How should a networking phone call/coffee chat conversation go??

Basically how should a networking phone conversation or coffee chat with someone you cold emailed/linkedin connected go? I have had a few in the past and i consider myself to be a fairly outgoing person and good conversationalist but I'm having some trouble on determining what exactly I should be asking/talking about with the banker. Their career? their college? their job? Ask if they have a summer analyst program?

Thanks for the help, I have a few coming up later this week and i'm still feeling a little lost.

 

Dont swap business cards. Seriously. I'm very selective on who I give my cards to. Chances are I don't want to hear from many people, mostly because of your scenario, so don't get involved to begin with. The most common lie I tell in my life is "Seems like I'm fresh out of cards . . ." The people I do exchange cards with I try to develop friendships with so as to not make it awkward when you do some business together. I know all this goes against the grain, but seriously, handing out business cards like candy is overrated.

 
GentlemanJack:
Dont swap business cards. Seriously. I'm very selective on who I give my cards to. Chances are I don't want to hear from many people, mostly because of your scenario, so don't get involved to begin with. The most common lie I tell in my life is "Seems like I'm fresh out of cards . . ." The people I do exchange cards with I try to develop friendships with so as to not make it awkward when you do some business together. I know all this goes against the grain, but seriously, handing out business cards like candy is overrated.

Yes, this makes sense. I think in general networking is overrated, and one should be more selective about this. I'm not trying to be a jackass, but i'm too concerned about my own work and b-school admissions prospects to care about people who are not my friends or family.

 

honestly they need to be better at netwroking if they jsut see you once and ask for favors, if they are doing that then dont help them period, but if they ask you to go out drink coffee get to you better wait a little bit and then starting asking you for favors then in my opinion they are interested in you other than just using you.

I would try to keep the business card on the down low. As mentioned above

I want a lady on the street, but a freak in the bed, Go Bucks!!
 
Ambition:
honestly they need to be better at netwroking if they jsut see you once and ask for favors, if they are doing that then dont help them period, but if they ask you to go out drink coffee get to you better wait a little bit and then starting asking you for favors then in my opinion they are interested in you other than just using you.

I would try to keep the business card on the down low. As mentioned above

Yeah, this seems right. I gave out way too many business cards in my previous networking events, and I guess these people are desperate and are willing to call up anyone. One guy in particular called me up at work out of the blue when I haven't had ANY contact with him in about a year. He then invites me for coffee and tries to sell his new startup's services. I never responded with a follow-up because my fund is not interested. He then calls again, saying, "Hey, i got laid off at the startup. But I wanted to re-connect and discuss my career goals." Obviously I did not respond.

 

^Haha yea man it seems like he was just trying to get something out of you. I personally believe you made the correct choice.

I want a lady on the street, but a freak in the bed, Go Bucks!!
 

Like what many others have mentioned above, I agree that networking has to be sincere (or at least appear to be that case). Nobody is going to help you if you just show your cards on the table during your first meeting, it is simply poor form and makes the relationship seem one-way and mercenary (as opposed to friendships). What I usually do is to keep in contact for say, 1 month, and after 3-5 emails and phone conversations before I initiate the 'ask'. Only time I'll ask on the first try is when I specifically wrote that I'm looking for an internship and the guy agrees to give me an informational interview i.e. he knows my intentions.

 

Ask good questions.

Don't go into the call thinking that you're a wealth of knowledge, though. You will sound dumb (because these guys know substantially more than you) and arrogant.

A good call/email/meeting manifests in having a good rapport and learning something you didn't know beforehand.

I come from down in the valley, where mister when you're young, they bring you up to do like your daddy done
 

he's probably just busy, or the email got lost, or he read it and was checking his calender for a time and then got carried away with something else.. Just wait for a few more days, then email him again. If you already emailed for a time and then call directly, it seems very very desperate lol.

I don't accept sacrifices and I don't make them. ... If ever the pleasure of one has to be bought by the pain of the other, there better be no trade at all. A trade by which one gains and the other loses is a fraud.
 

WSO Networking guide has alot of templates for these EXACT situations my friend. I have it and have used it to get some informational interviews with MD's at boutiques. I am also from a NON target probably more NON target than your school perhaps. Give it a shot you wont regret it :)

I hope this is better than the last batch of shit you gave me. Produced more wood than Ron Jeremy. I don't want you to yell, "Reco!" anymore. Know what you should yell? "Timber!" Yeah, Mr. Fuckin' wood.
 

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