NY Networking: Weekend vs. Mon-wed trips

Planning a networking trip to NY soon to meet an equal number of bankers and sales & trading guys. I have a shitty schedule so the majority of my classes are near the end of the week (thursday/friday) so I'll miss a huge chunk of class if I go on a weekend trip. Are mon-wed trips looked on any differently? Will people still have time to meet you? I don't mind missing class to network, I just want to minimize the impact to my GPA.

 

Agreed. Overkill. Just do phone conversations. They are far better. People simply do not have the option to judge you on appearance, so they will simply make judgement based on your oral communication skills.

 
chi312:
they will simply make judgement based on your oral communication skills.
Besides, when you're in person, they're judging you on other oral skills.
I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 
chi312:
Agreed. Overkill. Just do phone conversations. They are far better. People simply do not have the option to judge you on appearance, so they will simply make judgement based on your oral communication skills.

some people see being viewed based on appearance to be a good thing, you know. we're not all as ugly as you.

in person visits are more memorable since you can put a face to the name, etc., but they're also more of a hassle for the person you're meeting with since they have to actually give you all their attention vs. just having you on headset while working on something else more important. This can be a good thing if you make a good impression, not so good otherwise.

 
frank_reynolds:
chi312:

Agreed. Overkill. Just do phone conversations. They are far better. People simply do not have the option to judge you on appearance, so they will simply make judgement based on your oral communication skills.

some people see being viewed based on appearance to be a good thing, you know. we're not all as ugly as you.

Hahahaha, I just died.

"I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature."
 
Best Response

Probably better at the weekend to be honest. My Fridays tend to be more open than Mondays, but I would reach out to the specific guys you are looking to meet. Make sure you have enough meetings lined up to make it worth your while because invariably a few guys will have to cancel due to unforeseen meetings/getting jammed up last minute. I would recommend doing the face to face meet vs. over the phone. Not sure what these other guys are talking about but they are off base. Getting them on the phone is ok, but definitely not preferable to a face to face sit down... AT ALL. You definitely want to get in front of many people as you can in PERSON, as it makes a big difference. There are so many things you cannot communicate over the phone, which is why important hiring decisions are almost always made after meeting someone in person... not much of a counter argument to it. Good luck with your meetings.

 
rufiolove:

Probably better at the weekend to be honest. My Fridays tend to be more open than Mondays, but I would reach out to the specific guys you are looking to meet. Make sure you have enough meetings lined up to make it worth your while because invariably a few guys will have to cancel due to unforeseen meetings/getting jammed up last minute. I would recommend doing the face to face meet vs. over the phone. Not sure what these other guys are talking about but they are off base. Getting them on the phone is ok, but definitely not preferable to a face to face sit down... AT ALL. You definitely want to get in front of many people as you can in PERSON, as it makes a big difference. There are so many things you cannot communicate over the phone, which is why important hiring decisions are almost always made after meeting someone in person... not much of a counter argument to it. Good luck with your meetings.

Seconded
"I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature."
 

I completely disagree with the notion that this is overkill, especially if you're from a non-target. It's hard to stand out over the phone with a networking phone call, and people will really remember you if you make the effort to go to New York and meet up with them. I don't know if I would have gotten my NYC interviews (and my eventual job) without a networking trip I did. Might be different for a target, but for a non-target it's amazing to put a face to a name and show that you're normal.

Also, I'd do Monday-Wednesday, people (especially bankers, not sure if traders will be as receptive) love taking coffee breaks to meet people to break up the day.

 
FatCatBanker:
I completely disagree with the notion that this is overkill, especially if you're from a non-target. It's hard to stand out over the phone with a networking phone call, and people will really remember you if you make the effort to go to New York and meet up with them. I don't know if I would have gotten my NYC interviews (and my eventual job) without a networking trip I did. Might be different for a target, but for a non-target it's amazing to put a face to a name and show that you're normal.

Also, I'd do Monday-Wednesday, people (especially bankers, not sure if traders will be as receptive) love taking coffee breaks to meet people to break up the day.

I agree... I love to take coffee breaks to get out of the office. It's tough to say if people are more or less busy on M-W vs. T/F but either way, I agree with FatCat that you should get in front of people in person, and they are likely to be impressed by the initiative and it isn't a huge inconvenience, since as he said they do go out for coffee daily. Just reach out and see which day works best for them and schedule enough meetings that it won't be a waste of time if a couple cancel on you. I threw out Fridays because they tend to be less busy for me (at least in recent memory), but others have more less front loaded work during the week. Key takeaway here is to get in front of people. At the very least you will get the "yeah I grabbed coffee with him, he seems like a good guy." Just that endorsement from a junior guy will make it more likely that an MD will take your call and look at your resume.

 

To be fair, I just did one two weeks ago. Even if you're NOT that awesome personable guy, you get better with experience.

My philosophy is to just go out there and give it your all and do your best. It's kinda hard to fuck up anything that badly. The worst thing that could happen is he seemed like a boring medicore guy (but he still met me and networked with me so whatever...) Def. do it. I'm going up there again in a week.

Also I showed up a in full business formal suit. All three of the bankers I met didn't even wear ties. (Citi, Jefferies, Moelis) one wear a sweater. It was kinda weird with me being more dressed than the banker.

 
DorianGray:
Also I showed up a in full business formal suit. All three of the bankers I met didn't even wear ties. (Citi, Jefferies, Moelis) one wear a sweater. It was kinda weird with me being more dressed than the banker.
They're stepping out from a sixteen-hour day. You're coming in of your own volition. Look the part. Be earnest. It's simple.
I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 

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