Networking with investment bankers can be very valuable for finance students and professionals looking to break into the industry. However, it’s important to go into these conversations prepared with thoughtful questions that demonstrate your interest in and knowledge of investment banking. This article provides tips on how to best prepare for networking with investment bankers, from researching the firm and bankers you’ll be speaking with to crafting insightful questions that go beyond surface-level small talk. Proper preparation and research is key to making a strong impression and gaining truly useful insights from investment bankers through networking. With strategic and thoughtful questions that incorporate knowledge of recent deals and industry trends, you can gain key intel to boost your candidacy when recruiting season rolls around.
Conduct thorough background research on the banker and firm
Before networking with investment bankers, take time to thoroughly research the firm and the specific bankers you’ll be engaging with. Learn about recent deals they’ve advised on, clients they work with, divisions and products they focus on, and anything that makes their platform unique. This allows you to craft informed questions that demonstrate genuine interest. You can ask bankers how they got involved in specific marquee deals, their outlook on the industry verticals they cover given recent M&A activity or market developments, and how their previous experience led them to their current role and firm. The more tailored your questions are, the better.
Ask about daily responsibilities and workflow
Don’t just focus on deals and clients. Take the opportunity in networking conversations to gain insight into the day-to-day workflow of an investment banker. You can ask questions like: What does a typical day or week look like in your role? How much time is spent on live deals vs. business development? How are analysts involved in the deal process? What are the peak periods of workflow during the year? Understanding the rhythm of daily work will help you determine if investment banking aligns with your personality and working style.
Get their advice on skill development
Networking with professionals already in the industry provides a prime opportunity to get advice on skill development from their experience. You can ask bankers what technical skills or models you should focus your learning on to best prepare for interviews and the job itself. Also ask about important soft skills like communication, time management, leadership and teamwork. Experienced bankers can provide invaluable perspective on the must-have attributes to develop before starting as an analyst.
Learn how they navigated career progression
It’s always insightful to understand professionals’ own career journeys. During networking, take the chance to ask investment bankers how they navigated career progression from analyst to associate and beyond. Learn how they determined when to stay or move firms, how they identified new opportunities, and key factors that enabled their advancement. Their career path can shed light on long-term trajectories within investment banking.
Understand company culture and dynamics
Each bank has a unique company culture, so networking presents a great opportunity to get insight into cultural elements directly from employees. You can ask bankers what the work environment and team dynamics are like on a day-to-day basis. Also ask about collaboration between groups, social events, travel requirements, and other details to determine if the firm’s culture is a good fit with your personality and work style.
Networking events provide invaluable access to investment bankers that can help demystify the industry and boost your candidacy. By thoroughly researching firms and bankers beforehand and preparing thoughtful questions that demonstrate your knowledge, interest and professionalism, you will make the most out of the opportunity to gain key insights from bankers that go far beyond surface pleasantries.