Alumni Networking

Hey everyone! I've finally moved out of the finance life very recently into a more operationally-intensive role but this forum was tremendously helpful to me for years so I want to share my career path and thought process since I took some unconventional approaches. Brief background - Started...

09 Apr 2020

What is the worst, or most inappropriate attempt, of networking you have ever seen from someone trying to get a job?

17 Oct 2019

I'm a long time lurker but a first time poster. I stumbled on a great technique to find alumni from Non-Target schools on Bloomberg the other day. You can find relevant professionals in investment banking, equity research, private equity, etc. by using the "PEOP" Bloomberg search function. This was...

24 Jul 2017

Looking for advice on the structure of this cold email to an alumnus. I hope this email finds you well. My name is name and I'm currently a sophomore studying Computer Science and Engineering at target. While exploring different career paths within finance, I developed an interest in investment...

01 May 2020

Currently a sophomore who just accepted a SA 2021 position at a EB (Moe/Laz/Evr). I want to now reach out to everyone who I have networked with so far to thank them for their help and also update them on my offer. A lot of these people are from different firms and even at companies where I had...

14 Jun 2020

Hey, everyone! I am about to start networking, as I am preparing for a summer analyst position for next summer. I know that is pretty late, but I have to start somewhere. First of all, I wanted you guys to critique my cold email template. I have read a lot of other threads and I have composed one...

05 Dec 2020

Mod Note (Andy): #TBT Throwback Thursday - this was originally posted on 9/7/12. To see all of our top content from the past, click here. Kids ask how many bankers they need to contact or how many "informational interviews" they need to set up to score that magical offer. And then once they score...

07 Jan 2016

Hi all - just a networking/etiquette question. Throughout the recruiting process, I made lots and lots of connections at various firms. I ultimately interviewed with 5 firms and kept in touch with multiple people from those firms throughout the respective recruiting processes. Some even connected me...

02 Nov 2021

I'm a sophomore (non-target) currently going through the application/interview process for 2019 summer. I have heard suggestions from a couple of current junior analysts with whom I've spoken that they took a day trip to NYC solely for networking. I wanted to get some insight from current...

09 Apr 2018

I've read a lot in the forum about networking - in fact there's even a networking guide I can buy. However, WSO is quite a US-focused website so I assume networking is a big deal for New York IB's. I'm a student at a target uni (think UCL, Warwick, Imperial, LSE) for BB investment banks in London....

14 May 2018

I'm a rising sophomore at a semi-target, so there are alumni I can reach out to but not a lot. After I finish reaching out to alumni, should I also start networking with non-alums or is there really no point in that. Do non-alums even pull for you or only for people from their own school? Would it...

04 Jul 2020

I am a rising junior at a target school and I am somewhat anxious about entering consulting recruitment this fall. My GPA (3.54 communication major, business and history minor) I can't change at this point, and I am doing everything I can to prepare for interviews. I really think that networking...

29 Jun 2020

I'm from a semi-target school, at least enough that we have a recruiting team of alumni from my college. I've been networking and built some strong relationships with some associates / analysts however they're not alumni at my school. Are they able to still help if they wanted to or is it ultimately...

08 Jun 2020

Recruitment Season Since it is recruitment season, I thought I would write this post. For all those currently undergoing On Campus Recruitment, being a great network-ER is key. First impressions last and you need to make a great impression on the bankers. But after being to my fair share of...

01 Nov 2015

What do you think about this email template for alumni's. "Hello Mr. Name, I hope that this email finds you well. My name is [Full Name] and I am a sophomore a [Target University]. At school, I am involved in the Equity Society learning about DCF and fundamental analysis, which has led me to develop...

21 Jun 2018

This might be a very noob question, but I'm new to this. So, if I reach out to an alumni/recruiter or someone in the industry, what exactly do I talk about? Should I talk about my backgrounds, skills, and interests or ask them about their job? Or, should I ask them directly about openings in their...

08 Feb 2020

During an introductory seminar held in Paris that aimed to provide an overview of the whole London BB internship application landscape, hosted by a company specializing in helping its clients (typically undergraduate business school students) secure internship positions in BB IBD FO and in...

19 Jun 2018

Hello all, I will be getting coffee with an alumnus of a program I am interested in soon and wanted to ask for advice on appropriate things to ask them. Questions I plan to ask: did the program compliment your skills do you feel like you had access to useful connections / good firms and did you land...

24 Oct 2018

A VP called me and we chatted, but I couldn't pick up his name. I searched people at the firm, and I for some reason thought it was another VP (Bob), so when I called him back, I called him (Bob) and he didn't correct me. Later, I realized he was a different VP and I called him by the wrong name....

22 May 2020

Good Evening fellow chimps, Facing turbulent times and I could use some advice. I am attending - with only one internship (assistant to a Financial Adviser) under my belt. I am currently getting - place so I will have to work part time to support myself. Has anyone worked part time done an...

25 Jul 2017

I am a rising sophomore and aspiring buy-side analyst at a Canadian university. I thought I'd share the importance of LinkedIn and how it has helped me contact alumni and expand my network. I attend a small school with a tight knit alumni base. Due to its smaller size compared to other schools, I...

15 May 2015

Hey folks, I want to get your thoughts on this email I am planning on sending to this Allumni to follow up on my application. Background info: I networked a decent amount at this AM firm over the summer, and all of the allumni I spoke with said to keep them updated with my application. What I will...

13 Oct 2020

How impactful is networking outside of actually learning about the firms and their practices? I can see how knowing about firms will let you answer why consulting and why X firm much better, but I am curious if there are serious benefits outside of that and direct referrals. I am thinking about this...

03 Jul 2020

Has anyone had any luck with the old adage of constantly networking in 2020? Any tips, stories, experiences on how people are going about networking / job hunting these days? Other than a few friendly texts / emails every few months I have no idea how to replace the happy hour / coffee sessions. In...

03 Jul 2020

Background: My university does not have OCR, and I leveraged a contact in my alumni network who agreed to arrange some Superdays for me in Toronto in 6 weeks (he is an MD, and head of fixed income at a BB, and well connected with other BBs). Moreover he said his bank would take care of my...

21 Jul 2015

Hi all, I'm currently a rising sophomore interested in a BB's sophomore program next summer, and have been networking with alum over the past few weeks. I've been prepared for all the phone calls and had solid questions prepared, however as I start to network with the more senior people, I was...

24 Jun 2020

I messaged a high school alumnus who works in IB on LinkedIn: Me: (Introduce myself and ask for career advice) Alumnus: "I actually do [remember you]! It would take quite a while to type, so lets get on a call for a quick chat. Best, Alumnus" Me: (Explain why a mobile-to-mobile call is not possible,...

24 Oct 2017

Hi everybody. I am heading to NYC this week to do some networking with some alumni who worked in banking from my non-target (think middle to top Big Ten). I'm excited and fortunate enough to have lined up some lunch/coffee meetings with 6 people, but I feel like I'm not talking to enough people on...

18 Oct 2015

So you've scored a chat with someone who works in the industry. What do you do next so you don't screw it all up and look like a fool? First, I use the term 'courtesy visit' for two reasons: 1) because I hate the term 'informational interview'. To me it just sounds stupid. You never actually use the...

11 Sep 2012

Hey guys, I'm looking to break into a role in the tech innovation department in a bank or digital marketing consulting (eg. Accenture interactive). Here's a few things about me: - graduating senior, major in finance, minor in writing - summer internships were: marketing at a magazine, finance...

29 Dec 2016

I'm currently preparing a cold email to send to an alumnus of my school, liberal arts non-target, who is currently an MD at a MM investment bank about an informational call prior to fall recruiting starting. My email is pretty standard in terms of a cold email, but I was wondering if I should...

02 Jun 2020

I am networking when I apply for positions at certain companies. I found an alum who is a vp of sales and I thought about reaching out to ask him how he likes the company and the city he lives in. Given that I am taking a rather aggressive apply & say hi maneuver, I wonder if he would be put off by...

15 Nov 2016

Hello all, I'll soon be speaking with a couple high profile bankers who are alums of my university/college, at places in which I'm applying for a 2020 summer internship. I'm wondering what questions I should ask and how I should look to impress them to the point in which I can bringup the internship...

12 Aug 2019

Hey guys, Thanks for taking the time to read this. I'm a graduating senior right now and accepted a job offer back in October to work at a large Asset Management firm for after I graduate. Since then I've been partying, going out, and basically catching up on all of the fun things I missed out on...

08 Dec 2015

I was wondering how do you go about asking for referrals from people you network with? Most of my connections i have reached out to cold and for the most part usually have a 20-40min phone call with them asking about their experience and advice at firm X. I am starting to run out of leads to contact...

26 Sep 2012

This is a question for you guys who are now in the industry, but I'm sure most people can relate.

02 Jan 2013

Hello all, I am an undergraduate BA business undergraduate at Plymouth University with a 2:1 predicted grade. I'll be honest and can accept my A-levels aren't the best. I've been trading for over 6 months now successfully to try to boost my finance related knowledge both from a worldview and in...

01 Mar 2018

I am an incoming freshman at a top 25 school. I had multiple people help me with my college decision over the month of April and now have ended up with a few contacts that could be really useful down the road. 1st connection is a VP at a BB who linked me up with the other two that I am going to...

25 May 2018

Hello WSO, I'm a sophomore at a top 4 undergraduate business school who is looking for internships for this coming summer while also networking for junior year internships. I've been cold emailing alumni and have been getting a 40% response rate. However, I feel like that these phone calls aren't...

21 Oct 2019

Interesting read hopefully this motivates any hard working non-target students who need a little pick me up. Feel free to post your opinion on the article. I want somebody that's smart, hungry, not spoiled. Someone that comes in and actually says, 'I'll work 15, 18, 20 hours a day - just give me a...

04 Feb 2015

What do you guys usually include when you send a first email to an alum or a contact? - Name/School year/Majors - Looking at summer positions in finance/IB - Found name through alumni network/ possibility of speaking with them to learn about their experience with the firm/their work as well as the...

04 Nov 2012

Hey guys, I'm beginning my networking efforts to recruit for consulting, and when I hear other people talk about networking, I hear that people often ask the person they are talking to if there is anyone else they can talk to after they are done with the conversation... I don't get why people do...

06 Aug 2018

I'll preface this post right away by saying that some of these are really more geared to an American looking outside the US. Also if you're not from the United States, but are looking for positions here, just replace "American" with the comparable organization from your respective country. My...

18 Sep 2012

I just finished up my sophomore year in economics at GMU and started a position as an analyst at a government-related firm. However, my end goal would is more so something to do with global data, AM, or trading (I'm open to different paths just one that doesn't involve working for the...

31 May 2018

Hey guys, I messed up recently. Met a professional at an alumni corporate mingle who I vaguely remember working with in a school club with. This corporate mingle was hosted by the honors business fraternity of which I was pledging for at the time. Long story short, we connected well (decently at...

07 Nov 2011

I graduated a few years ago and I still go from time to time to reunions with people from my school. I do it because it's fun mostly but also I admit because the networking is amazing. You get to see friends (or at least acquaintance) that work in a lot of different areas. My class is still quite...

02 Jul 2012

Hi All, Been lurking for a while but never posted. I am a May 2018 graduate and have been trying to break into finance since graduation. For background, non-target, 3.2 GPA, & have held two internships: one as a financial analyst at a mid sized media firm and one at a boutique broker/dealer. I have...

15 Apr 2019

How do you network successfully? Most will answer by walking up to someone whom they have never spoken to before and asking for their name, job description, and future plans. However, there comes the dreaded moment when the conversation is no longer interesting, and there are so many other people...

26 Nov 2016

Hi everyone, I've been lurking for a while but I'm technically new, so I apologize if I'm breaking any etiquette (and please let me know if I am). I'm a current sophomore at Princeton looking to go into management consulting, but I'm completely lost when it comes to actually making that happen...

24 Jan 2016

In a couple of weeks I will start my summer internship at a boutique IB firm. This firm only has 5 partners, no analysts/associates, and just a couple of interns ( i will be 1). My plan is to reach out to alumni/alumni of the student finance group at my University in the next couple of weeks before...

01 May 2016