Meeting with near Fortune 500 CEO - How do I go about it?
I am currently a freshman in college and have been networking for an internship, and just to get my name out there (I go to a non-target school). A near fortune 500 company, who mainly focuses on manufacturing, operates their HQ in the city I attend school at. They recently promoted their CFO to CEO, and I reached out to him. A professor of mine who is more or less of a mentor, told me that he is the most intelligent man he's ever met, and that Wall St. loves him. I wasn't expecting to hear anything back, but he asked me to get coffee with him this week. How would you guys approach this? Do I try to sell myself for a finance-related internship at his company? Or should I focus more on building a connection, and possibly a mentor? I would assume that he'd have connections to IB's, which I would need in the future, as again, I go to a non-target. Anyways, is there any other suggestions you guys may have for me? Such as conversation topics, questions for him, etc.
I think having this guy as a mentor will be immensely more valuable than just asking for a hookup on a job. Over time, you could leverage this to get an internship at the company if he is impressed. People love talking about themselves. For the first meeting you may want to discuss his career path, his company, and his industry. If you have some rockstar insights relating to things the company currently has going on, this would be an ideal time to bring them up as tidbits for conversation.
From there, you can gain enough insights into what interests him to maintain the relationship between now and when you are looking for work. Congratulate him on big news that comes through (such as achievements in the industry, unique approaches the business takes) or occasionally pass along personal tidbits he may find interesting.
Good luck!
As someone who thought he was useful as a freshman, I can say that freshman know absolute jack shit about anything. Even many junior interns are more of a cost than a benefit. You're not going to be able to add value for him, so like Managerette said, make a connection. This is a guy that probably has an insane amount of connections, and he'd be extremely valuable to have as a mentor.
MM CEO Meeting (Originally Posted: 05/07/2012)
Hey Gents, By chance I snagged a meeting with the CEO of a MM Firm. I have a good idea of what I am going to say but wanted some tips/ other questions I could ask him...
I am looking for any position within any of the divisions whether it be IB, research, etc...
Thanks for any and all feedback...
-Reaper
I usually went for personal questions/getting to know them, then to firm specific questions, then ask if they are looking to hire any interns/analysts. I'm sure he knows what you're looking to get out of it, so just make a good impression.
Questions about meeting with a High Level Exec? (Originally Posted: 10/02/2010)
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Hello BankerC159, I guess the best you can do is show him what a benefit you would be to his company and maybe research his company to see if there are any projects/current issues that you have any thoughts on. Beyond this, even the biggest exec. is human after all and there has to be a connection on an interpersonal level. Best of luck!
Let them do the talking and dictate the direction of the meeting. I learned that from meeting a chairman and a couple of department heads last summer, I just sat there listening to their tales, analogies, and agreeing with them whilst also displaying intelligence through smart commentary.
Has meeting with a high up exec ever led to a direct job offer in anyone's case? I'm not sure if they have any openings, but I'm hoping if the meeting goes well it will lead to one.
Thanks
Also, I was wondering if anyone had thoughts on how to dress for a meeting like this?
I was going to assume just a suit and tie as if it was an interview. But I'm not sure if meetings like this call for something different.
suit and tie, play it safe.
Meeting a CEO (Originally Posted: 03/15/2008)
Guys,
I am trying to get a job in PE. I will be soon be meeting a CEO of PE firm. My friend will be introducing him. My point from the conversation with is to get a DAMN PE JOB. He is too too high level and this is a sort of an informal interview.
I am not sure how to connect my back ground with him and how to sell my self to him? How do I flow with the conversatuion and be mature like him?? Please advice how to handle such a situation and impress him
Thanks,
well selling yourself to him will be up to you. But if i can offer any advice, its to not be intimated by him because of his position. You should go into it knowing that he's human as well and that he can make mistakes just like everyone else.
I've had meetings with people where I somtimes felt overly tense and felt like I had to make a really strong impression just because they were the president of PE or head of investment banking and those ones never really went well.
Go in confident,relaxed and be personable and if it goes well he will openly offer you something without you brining it up. He knows why your there.
Relaxing will go a long way. Make sure you have a good story for why you're there... it's a bit hard to help without knowing what your background is specifically.
Don't worry so much about being "mature" worry more about showing why you're interested in PE. So if you've been a finance guy, maybe you want to learn more about the operational side of things. Or if you've done banking, the standard answer is to actually be able to think about/analyze companies rather than just sell them.
When I was doing PE interviews I gave a combination of the above 2 points for the "Why PE?" answer and it seemed to work well.
However, if you give a generic answer like those, be prepared to also give anecdotes backing up what you say... I talked about some specific stories where I thought the company was bad and didn't want to sell it but had no choice... anything like that is good.
when you're interviewing with the CEO, i think he's really just trying to feel you out for culture fit. definitely make sure you understand what both you and the firm stand for, and be able to talk about your values and your "softer skills." you should really have a compelling story about your life to date, and why you want to do private equity.
make sure you come across as someone poised, humble, and curious to learn. don't be intimidated by the CEO and do not go overboard on the flattery; in fact, what you really need to show is respect for him and the firm, as well as an understanding of the firm and where it's going in the coming years and obviously how you fit into those plans.
my comments are based on my own interactions with C-level executives at private equity firms. in every case, they happened during the final or penultimate round of my PE interviews.
hope this helps, and best of luck!
Just treat him like a normal person. If you got in the door, he will know you are smart enough to do the job. It is nearly all about making him like you as a person. If you can turn the topics of conversation away from PE, I think you will do best. Just tell some funny stories and try to engage him.
Meeting With Senior Execs (Originally Posted: 08/10/2012)
First post in here, been reading for awhile but haven't had much to post about.
Question for anyone that's done this before from either side of the equation - I'm meeting with some senior HR execs at a very large bank next week. It's nothing formal, just grabbing some coffee at one of the guy's offices in NYC. While it's not a formal interview, I obviously want to leave a good impression so they would be more willing to put in a good word for me in the year to come as I'm graduating from college next spring. Is there anything in specific I should prepare for/avoid/mention?
Background, I interned at a financial advisory with a hedge fund over the summer who is now sponsoring me for my 65 and asked me to work part time as an analyst for the school year. I go to a smaller top 20 undergrad business school in the Boston area with a decent GPA.
Thank you for the help.
Not knowing what the position is, it's hard to say on the technical side what you should prepare for. My advice is to act like a normal person. This seems obvious, but there are so many over-eager nerds that really grate on you. Don't say thing like, "I like numbers." Just have a conversation and learn about what they do, without being too nosy. Be prepared for douchey questions like: where do you see yourself in 5 years? Why this firm? Why this role? Why you over other candidates? Strengths? Weaknesses? Etc...
Good luck. Also, bring a hard copy of your resume.
Hi SirTradesaLot, I am in a similar situation as OP, will meet senior guys soon. I am not sure about the resume part, because bringning it may appear a little desperate. But I do want them to ask for it. Thought?
It's not a specific position, that's my dilemma. If it was a specific position it would be standard interview prep but it's just an essentially informal meeting with a connection I got through a family member.
That helps though, thank you. Going to have to get a leather bound notebook for my resume.
Meeting the CEO (Originally Posted: 03/28/2012)
Hey guys,
First, I want to thank everybody for helping me. I have made such huge progress in advancing my career do to WSO and the members here. I have now been given a HUGE opportunity and do not want to screw it up. I work at a huge BB and love this firm but I am not happy with my role within. I have been networking my butt off and have made huge in roads to every line of business: IBD, PWM, AM and ER. My IBD network is my deepest as I am in constantly trading emails with the CEO-IBD and EVP of IBD-HR. Well, I found out yesterday that the head honcho of my BB is coming to my town soon. I emailed my connections and asked for some face time with this CEO. They are able to arrange a photo op and about hinted id have his attention for 30 secs max. Is there anything I can do in those 30 secs to help my network?
Make them laugh, preferably not at you. You have 30 seconds to stand out so just be cool. If you can't do that, then simply don't fuck up.
Or you could just throw a shaving cream pie in their face and shout "99% FTW!!!"
Just make sure you get it on camera, I need a laugh
Do some research on him and find some common ground to shoot the shit over. Tell him thanks for taking the time to meet and, if he can spare the time your team would appreciate meeting him as well.
or
Slap him in the face with your cock and yell nice shoes bitch!
Either one.
Slip him a c-note
C-note?? That would definitely get a laugh.
CEOs always want to talk about 9/11 conspiracies
CEO-IBD?
lol.
when he walks past you just extend your leg out and trip him on accident, lay down right on top of him and start asking questions. you will have his undivided attention.
I will do some research on him and just try to shine in those few secs and see what happens. The other suggestions would be very funny and a good way to go out with a bang (and get on you-tube) so they are still under consideration.
The way my BB is set up there are CEO's of a Line of Business. So there is a CEO of I-Banking. He is a cool guy. I e-mailed him at work one day because I was bored and felt risky and he replied back in like 30 mins from his Blackberry. I shoot him e-mails every few weeks.
In all seriousness. I am very very very low on the totem pole here and these execs treat me as a peer. I am very happy with this BB but just want to have a better role within. 30 secs with the CEO wont do anything job wise (right now) but still it puts positive attention on me. I have already had my regional manager call me about it today. I owe alot of this to y'all so thanks.
P.S.: Thanks for the crude suggestions I knew I would get them and I love them. I always like a good laugh at work.
i'll give OP 10 SBs if his antics put him on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.
ask him his WSO username
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