Why Networking Matters
In investment banking, networking is often what gets your resume looked at. Many students feel uncomfortable with the word “networking”, but it is just another word for building professional relationships.
You are not asking for a job in your first conversation. You are asking for advice, information, and a real connection.
Although the idea of reaching out to a complete stranger might seem uncomfortable or odd at first, all of the analysts/associates will already be super used to undergrads reaching out for advice or referrals, and they would've also done the same a few years back.
Networking is simply building relationships — not begging for jobs.
Where to Find People to Reach Out To
- Alumni from your university working in banking.
- Upperclassmen and recent graduates who have interned in IB.
- Club speakers, panelists, and mentors.
- People you meet at information sessions, student programs, or industry events.
To find alumni and upperclassman in the industry, Linkedin will be your best friend. Type into the search bar the name of the bank/firm you want to pursure, go to the “people” tab under that company's linkedin profile page, and type stanford into the “keyword” search bar to filter down to people from our school. From there, different alumni associated to that bank should pop up.
Some “IB prep” platforms will advise you to then cold email them through Linkedin to eventually move over to email to setup a call. However, my advice is to find the name of the banker you want to connect with, search on google the email format of that bank, and then send a real email to that person on outlook/gmail instead. Bankers are super busy, and might even miss your email, so the chance they'll miss a linkedin messege is even higher.
Sample Cold Email Structure
Here is one simple structure you can adapt:
- Introduce yourself (school, year, major, and any shared connection).
- Explain briefly why you are interested in investment banking.
- Ask for a short phone call or Zoom to hear about their path.
- Thank them and make it easy to say yes.
Example email:
Hi [Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I am a [year] at [school] studying [major]. I found your profile through [school] alumni on LinkedIn and saw that you work in [group] at [bank].
I am exploring investment banking and would really appreciate the chance to learn more about your experience and any advice you might have for someone just starting the process.
If you have 15-20 minutes in the next couple of weeks, I would be very grateful for a quick call. Thank you for considering it.
Best,
[Your Name]
NOTE: Attach your resume in your introduction email as well. It will give them more context on you and might make them more inclinded to respond.
Networking with Confidence
- You do not need to “act like someone else” to be taken seriously.
- It is appropriate to ask thoughtful questions about team culture, feedback, training, and mentorship.
- Keep a simple spreadsheet of who you talked to and what you discussed.
- Always send a short thank-you email after each conversation.
Strong professional relationships grow through preparation, curiosity, and follow-through.