have a lunch meeting with enormous hitter on thurs...

got hooked up through family, lunch meeting with head of FIG at BB...

im in PWM and REALLY WANT A CHANGE.

Advice as to dress, what to order, drinks if he does, bill payment, ETC would be wildly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

I mean, do i just come out and say, "i want to be you, and there is nothing i will not do..."

or is one expected to make "smalltalk"?

ugh.

shitting a brick over here...big opp here BIG OPP.

Any bankers out there have pointers (not joke pointers) of how to deal with serious hitter? in other words, is he gonna want to hear how much i know about modeling (minimal, but confident of abilities having done some of that shit before)

or does he want to see that i'm "young ambitious, in the right ciricles"

HELP!

 
Best Response

use common sense on behavior don't order the priciest thing. don't order something that's awkward to eat (spaghetti and peas are classic things to avoid...stick with something easy to eat with utensils...) stick with water/soda unless say he orders a bottle of wine or is drinking and insists you have a drink (being lunch he likely wont, plus its not too professional). you know where you're meeting him right? dress appropriately. (if hes taking you to somewhere really casual, a suit may be too much, but err on the side of caution if unsure) is he taking you out? then don't fight over the bill. otherwise offer to pay but if he insists, politely thank him. common sense etquitte (chew with mouth closed, don't point with your fork, etc. etc.) don't get so caught up in the lunch that you dont prep your actual conversation as well. have some questions ready about the business but be prepared to talk about something in the news or whatever if he doesnt want to talk business. don't forget a follow up note/letter

 

as far as that...obviously you want to show more tact than "hey can you hook me up?" but you dont want to stick to small talk (after all he knows youre meeting him because hes a banker). be knowledgeable about the industry and have some relevant and well thought questions to ask, some about a possible career path or change. casually pose a question that's essentially asking him how to be a banker without actually saying that. he'll likely be on the same wavelength since he knows why youre having lunch in the first place

 

This is interesting. I personally do not know what to do. I have had connections like that blow up in my face before. Networking with "hitters" has got me to second round a few times but I did not get the offers.

Are you planning on straight up asking the guy for a job or are you going for "can I keep in contact with you and could you pass my resume around"? Being straight forward may be rude but if you pussy foot around it is easier for him to blow you off. A plus however is that keeping in contact with him could keep the door open. What is frustrating is that he has all the power to give you a job but maybe does not know you enough.

 

that's my dilemma.

I want it to be CLEAR that im ready for the pain, the hours (i knw i know, no WAY i could be ready) but im wildly ambitious, competitive, i want that to come across.

at the same time we've never met before and i dont want to come on too strong..not unlike first date with babe no?

more input would be greatly appreciated.

friend at deustche just said to me "def dont mention 'excitement' over hours, he may think you're crazy" clearly he's missed the point (as im just saying im ready to pay SERIOUS dues)...he also said that i should just chat the guy up, in his words "whatever you know, obviously he knows more so just be attentive..."

thoughts on just the straight "im ready to learn" approach? or make some claims as to how "far ive come in little time in finance industry (admittedly pwm)"

thanks for all the help so far.

 

ask about his career and how he broke into banking & advice he may have for you as someone who aspires to break into banking. you obviously have to be prepared for the why banking question instead of PWM and if you cant knock the cover off the ball he may not be willing to do a lot for you. and the excitment over hours is a bit much and will come across as b.s. imo.

 

These older guys who are serious hitters get off on their young, enthusiastic and intelligent proteges. You have to show that you are put together (aesthetically speaking, so basically just don't look like a slob - he would care less what brand your clothes are), are enthusiastic about the FIG space and IB in general (know deals and be ready to speak about them; don't talk about "loving the hours, blah blah bullshit") and are looking at him as a mentor.

Remember, these people enjoy talking about themselves and so questions about how he got into the business, why he chose this industry, his experiences, notable deals he enjoyed, etc, are the no-brainers.

There is a 95% chance he is expecting you to ask him something related to him helping out regarding a position. If it hasn't come up before (or if you haven't noticed a good spot, eg. the "mentor" part of the conversation, such as if he asks "as a mentor, what can I do for you?"), tell him that you've been thinking about moving into the banking side and that you were hoping that he might be able to look at your resume and show it to the appropriate people at his bank as you would like to be a part of team like his.

Be confident and calm yet be sure that you do not come off as being arrogant. Make sure that you get his business card and immediately write him a thank-you note.

And lastly, enjoy your experience. If he's as big as you say, then you should learn a lot from a discussion with him and he should provide valuable insight.

 

No Tears, what's an appropriate thank you note for a business lunch? Email, formal letter, just a card? I'm curious because I have a business lunch with two associates from a PE firm tomorrow. My meeting has no direct purpose (not looking for a job with them), just getting information and establishing the connection (in case I want a job 4 years from now).

 

Sounds like you're looking at this a little too much like "The Apprentice" in a half hour lunch. Here's what you do: ask about him, especially some deals you know he's worked on; maybe troll the WSJ and see if there's an article on some product he especially likes or business model within his space. You'll a) learn more listening in 20 mins than you could doing all the talking in the world b) hopefully get him to open up and have a nice friendly meal.

These guys love to talk about themselves and their space, and they will do so endlessly. Let them do it, interject with comments and questions to guide and stay attentive. Come off like you're ready to learn, love to listen. This has the dual advantage of removing from you any responsibility of coming up with fabulous small talk, and leaves them with the sense that you're a really fantastic person because you agree with what they say.

Had a 2nd-rd interview with a big mucky-muck in one of the better Sponsors groups on the st (for general IBD summer analyst), asked him about stapled financing and he burned the entire interview just on that. Learned a lot right there, and didn't have to say practically anything the whole time. Got the offer, too.

 

That's great!

Now, a litany of Qs... what did you wind up wearinig? You didn't wear a pink shirt did you? What did you order for lunch? What did you order for drinks? What questions did you ask? What did he answer? Did you offer to pay? Who paid?

I'm trying to beat others to the punch, inquiring minds will exhaust you for such delicate answers :-)

 

wore my best gray pin striper. Blue shirt, red t pink tie.

ordered crab cakes. he had fish.

we both had water.

asked how he broke in, gave bs answer, but i listened attentively. convo turned to crazy market.

he's VERY bearish and i played devils advocate, he mentioned he was "impressed with my knowledge of the market"

on the way back, he GIVES ME RIDE IN HIS CORPORATE ESCALADE, HE LIGHTS UP SMOKE, TELLS THE DRIVER, TURN IT UP...

WHAT'S PLAYING? "ICE CUBE!" I SHIT YOU NOT.

GOT BACK, HE GIVES CARD, SAYS EMAIL HIM, AND NEVER CALL HIM MR. ________ AGAIN....CALL HIM _______.

B S D.

 

lmao....ok thats great and all...but how do you leverage this into an internship/job further down the road.... thats the real key....for all you know, later down the line...he might just forget about you, he meets millions of people all the time. I'm trying to put you down, but don't get your hopes too high, thats all.

 

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