Linkedin Dilemma
Fellow Primates,
I consider myself fortunate to have connected with a somewhat distant family relative, who has a broad depth of experience in the industry, mainly with hedge funds and structured products. I added him as a contact on Linkedin and he offered to consider putting me in contact with any of his contacts that I think would be a valuable connection for me, in order to move up in the industry from my somewhat lowly current stance. After going through the roughly 500 contacts present, I distilled them down to about 100, ranging in rank from Analyst to <span class='keyword_link'><a href="/resources/careers/jobs/managing-director-md">Senior Managing Director</a></span>. These contacts work at a breadth of firms, from smaller sized hedge funds to <span class='keyword_link'><a href="/company/bulge-bracket-investment-banks">American <abbr title="bulge bracket">BB</abbr></a></span>'s, Swiss BB's and and two or so well known French banks. I am stuck at this spot. What would be the best system for prioritizing this list of condensed contacts? My end objective is to somehow network myself into a junior or assistant trading role in a <span class='keyword_link'><a href="/resources/skills/finance/sell-side">sell side rotational program</a></span>. I am at a stand still in this regard, because most of these contacts are strongly entrenched in the structured products asset class. Would I be better off articulating a strong and focused interest in structured products? My background has been in trading mostly equities, with some options sprinkled in.
-bryce
x
Thats no dilemma bro, it's a gold mine
+1. I would love to have that "dilemma.:
exactly! It's a gold mine! Well said MFSL27
Look at the most senior people in that list and see if they fit your main interest. If you get connected via your relative they will sure be willing to sit down, talk on the phone or help you out in some way. Slowly move down the ranks as you progress, but since its your career and you want to get the maximum out of it, start with the most powerful people first.
part of me wants to say troll?
I actually have a similar "dilemma"- I've been contemplating whether I should get in touch with a relative via linkedin, except most of his contacts are in India's Private Equity industry. It just feels a bit awkward considering that I haven't spoken to him in over a decade... Regardless, I'm not interested in Private Equity nor am I interested in working in India.
arbit nothing wrong with that.. thats why its family :)
Guys,
Thanks for the Replies. Derivs, sorry to break you bubble, but this post is the real deal. I realize that with some of those contacts, my relative might be really going out on a limb to vouch for me, and since they are distributed among just a small hand full of firms, I feel as though there is very little margin for error in choosing exactly the right person to network with, especially among the most senior ranks. Omoba, thanks for your input, I agree with what you are saying starting at the top down, I just wasn't sure initially.
-bryce
I also forgot to mention that when replying to his offer, I asked him what particular firm he considered his network to be the strongest. Would this come off as insulting somehow, or too bluntly opportunistic?
-bryce
Bryce you are right to ask him where his contacts are the strongest. If he is willing to help you, its better for him to choose a buddy of his who will do him a favor than a guy he met twice and has on linkedin... Make sure to mention your position preferences and then for him to select a contact or two even!
I would stay very focused. I have friends that just want to network with everyone. Not a good idea and makes everyone look bad
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