Sophomore year - about a 150 cold calls/emails to land a single internship at a boutique firm. Junior year - 12 resume drops, 10 offers.

Honestly, a lot depends on your individual situation in terms of age/resume development year to year.

dollas
 

Just a quick question from a confused high school senior. Is it even possible to get an internship/summer job at a bank at my age (18). I've been trying to get a job at a local bank like TD Canada Trust as a teller or something but haven't had any luck.

Am i retarded for worrying that not having relevant work experience during my grade 12 summer is going to screw me over in the future?

I'm not trolling, I'm just a keener who really wants to work in finance and get a head start on my peers.

 
Jnews:
Just a quick question from a confused high school senior. Is it even possible to get an internship/summer job at a bank at my age (18). I've been trying to get a job at a local bank like TD Canada Trust as a teller or something but haven't had any luck.

Am i retarded for worrying that not having relevant work experience during my grade 12 summer is going to screw me over in the future?

I'm not trolling, I'm just a keener who really wants to work in finance and get a head start on my peers.

I don't think it's going to matter if you have experience as a teller if you're trying to break into investment banking.
''You can fool some of the people all of the time, and those are the ones you need to concentrate on.'' — President George W. Bush 0.5 bb
 

While this may seem counter intuitive, 'networking' is not entirely a numbers game. Focus on building quality contacts instead spraying everyone's inbox with emails. My approach has always been to target people with a very specific background that precisely mirrors what I hope to pursue, and consequently I have never had to send more than five emails before landing interviews and an offer, starting freshman summer. I would spend more time refining your knowledge than using spammy methods that will only attract scorn.

 
Macro Arbitrage:
While this may seem counter intuitive, 'networking' is not entirely a numbers game. Focus on building quality contacts instead spraying everyone's inbox with emails. My approach has always been to target people with a very specific background that precisely mirrors what I hope to pursue, and consequently I have never had to send more than five emails before landing interviews and an offer, starting freshman summer. I would spend more time refining your knowledge than using spammy methods that will only attract scorn.
I think this is good advice.
''You can fool some of the people all of the time, and those are the ones you need to concentrate on.'' — President George W. Bush 0.5 bb
 
Macro Arbitrage:
While this may seem counter intuitive, 'networking' is not entirely a numbers game. Focus on building quality contacts instead spraying everyone's inbox with emails. My approach has always been to target people with a very specific background that precisely mirrors what I hope to pursue, and consequently I have never had to send more than five emails before landing interviews and an offer, starting freshman summer. I would spend more time refining your knowledge than using spammy methods that will only attract scorn.

When did you graduate? And, what do you mean by "spend more time refining your knowledge"?

I do try to build quality contacts, however, it's hard for me to follow up after the first1-2 talks/emails... I know people say to email them articles and blah blah, but I think it's retarded... how else do you maintain and develop quality contacts?

 
WallStreetStandard:
I do try to build quality contacts, however, it's hard for me to follow up after the first1-2 talks/emails... I know people say to email them articles and blah blah, but I think it's retarded... how else do you maintain and develop quality contacts?

It's honestly like staying in touch with girls. Networking and dating are similar in a creepy way (except that you usually end up with more money, not less)

Send them things that might interest them, take them out for coffee or drinks and BS with them, if you see them in the news shoot them an email that says "good job," remember to send them a christmas card, etc. Ultimately, people love to be made to feel important without sucking up.

What I forgot to say in my post in that of those places I cold called/cold emailed, while I didn't get a job offer from many, I got a ton of new clients from people who took the time to turn me down and I stayed in touch with later.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 
CRE:
WallStreetStandard:
I do try to build quality contacts, however, it's hard for me to follow up after the first1-2 talks/emails... I know people say to email them articles and blah blah, but I think it's retarded... how else do you maintain and develop quality contacts?

It's honestly like staying in touch with girls. Networking and dating are similar in a creepy way (except that you usually end up with more money, not less)

Send them things that might interest them, take them out for coffee or drinks and BS with them, if you see them in the news shoot them an email that says "good job," remember to send them a christmas card, etc. Ultimately, people love to be made to feel important without sucking up.

What I forgot to say in my post in that of those places I cold called/cold emailed, while I didn't get a job offer from many, I got a ton of new clients from people who took the time to turn me down and I stayed in touch with later.

Sending Christmas cards sounds so phony... lol

So you went for a coffee once, twice (what's next?)... usually with girls after a couple of times if you don't see the benefit, you cut it... but here it's different... even if you don't see the benefit now, as you mentioned, they may help you some time in the near or far future...

 
Best Response
WallStreetStandard:
Sending Christmas cards sounds so phony... lol

So you went for a coffee once, twice (what's next?)... usually with girls after a couple of times if you don't see the benefit, you cut it... but here it's different... even if you don't see the benefit now, as you mentioned, they may help you some time in the near or far future...

Ya but these are typically old school guys. The whole "there's a right way to do things" method.

Fair point on the "if you don't see the benefit you cut it" call, but you have to think of it as traditional "dating" not today's hookup or exclusive gf culture.

Basically you're doing whatever it takes so that when you actually need something from them it isn't contrived. It's a really long term stance, and I know this is hard to explain because it's something that's more instinctive than anything, but you just have to "stay in touch."

I have a VC friend who is a couple years older than me and we just hang out. Drinks after work once a month or every other month, I'll throw him tickets to a game or go with him, etc. Originally, I wanted to work at his fund - now he tells the startups he funds about my company and we lease all of their office space. It works. There's another big time local developer who I stay in touch with. I met him through my dad, contacted him on my own, and stay in touch. He's older so we have less in common, but when I see him in the news I tell him good work, always make a point to talk to him at professional functions, and offer to buy him dinner at the club every now and then. He, in turn, also has funneled people my way after originally telling me that he doesn't have any job openings.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 
WallStreetStandard:
Macro Arbitrage:
While this may seem counter intuitive, 'networking' is not entirely a numbers game. Focus on building quality contacts instead spraying everyone's inbox with emails. My approach has always been to target people with a very specific background that precisely mirrors what I hope to pursue, and consequently I have never had to send more than five emails before landing interviews and an offer, starting freshman summer. I would spend more time refining your knowledge than using spammy methods that will only attract scorn.

When did you graduate? And, what do you mean by "spend more time refining your knowledge"?

I do try to build quality contacts, however, it's hard for me to follow up after the first1-2 talks/emails... I know people say to email them articles and blah blah, but I think it's retarded... how else do you maintain and develop quality contacts?

A few years back.

Depends on what you want to pursue. For me it was quantitative trading and FICC s&T, hence I spent my time following markets, testing strategies, working on my programming (was not a CS major), learning statistical techniques that extend beyond what is taught at an undergrad stage, reading as many trading books as possible and things of that nature. If I were interested in IB, fuck knows what I'd do - perhaps create fantasy pitch books?

Grab coffee or lunch with them every few months to catch up, follow up on things discussed previously and keep them updated on your progress. If you're lucky you might randomly bump into them sometimes outside work (happened to me twice) and those serendipitous instances tend to be the most beneficial. I should also mention that I don't ever recall reaching out to analysts and associate, only VP and above.

 
corneliustone:
How many online job applications before getting your first job/internship?

and if you got your position via networking,

How many cold emails?

Thank you

Job:

  1. 400+. I was incredibly unfocused and it probably showed. Applied to banking, PE, VC, CRE, consulting, and advertising.

  2. You bet your ass. Worked hard using connections, taking low level people out to coffee to gain insight, cold emailing principals, and stepped up to the plate when the opportunity arose.

  3. 400+? 500+? An absolute shit ton

Things worth noting: I went to perhaps the furthest thing from a target school, got mediocre to crap grades, and was a Political Science major with an Econ minor. Now my resume/accomplishments were pretty badass, but there were a TON of hurdles to jump over. Got 5 unpaid internship opportunities (lolno) and 2 job offers. Took an analyst spot at a top 3 commercial real estate brokerage firm's regional office (already got promoted less than 6 months in) over a backoffice job at a consulting firm and I love my work.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

I did 2 rounds of networking, 200 and 350 people respectively. Literally reached out to 500 people, only about 50 people responded. Non-target here with a good gpa/major but not relevant.

ending up getting my internship which is solid and am really happy about through an alumni...one of the few I had.

disclaimer: I was a sophomore from a non-target so it was that much harder. Worth it? Yes, even though I spent probably 10 hours a week for the entire spring trying to reach out to people. Spoke to a ton on the phone, only couple interviews which I bombed...luckily a sophomore. Now i know what not to mess up for next year recruiting.

Sucked though, all my friends were partying, and I was stuck in my room talking to professionals and emailing more

 
CRE:
corneliustone:

How many online job applications before getting your first job/internship?

and if you got your position via networking,

How many cold emails?

Thank you

Job:

1. 400+. I was incredibly unfocused and it probably showed. Applied to banking, PE, VC, CRE, consulting, and advertising.

2. You bet your ass. Worked hard using connections, taking low level people out to coffee to gain insight, cold emailing principals, and stepped up to the plate when the opportunity arose.

3. 400+? 500+? An absolute shit ton

Things worth noting: I went to perhaps the furthest thing from a target school, got mediocre to crap grades, and was a Political Science major with an Econ minor. Now my resume/accomplishments were pretty badass, but there were a TON of hurdles to jump over. Got 5 unpaid internship opportunities (lolno) and 2 job offers. Took an analyst spot at a top 3 commercial real estate brokerage firm's regional office (already got promoted less than 6 months in) over a backoffice job at a consulting firm and I love my work.

You're the man!

 

...no cold-calling...no internet job boards. I got my first job by asking someone in my network about opportunities at his company. He delivered. I also got my 2nd and my current job that way. That's the way that pro's do it. If you're firing off online applications and resumes, then you're fxcked. All of these stories of failure should prove that, but people are too lazy to change. Clicking "submit" is the easy way out.

 
Vinsanity:

...no cold-calling...no internet job boards. I got my first job by asking someone in my network about opportunities at his company. He delivered. I also got my 2nd and my current job that way. That's the way that pro's do it. If you're firing off online applications and resumes, then you're fxcked. All of these stories of failure should prove that, but people are too lazy to change. Clicking "submit" is the easy way out.

and what do you do if you don't have those connections already?... i mean some people just don't have any in the financial industry. not how the "pros do it"...more like how the "lucky, well-connected already" do it

 

...you create them.

Not many people are born with lots of valuable career connections. Your little commentary about "lucky" and "well-connected" is just an excuse to explain why you failed without blaming yourself. Rather than admitting that you did a shxtty job networking and preparing, you throw around words like "lucky" to spare your ego and justify just doing more-of-the-same...even though it's not working.

Like I said, clicking "submit" is more easy than dealing with the truth and doing the work. If you're sending out hundreds of applications, emails and resumes, then somewhere along the road, you fxcked up. It's as simple as that.

 

Before first internship ever: 5-ish applications. Before first finance internship: 50-ish applications + cold emails total Before first FT position: 300+ applications and cold emails/calls total Before current position: 80-ish cold emails

Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 

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