has anyone NETWORKED like hell before?

you write out a script? jesus. just be yourself.

I definitely recommend trying to meet the person in person. Randomly emailing alumni's is probably the worst way to get into a bank, they don't really give a crap because they aren't going to know you as anything more than an email address

Here's what you should do:

1) upperclassmen. If you go to a target you will have friends who interned last summer. If they were well liked by their bosses this will pull considerable weight. Last year, my friend put in such a good recommendation for me that I only had to have one interview, that wasn't technical because they trusted his words. Things get less easier when you are trying for something like M&A at a BB, but it doesn't hurt. This works best for internship after sophomore year, when you'd be interning at a boutique, back/mid office, PWM, etc.

2) If you have a current internship, talk to your bosses. I'm really close to the bosses were I'm interning now, but they know it's not what I want to do with my life, so I discussed with them my career aspirations. If they are MD level, they probably know major players at every bank, and their word means A LOT. My current MD is getting me interviews at several BB's and even a top hedge fund (Which there is no way in hell I even would've had my resume looked at). I go out drinking with my associate, and have met even more analyst-VP level people through her and have started to become friends with them, and I assume they could at least get me interviews with their groups.

3) If you have any friends that have friends in banking try to worm your way into hanging out with them. One of my friends is dating a VP. I go out drinking with him all the time and never even discuss banking, but if I want to join his group, I'm guessing it wouldn't be hard at all.

But basically, I'm just trying to say its exponentially more important to establish relationships than just throw a million darts and hope one stick. One person who will go to bat for you is worth more than 20 people that are willing to forward your resume to HR. Alumni's and bankers in general have a million kids sucking up to them trying to get a job.

If you get scared talking on the phone, how do you expect to get through superdays/stress interviews, I'm not trying to be mean, but c'mon. I'd recommend immersing yourself in stressful social situations quickly, you need to get better, you can't avoid it.

One of your friends in college is dating a VP? Sheesh.. good position for you though.

To the OP - I know exactly what you mean about a non-responding alum putting a downer on your day. Your just have to persist through it, and eventually it gets a lot better. Don't script anything out, but what worked for me is to write down a few bullets of main points that you want to cover. Key questions, information about yourself, etc. But make sure you are flexible, and most importantly, likable. If I was a banker, I would rather help out a kid who is awkward but endearing, rather than some robot that is just reciting off some lines.

Trust me man, you'll get there. Best of luck to you.

hey thanks everyone for the good advice. Just out of curiosity though, how many ignored emails from 1 alum is enough to give up? There's one guy who I established contact with(and said he'll help me out and to send resume) but then he has not responded my 2 emails after that.

Also, what do you guys make of approaching high level alums(md, vp) vs analyst? I'm thinking be more down to earth with recent analysts and ask them who the HR is, pass along resume etc while just asking the high level guys for advice/their life story (without specific mention of passing along my resume). Good idea?

Finally, has anyone successfully connected with super-alums? For example, would it make any sense for a Maryland guy to contact their alum David Goldfarb, Global Head of Strategic Partnerships, Principal Investing and Risk of Lehman Brothers? or would an University of Toronto guy ever find it useful to contact Charles Noski,Vice Chairman of Institutional Securities at Goldman?

People are a bit hard on you for writing a script. I think it is a great idea, of course you probably won't read it of, and won't be using it. But, it should give you some confidence, as well as help you think about what you will say. Someone recommended bullet points, that is a good idea as well. Just remember you most likely won't even be looking at them. The only reason you would look at your bullet points is in case you are running out of questions to ask. So just jot down 2 or 3 things. This is what works for me, also for HR phone interviews, DEFINITELY write down some key bullet points. I had BNP ask me about their key competitors, I wrote down all of them from the Vault guide on paper and read the entire list to the HR person.

Remember, you will always be a salesman, no matter how fancy your title is.

- My ex girlfriend

No alums are off-limits. I've gotten in touch with a top guy at TPG, Cerberus, and Blackstone. I don't want to say what positions they hold, but these guys are pretty serious. Anyway, go for it. Everything to gain, nothing to lose.

I train brazlilian jiu jitsu with a partner at a boutique investment bank. I told him my interest in ibanking and he gave me an interview. I start as an intern this January. Try seeing if family, friends and anyone you interact with on a daily basis knows someone. It's harder for me since no alums are in ibanking at my school. Just keep trying.

are the keys to networking, just like anything else really. Don't spend a ton of time on alumni who haven't responded to you - I would email/call them once, then try again the week after if they don't respond.

Keep a list of who you've contacted, who's responded and when they've responded. Every 2 weeks or so, ping those who haven't responded to you.... you can have a template email for this and just replace the names.

You will get results eventually. Again, like with almost everything else (working out, finding a job, starting a website etc. etc. etc.) most people who try get frustrated from no results in the beginning so they give up too soon. Don't do this.

Some weeks I am so busy that I barely have time to sleep much less speak to prospective ibankers - but I will respond (eventually) to anyone who reaches out to me and give them a push to get hired.

*reaches out to dosk17"

sorry didn't mean to grab you there.

dont harass alumni emails - setting their blackberries off ten times is not going to make them want to talk to u anymore especially if they are pretty high up. normal to be blown off by phone calls. got internship job and fulltime interviews off of alumni - FT interviews came from emails/follow up calls, internship came from job fair. and what r u writing in these emails...usually its best to ask to speak with them via phone about their industry/etc and then see if they offer help...i would never come out and ask someone i didnt know to pass my resume on - 80% of alums offered anyway and most of them passed it on to their friend's firms, not theirs.

I tried to contact anybody and everyone, no reason to just limit it to alumni of your school. You never know who might be receptive. My interviews didn't come through alumni of my school.

I thought I am throwing my 2 cents in too. My story: interviewed at a boutique bank last year for a summer intern position in my country. Did not get through 2 round. I kept in touch with my 1st interviewer though, after the ding. He was always helpful. I went to a CorpFin coneference where I met the owner of the botique. I told him my story and that I am still intereseted in the firm and wanna try again. Also told him I would like to write a "student-thesis" (30-40 page research) on some kind of M&A topic and I am here at the conference to get some idea on what to write about. He told me he had a topic for me that would be worth writing about. I told him I will gladly write about it. He told me he will gladly consult with me about the research. Do I need more :-) I will start the paper in January and I have the feeling this will be a very good chance to enter the firm.

To OP: I know EXACTLY how you feel but it definitely pays off. I started early and was very persistent(Dosk gave this advice earlier). I emailed virtually every alum from our "mentor list" which wasnt a whole lot. Eventually things paid off. I met an MD who came down to give a speech when I was a sophomore. A bunch of seniors then hailed emails at him but he could only get in interns from my school. I was the only underclassmen who consitently emailed him. I asked to set up lunch while I was in NYC and he agreed, liked what I had to say, and afterwards got me my first interview. The one thing that alums from my school say the kids at my school suck at is follow through and picking up the phone. Emails are necessary but your the phone calls are much more personal and they get a feel for you and your personality. Also if they ignore you completely, they probably dont care. But if they say they will help you but dont get back to you be persistent. They werent lying but they are just swamped. SO sorry for the rambling but hopefully the success stories here will keep you motivated.