As an aspiring investment banking candidate, networking is crucial for landing that coveted investment banking internship or full-time offer. Investment banks highly value candidates who proactively reach out and engage with industry professionals. However, networking can be intimidating without thoughtful preparation. Having a set of insightful networking questions ready shows initiative and helps build rapport during coffee chats or info sessions. This article provides tips on how to develop effective networking questions for investment banking interviews by leveraging industry context articles provided.
Leverage provided context to understand firm priorities
The context articles discuss key investment banking topics like M&A deals, IPOs, firm culture, and technical skills. Thoroughly review the materials to understand each bank’s priorities – what deals they worked on, their firm values, key people. Then develop questions that indicate your alignment with their priorities. For example, ask how their emphasis on diversity and inclusion impacts day-to-day work. Avoid generic questions easily found online.
Tailor questions for each bank and contact’s background
Even within the same bank, different groups and professionals have unique focuses. Review each contact’s LinkedIn profile to tailor relevant questions. Ask M&A contacts their thoughts on recent M&A deals in their sector. Inquire S&T professionals how current macro conditions are impacting their work. Thoughtful tailoring demonstrates sincere interest in that individual and role.
Ask smart follow-up questions that add value
Don’t just run through a list of prepped questions. Actively listen and ask follow-up questions to go deeper. If they mention a deal, ask insightful questions about deal rationale, key challenges, and outcome. Not only does this show your interest and ability to think critically, it also helps you gain valuable insights from their experience. Aim for quality over quantity in your questions.
Focus questions on learning about the job itself
Don’t spend the entire chat pitching yourself. Focus questions on learning day-to-day responsibilities, workflow, skills required rather than just firm/bank culture. The goal is determining your own fit, not convincing them you’re a fit. Ask how technical skills are applied daily, what excel models are used most, key soft skills needed to succeed.
Wrap with thoughtful next steps for following up
Conclude by thanking them for their time and insights. Mention how it helped refine your understanding of the role and firm. Then propose thoughtful next steps, like connecting them to your school’s investment club or sharing an article relevant to a point they made. High-quality networking creates ongoing dialogue.
Preparing insightful investment banking networking questions requires leveraging provided context, thoughtful personalization, and smart follow-up. Focus questions on gaining valuable insights into the job itself rather than just pitching yourself. This will lead to substantive networking that helps determine your own fit while building meaningful professional relationships.