Networking trip during spring break

I'm a student, currently a junior. I am thinking of flying out to my target city (Houston) and doing some networking during spring break. Would this really be beneficial to me? Full time recruiting won't start till August, and intern recruiting is going to be wrapped up by then. I may or may not be working in Houston this summer. I suppose I shouldn't be hesitant to spend a little money on a short vacation if it helps me get the career I want, but nevertheless, I'd like to hear your thoughts on how useful this would be for me, and what I can do to take advantage of the opportunity. Thanks.

 

Many things about this confuse me: 1) What do you mean you "may" be working in Houston this summer? Lock down this summer before you start worrying about full-time recruiting. You will be shit out of luck for full-time if you don't have something at least half decent this summer. 2) Where are you flying from? 3) Is this for IBD? 4) Where do you go to school? Why can't you just network with alumni over the phone? Not sure how much more value-add an in person meetings will be if you can just do a call.

 
Best Response

Not sure what your basis for #4 is, but it's way off base. Networking in person is infinitely more effective than over the phone (okay not infinitely because phone calls do have some value).

OP, I would say that it would be helpful. I think you could talk to people about FT as well as maybe score a good gig for this summer. Also, it will give you an idea of what Houston is like (if you haven't been there before). Also, not that there's a shortage of things to do in NO, but Houston has some cool things you could do while you're there.

 

More effective, sure, but strong networking skills and several phone calls can eliminate any marginal benefit of booking a trip and meeting people in person. My basis is knowing several non-targets who secured BB SA internships without flying up to NY for networking trips--they simply had several calls with a wide range of people, hit it off really well with some (to the extent that bankers even helped with mock interviews via phone) and crushed the interviews. Another data point is personally having secured an offer for a BB internship without having stepped foot into the firm prior to my interview--networking calls were sufficient in getting my resume pulled for interviews.

Maybe region of interest and timing makes OPs situation different, but if it were me, I'd opt to spend spring break on the beach with friends and set up networking calls to meet / chat with people afterwards.

 

Landing your summer gig is probably more important than networking for FT. I'd be calling anyone you can at those shops to ensure that you have something solid lined up for this summer. If you don't have good experience going into FT, you're going to get crushed.

If you think you're going to have a solid gig lined up this summer regardless, I'd blast out emails to try to set up meetings. If you get traction and can line up a bunch of meetings, it'd definitely be worthwhile to fly down.

 

Thanks to all for the insights. I will start emailing me my contacts and making sure they are willing to meet up. It may give me an edge for summer internship recruiting in case I am invited to come for a meeting or interview by any of the firms which are considering me. Honestly, if I stayed home I would just be sleeping and studying anyway. The beaches in New Orleans are pretty bad.

 

Okay so I don't know where you're from, but if you can't take off a Friday for a networking trip, I'd love to know what it is you're doing this summer that seems to supersede the importance of a networking trip (for what I'm assuming is a better job than what you're doing right now). I'm working for a pretty large asset mgmt firm and I was able to take a trip to Chicago earlier, and have another planned for NY in August. If you're proactive about it, I don't see why you can't take even ~one~ Friday off...

To that point, no, bankers don't want to spend their easier/less shitty days of the week on some kid from (insert state here). This isn't a hard & fast trend, but I met with too many i-bankers & PE/credit guys to know that 9/10 times they will try to schedule for Thursday/Fri, sometimes early Saturday. Again, it's up to you, but if you're spending the time & money, and you ~~really want that job at GS, then just ask for the day off. Or just call in sick. I don't really care, but the logic upon which you created this post really rustles my jimmies (hence my need to semi-rant at you).

tl;dr;

take a weekday off for the trip, you'll be better for it

 

Thanks for the answer. Just want to know where you are getting info from if possible (eg: are you a student or experienced banker?).

Sorry for the rustled jimmies, I can send over some moisturizer if you want.

 

Networking trips are definitely worth the time and money, but I would not go to Hong Kong. I did them to NYC, Chi, and LA, cost about $700 between the three of them because I knew someone with whom I could stay in each city. Was completely worth it and directly led to interview with firms which on paper would have seemed to be out of my league.

 

I am in Hong Kong for the next few weeks but I haven't started doing any networking yet. Do you guys think I have enough time to set up some informational interviews and develop some connections?

 

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