Meeting a vice chairman of a BB
So what can you say to impress the guy?
So what can you say to impress the guy?
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Nothing...just be confident, knowledgeable but don't try to speak on things beyond what you clearly understand. Be personable, clear, attentive and have good questions for him.
Yeah, what happy said... don't even try to impress him... you'll come across as "impressive" in his eyes if you are prepared, confident, and open-minded...
Focus on getting him to like you. Perhaps perform an illusion for him
Be yourself, be your best self. If he is meeting you he has an interest in helping. Be prepared to clearly articulate why you want a job in the industry and why you are a good hire. Plain and simple.
Be yourself, make a friend. I really cannot emphasize this enough. I guarantee he knows 1,000 kids with resumes better than yours, so how are you going to stand out? You're going to do it by making him like you as a person. You want him to walk away thinking "Damn, what a nice kid. He knows his stuff, is ambitious, and I'd love to have a beer with him at some point. I see a bit of my younger self in him. I'd love to help him out."
That's how you stand out, that's how you beat the odds, that's how you get hired. Make him like you as a person.
Out of curiosity, is it at all normal to meet the vice chairman? To me its pretty insane the guy would be nice enough to give some of his time to just chat with some kid he doesn't know. What can he do after such a meeting, raise his finger and recommend you be hired or make sure you never are?
Where/When are you meeting this guy? I had an MD meet me once over dinner but I think he just did it so he could charge the firm for it...sort of kidding
That would be kind of sad... the guy should be able to afford his own dinner so Im sure he was doing it as a favor. Besides after your an MD and done cutting everyone's throat its good to show some kindness and support to the younger fellows who pose no immediate threat and will make you feel young again.
The more and more i network, actually i realized this a while ago its just being ingrained more and more, I realize getting a S&T/IBD role is like dating, you play your cards right, look good and confident, make a raucous around you (sort of like the legend precedes the Dos XX man) and get them to fall head over heals, but preferably avoid the bad one night stands cause girls talk, and if they cant get with you again they'll at least tell their friends it was a blast.
Ask him how it felt when Paulson told him straight up his firm is taking TARP money.
depends on the setting... if it's like a dinner at your parents house or something social along those lines (this is where I typically meet these kind of higher ups), then I find the best thing you can do to help yourself is show up with a VERY HOT girl. If you're not dating one at the time, talk to your hottest chick friend and tell her to come and laugh at your jokes so that the big man will think you're cool.
He actually will. I'm not kidding and I've done this before.
Meeting with Executive Director (Originally Posted: 05/20/2017)
A director from out of town will be in the office next week and I am scheduled to have an informal meeting. He is my director's boss and we have not met before.
Any suggestions on what to expect and talk about? I'm thinking this is a get-to-know-you opportunity but was hoping to get advice on how to make the best impression and where to steer the conversation.
bump
Meeting with Vice Chairman? (Originally Posted: 06/30/2010)
So I have an informational interview thing with a vice chairman of Trust Company of the West next Wednesday. I'm not exactly sure how to go about this since he's so... up there? It feels pretty informal, we're meeting at his house, so what's the appropriate attire for that? Polo and khakis? In addition... What the heck do you do in an informational interview to make a good impression? Ask retardedly in depth questions and sound like you did your homework? Haha.
Thanks guys.
I remember back in the day when I was a young kid hobnobbing with Henry Kravis, Steve Schwarzman, Steve Cohen, George Soros and Johnny Drama. All these informational interviews to set myself up for an opportunity to make money for them. The NYC nightlife, the weekends in the hamptons..ah to be networking again.
I wore nothing but Armani and Canali suits. For leisure/casual gatherings, Ralph Lauren polos. You go the informational and shoot the breeze, bring them a card and stick a 100 in there. That way they know you're a player and a friend.
Ask TCW's chairman how he got to be so baller. Where the market's headed and let him know just how badly you want to calculate mezzanine IRR's for him for the rest of your life.
Button down and khakis, better safe than sorry. I would think read up on the market and be able to speak intelligently about a couple stocks. Since you have an in, I would keep things informal. Don't be to forceful about working for his company. Maybe even ask him about other competing shops and what he thinks about jobs you have applied for at them.
ADVICE NEEDED! Meeting a very well connected and highly influential exec tmrw! (Originally Posted: 08/29/2013)
Here's some context:
Three years ago, I ran into this guy in downtown. We started speaking and he gradually started revealing details like being a Minister in the govt for two terms etc. I didn't know who he was when we were speaking, but I asked for his business card and saw that he was an 'Advisor' with a consulting firm. Cool.
I get home and see that he is on the board of some big companies, was a Minister for six (major) arms of government, and now advises governments and C-level executives.
I kept in touch with him, and three years later, we finally found a date to meet - tomorrow. It took so long because he's out of the country 99% of the time.
Anyway, here are my questions:
Has anyone on the forum had coffee with people of similar statures? What did you talk about? How did you drive the conversation?
This guy is a seasoned politician-turned-executive who has Prime Ministers on his rolodex (seriously, he was once on an engagement where he was advising the PM/Head Prince of a Middle Eastern country) - how do I leverage this connection to perhaps gain an interview? Does it sound appropriate/weird to ask someone of his caliber to introduce me to Partners? I feel like he could be good for MUCH bigger intros or favours in the future, and I don't want to bother him with anything petty...
Do I take my resume with me? Again, it sounds a little weird to do that. As much as I want to break into consulting, I'd much rather learn from this guy and hear about his stories.
Overall, how do I make this a convo multi-purpose: offer him something from my end (highly unlikely he needs anything from a college senior), leverage his connection to perhaps gain an interview, and learn from him at the same time?
I don't mean to sound selfish when I say I want to get an interview from this conversation. Just want to know if it'd be appropriate to bring up something of the sort. I wouldn't chase someone down for three years just for an interview.I have no problem not getting anything out of it at all, as long as I learn from his story...
The Minister's daughter ?
Smartest thing would probably to signal that you actually want to learn something from him, almost like a mentoring role. If he likes you, he'll go for it and he will probably help you as much as he can with whatever you need. For these kind of people almost anything is just a phone call away.
Just be yourself. Crack joke here and there. Relax. Like matrick said, see him as a mentor.
Yes. It’s happened twice and both times were some of the coolest (in a nerdy way) times in my life. I made sure to talk about him both times. Ask questions. People love telling their story to those who are interested.
Ask him for his “advice on your progression.” Let him bring it up. At most, I would say something like “do you know anyone else who would be willing to talk to me?” at the end of the coffee date. Always put the ball in his court.
Yes. Bring it with you, but don’t give it to him (or even bring it up) unless he asks. I’d carry a portfolio type folder with you and just keep it in there in case. You never know when a conversation could turn from good to awesome and you want to be prepared.
You know you have nothing to offer and he knows it too. I wouldn’t worry about that. Look at how many people give advice here on WSO when there’s nothing to learn in return – people like giving back. It is an act that is egotistical and selfless at the same time. Ask him smart questions, get along with him, and keep him talking about himself. You want him to “see himself in you” and if the conversation is mostly him talking, it’s just natural for that association to happen.
It’s not selfish at all. He knows it too, already, so again – don’t worry. Be relaxed but respectful and as people have said already – come at him like you’re looking for a mentor.
You have this!
Be yourself, don't be too upfront about asking for anything. Ask good questions.
focus more on hitting it off, and less on getting a professional opportunity
the rest will follow from there
Yes, I've met several such people but I wouldn't assume he has any ability to help you with your job search. At best, he might be able to refer you to someone who can refer you to someone who can help you. You'd be surprised at how little power these guys have to get things done. But, he probably does have some interesting stories! Matrick's advice is spot on.
Hey guys,
Thanks for all your advice.
Met him a couple of hours ago. We spoke for an hour - long story short, it was a great convo and he told me to keep in touch. Gave some really good advice and he had some amazing stories. To give you an idea, he is involved behind the scenes in quite a few events which make headlines.
He asked me about my ambitions and advised me on how to proceed. I feel like I drove the convo well as he spoke for most of the time (which is great) and I feel like we hit it off on a good note.
Anyway, thanks for your help once again!
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