else's (being at the event).
Additionally, the person you met will likely receive dozens of follow-ups. Some of these follow-ups will be ambiguous and general. You do not want to send something that makes you easy to forget.
In other words, keeping it too general can work against you. You'll want to address a subject in the follow up that is not related to the career. Adding a line or two about a non-finance mutual connection will help you stand out as someone that your contact actually connected with. This doesn't have to be as interesting as finding out your a long lost cousin. It can be as simple as mentioning a mutual appreciation for college football or Huey Lewis and The News. Additionally, rehashing a high point in the conversation will help that person associate positive emotions with you. On the other hand, you should keep it professional at all times. Finally, move forward in some measurable way. If recruitment is just around the corner then ask that they keep you in mind. Otherwise, reach out to them occasionally on relevant news etc. to foster the relationship further.
The Rundown
- Briefly mention a unique connection
- Keep it professional
- Actually say thank you
- Continue to foster the relationship
Do you need more help with networking? Check out the exhaustive WSO networking guide. Learn how to network like a pro.
Recommended Reading
I always try to do this but it's good to see what works and what doesn't. Thanks for the perspective.
As a presenter, what kind of interesting conversations do you find stick with you?
I know it's probably different from person to person, but anything that would help the presenter remember my face/name would be very helpful for me
It's definitely hard to generalize, as you mentioned, but I'd hazard a guess that for most bankers, they're more likely to remember the non-banking conversations you have with them than the 'what's your average day like?' or 'what do you think of the [insert macroeconomic trend] and how do you think it will affect new [product I don't work with] in the [sector I don't work in]?' types of questions.
Now, obviously, you're still expected to be focused on finance and on talking to us about our jobs, careers, etc, since that's the point of the event - but it's to your advantage to also get to know the person in some dimension other than that too, and to reference that (directly or indirectly) in your follow-up. That way, if you strike me as an intelligent kid who also happened to travel to the same foreign country I went to last year, and then you remind me of that in the email, I'll remember the whole conversation and the fact that I was impressed by you. That makes you much more likely to get an interview.
Sorry if that was rambly at all, but hope my point got across.
I completely agree with dublin
find something social (ie anything outside of finance/banking) in common to speak about and you will be remembered (if you bring it up again in the follow up email). otherwise, it will be tough...
No reply after info session follow up? (Originally Posted: 09/15/2011)
I go to a target, went to a few info sessions, got some business cards, and followed up with every guy I talked to with snippets of what we talked about. At the end of the email I asked "if it was okay if I emailed them with any other questions I had" so far roughly half of the guys I emailed replied saying it was okay to ask questions/talk later. Does that mean the other 50% don't remember me? Or that they didn't like me? Or are they just really busy guys?
I find that most bankers won't bother responding to questions like that (stuff that only requires a simple yes or no answer with no explanation necessary). But I'm sure you could actually email them again if you had a question later, and they would respond.
Well, I basically said "hey it was great talking to you, I learned alot about [stuff we talked about]" and then had that last line there. But thanks, thats what I heard as well.
They get bombarded after these sessions - keep following up until they tell you to go away. Being a pest is generally poor manners but it works. Keep it short though, they WILL delete an email with your life story.
GL
follow up after an info session (Originally Posted: 04/30/2010)
I've met several alums at an info session recently, and I am not sure what is the proper etiquette on following up with them. I spoke with them briefly and got their business cards. Do i send a simple thank you email saying it was great to meet them and thank them for their time to speak with me? Or should i also ask some questions about their group or background and continue the conversation? These are the first contacts i've made and i cannot find much information through the search on following up; id appreciate any feedback, thanks
Are you an underclassmen? What are your goals?
Send a thank you with some intelligent questions to continue the conversation. Suggest an informational interview over the phone---prepare for it like any other interview, and don't fuck it up. If they like you/you prove your enthusiasm and competence during the conversation, you have a solid contact that you will be able to use for recruiting when you start looking for SA and FT positions.
After establishing a contact, you might want to email them every so often, but its not necessary. You will then email them when you are looking for an internship/job.
info session follow up, ask to pass on my resume? (Originally Posted: 09/14/2012)
So, I have graduated, but school do let me use their career services for up to two years. I attended a bunch of info sessions (will continuing to attend) and gotten business cards.
WSO told me to try to connect with people who have hiring power. But my question is even if me and a MD/Director hit off really well and followed up. But it is the HR who does the initial screen so... I don't think the MD will go all the way telling HR say to give this kid a first round??? MD probably remembers my name if it shows up on his/her desk but if I don't make it through the initial screening... So if I ask the MD to pass on my resume to HR, will that be a hint? Maybe I am over analyzing and I just have no control over this?
Like M&I said, follow up is to make the connection more personal and stand out. Would a phone interview be suffice since if I ask for another in person that would look redundant because we just met 24-48hrs ago?
If you're seriously concerned that the likelihood of making it past a screener is low, then consider letting the MD in on the honest truth. If he genuinely likes you, there's a good shot that he'll make a point of letting HR know that he wants to give you a shot. If he doesn't, well you don't really stand to lose much. You only need one offer, and it may be worthwhile to consider this tack.
In general, I find that being honest (obviously within the bounds of appropriate professionalism/decorum) with your advocates is far and away the best policy. Sometimes you'll put them off, but in those cases, it's doubtful that you would have made it through the process anyway - at some point you'd be asked a pointed question, and will need someone to pull for you.
Realistically, how hard is it to make it through the initial screening? Why don't you think you'll make it?
Can you improve your resume/cover letter so you will? What have you been doing with your time while you've been graduated?
What do you have that you think is special enough that an MD would be interested in you, but not so special that HR wouldn't see it? How can you get in HR's good books as well?
Are you going for jobs above your punching weight and hoping a network will land you the job? Or can you realistically do the job?
Don't think a formal interview where you're answering structured behavioural questions and being brought in is redundant, just because you met someone before. I had 3 formal face to face interviews, group sessions and 2 phone interviews plus IQ testing, resume screening and other tests, just to get an internship in consulting, so don't underestimate the amount of certainty a company wants before bringing you on board.
Also, the more details you post has, the better advice you'll get, although you sacrifice anonymity. I can only answer you generally because your post is quite vague.
Thank you for your comments and great questions. I realized that I pretty much don't have a chance to break in now, so I am trying to take the MBA route. But at the moment I need some work experience in order to apply for MBA. Therefore a lot of the campus recruitings I am attending are not IB related, they range from consulting to F500 companies.
I know deeply within myself that I am not the "just to get by" type of person, so I am not trying to use network in an evil uncivilized way. If I do get the job, I will work just as hard as the next individual.
I am very concerned that I won't get to first round is because I am not a competitive candidate on paper and there are so many applicants (500+) for 5-10 positions. I do have great GPAs but it is the work experience that is haunting me. All my experiences are TA/research academic related, so I don't have any real business experience. I also graduated this June, I didn't find any work from June up to now. So I am trying to use networking to push myself into first round. If I just apply plainly, I doubt I will make it into the first round since I look "weak" on paper. I am just trying to find an edge over others. I had thought I might have overestimated the competition, but then since the applicant pool is so big and there are so little positions. Even just a few people out of 500 have related intern experiences, my chances decrease dramatically.
I will definitely give a try and move forward, networking doesn't guarantee anything as I haven't heard back from follow ups. I will still apply the leave no stone unturned method to have no regret.
If the MD wants to recommend you, HR will put you through. It's not even a question. HR is there to serve the business, not the other way around.
What are you talking about work experience? Most other kids have a summer internship or two and/or some retail job as their work experience. It's not exactly setting the world on fire.
Truth be told, I probably wouldn't hire you. The reason is that you come across as someone with a very low confidence level, if your writing is any indication of how you are in person.
Man up.
When I was a sophomore, I applied online to all the BBs. My reasoning was "there are like 10 of them, if I apply to all of them, I'm sure I'll get into one!" Retarded. Realize that a good amount of applicants are probably just like I was. And despite what you see on this site, the vast majority of people don't network at all. Be confident and don't overestimate who you're going up against.
Info Session Follow Up - Resume? (Originally Posted: 09/08/2011)
I have been knocking out info sessions left and right and collecting business cards like they are michael jordan's rookie card. When i follow up with these guys should I subtly attach a resume to the email with out mentioning it in the email? This allows them to open it if they are curious to learn more about me and better ables them to match the dialog to the application? or is that too forward?
Thank you guys
just ask "please let me know how I can secure a spot for an interview at your firm. attached is my resume for your reference." And attach your resume.
that seems a bit forward especially if there was already a resume drop and they are coming back to interview on campus....?
info session follow ups resume (Originally Posted: 09/20/2010)
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just wondering- what is "pre-networking"? You mean just plain networking?
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Did you tell them to "lol" in the email? That would make them remember you, and it's always good to stand out.
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I think he missed the sarcasm.
nope i didn't
nope he didn't.
but seriously, congrats on meeting the bankers and already hearing back, that's pretty solid.
lol thanks for the help guys
wow good job
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E-Mailing People After Info Sessions (Originally Posted: 08/27/2012)
After you talk to people from on-campus info sessions, what's the best way to write a follow up e-mail? I mean...what's there to talk about? Isn't it so blatantly obvious that I'm contacting them just so they might like/remember me and give me an interview in January?
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They'll know, but it's ok. Just say it was nice meeting you, hope to stay in touch, and say how impressed you were with the firm and the people.
Ya, but "nice meeting you, hope to stay in touch" = hey I just met you, give me a job maybe?
But I guess you're right that they'll know. They probably did the same thing when they were in college...I just find this whole thing to be a bit pretentious. Follow up e-mails have absolutely no substance unless you have some kind of personal connection to the guy (e.g. you met an MD who's a good friend of your dad)
Bottom line, it can't hurt to follow-up.
Tips on post-information session networking?? (Originally Posted: 06/02/2017)
I was at an information/networking session last night for one of the Canadian BBs and had chats with a couple of the junior bankers there. Problem is that I was not the only student at those networking round tables so I cant confirm that these guys remember me...I really want to reach out to them again, but they already went over their backgrounds, why they like thier respective bank, the merits of the bank, etc.. I dont want to seem repetitive so, what type of topics should I delve in to if I can secure a coffee chat with some of those bankers?
Any advice is appreciated.
Definitely try and email them within about 24 hours to thank them, and try to mention something that came up between you two during conversation. During a coffee chat you can ask stuff about their city like why they chose it, things to do there etc., what their process was like, try to find a common interest and talk about that. Look at this post for more ideas https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/good-questions-to-ask-in-coffee-…
Agree with above, say thanks and mention something that stood out to you so they remember you by. Out of curiousity, was the BB networking session in relation for next year FT or SA recruiting?
Thanks for the advice! The info session was for SA recruitment
Following up after info seasons - help! (Originally Posted: 10/15/2012)
Hey guys, so I have just about every major bank coming to my school in the next ~2 weeks. I know I'm going to be meeting tons of bankers and hopefully having some good discussions with them as well, but I'm always at a loss when it comes to following up. So usually when I meet people they fall into 3 categories:
1) Really good and lengthy discussion, we completely click 2) Have a decent discussion but don't talk for too long for whatever reason 3) There's 400 other people surrounding them and I get like 1 sentence in
People falling into category 2 are the easiest because I made a good impression and can email them with a follow up question. But for category 1 and category 3, I never have any idea how to follow up. Should I just send 2 sentences thanking them for their time? Should I still ask them a question even though we talked for a really long time already or we hardly even talked at all? What is the most efficient way to network through these info sessions?
As someone who'll also be going to info sessions this semester: I would say send a short thank you e-mail (3 - 4 sentences) to everyone you talk to, but send a longer e-mail to someone who you think can help you. If they seem especially helpful, maybe ask them to schedule a phone call.
99.99% of the people will be zero help to you - but then again, you only need one.
If I talked to them for 5 minutes and they probably have no idea who I am do I send a thank you email anyway?
I would - because most of your peers won't. If you don't send an e-mail, then they really won't remember you.
What's the point of that though? Just if they happen to see your resume one day they might also happen to remember your name?
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