Fall is when banks show up on campus. They run information sessions, host receptions, and send analysts and associates to meet students in person. For a freshman or sophomore, these events are the cheapest way to meet working bankers and the easiest place to make a poor first impression. For sophomores, fall is also when junior-summer recruiting begins, so what you do at these events can feed straight into applications.
Most of the missteps are small and avoidable. Here are the ones we see most often, along with what to do instead.
Showing Up Without Doing Any Research
The most common mistake is arriving with no idea what the firm does. If you ask a banker “so, what does your bank do?” you have told them you did not spend ten minutes on the website.
The fix. Before any event, spend twenty minutes learning:
- What kind of firm it is (a large global bank, a boutique, a middle market firm) and roughly what it is known for.
- Which groups recruit from your school, if the career center lists them.
- One recent piece of public news about the firm, such as a deal it advised on that was widely reported.
- The names and titles of the people attending, if the invitation lists them.
Then write down two questions you can only ask this firm. Our overview of bulge bracket, boutique and middle market firms helps you place each firm type before you go. Different firms suit different students, and understanding the difference makes your questions better.
Cornering the Most Senior Person
At a reception, students tend to cluster around the most senior banker in the room, usually a managing director or partner. The group grows to six or eight students, each waiting for a turn to speak, and no one has a real conversation.
The fix. Talk to the analysts and associates. They are closer to your age, they remember what recruiting felt like, and they usually have more time to chat. They are also often the people who read resumes and give feedback when recruiting begins. A thoughtful conversation with an analyst is often worth more than a thirty-second exchange with a senior executive.
If you do speak with a senior person, keep it brief, ask one good question, and thank them. Do not hold the conversation hostage.
Delivering a Memorized Pitch
Students rehearse a one-minute introduction and then recite it like a speech. The banker sees someone waiting for a pause rather than listening. Another version of this mistake is opening with a long list of your achievements before the other person has said a word.
The fix. Prepare a short introduction of two sentences: your name, year, school and one thing you are interested in. Then ask a question. Good conversations at events involve far more listening than talking, and the best way to be remembered is to be curious about the other person.
Try openers like:
- “What were you working on this week that you found interesting?”
- “How did you decide to join this group?”
- “What helped you most when you were recruiting as a student?”
Asking Questions That Close Doors
Some questions make you look unprepared or focused on the wrong things. Avoid these at a first meeting:
- Questions about pay, bonuses, hours or vacation time. You will learn about compensation later, and it signals that you care about the perks more than the work.
- Questions whose answers are on the firm’s website, such as “how many offices do you have?”
- Questions that ask for a favor right away, like “can you refer me?”
- Questions that compare the firm to a competitor in a way that invites criticism.
The fix. Ask about the person’s experience: how they chose their group, what a typical project looks like, what they wish they had done in college, what they enjoy. If you want an outcome, such as a coffee chat, ask for it at the end in a low-pressure way: “I would love to follow up with a few questions, would it be all right if I emailed you?”
Handing Out Resumes Like Flyers
Bringing printed copies of your resume is fine. Pushing it into the hand of every banker you meet is not. Many events say clearly that they do not collect resumes, and bankers do not want to carry paper home.
The fix. Keep a small stack in a folder in case someone asks. Otherwise, concentrate on getting contact information and sending your resume by email after you have had a real conversation. A banker is more likely to read a resume when they remember the person it belongs to.
For a model of what to include and how to format it, see our resume template.
Skipping Notes and the Follow-Up
Forgetting who you met
Students leave an event with a vague memory of “a nice analyst from the tech group” and no name. A week later they cannot write a useful follow-up.
The fix. Step away from the crowd for a minute after each meaningful conversation and make a note on your phone. Write the person’s name, title, group, one detail from the conversation, and any suggestion they made. Ask for a business card or the best way to reach them, and remember that some people prefer LinkedIn.
At the end of the night, spend ten minutes organizing your notes. That small habit turns an event into a set of contacts.
Skipping the follow-up
This is the costliest mistake. Many students have a great conversation and never write afterward. By the time they do, the banker has met many other students.
The fix. Send a short thank-you email within 24 hours. Mention the event, one specific thing you discussed, and a polite request, such as a fifteen-minute call. Here is a basic structure:
“Hi [Name], it was great to meet you at the information session on Tuesday. I enjoyed hearing about how your team works with clients on sale processes. I would appreciate a chance to ask you a few more questions about your path, if you have fifteen minutes in the coming weeks. Thank you again.”
If they do not reply, send one polite reminder after a week or so, then move on. Our guide on coffee chats explains what to do once someone agrees to talk.
Forgetting the Basics of Presence
In the room
Small behaviors add up in a room full of people deciding who they might want on their team. Watch for these:
- Dress. Wear business formal unless the invitation says otherwise. If you are unsure, ask the career center. Being slightly overdressed is safer than underdressed.
- Phone. Keep it in your pocket or bag. Checking messages while someone is talking is noticed, and it reads as boredom.
- Timing. Arrive at the start rather than halfway through, and stay until the end if you can. Leaving early after one quick chat sends the wrong message.
- Name tag and handshake. Put the tag on your right side so it is easy to read as you shake hands. Look people in the eye and say your name clearly.
- Group etiquette. If you join a group already talking, listen first, then add something. If you are in a group, make room for quieter students to speak.
- Respect for staff. Thank the people running the event, from the career center organizers to the servers, and treat them with the same courtesy as the bankers.
Virtual events have their own traps
Many sessions are held online, and students make a different set of mistakes there. They keep cameras off in small breakouts, type questions with no context, or log in late and ask something that was just answered.
The fix. Join early, turn your camera on when the format allows it, and use a plain background. Write your question so it makes sense on its own: your name, school and year, then the question. If there is a chance to ask live, raise your hand early. After the session, find the speakers on LinkedIn and send a short note that mentions something they said. A specific compliment about their answer shows that you listened.
Treating Smaller Events as a Waste of Time
Students sometimes attend only the largest events and skip sessions from smaller firms or regional offices. That choice can narrow your options. Different firms recruit in different ways, and a smaller session can give you better access to the people who make decisions.
The fix. Go to a mix of events, including ones you know less about. Treat each as practice and as a chance to learn what you like. If you are an international student, ask early about how each firm handles work authorization, since policies differ, and read our guide for international students before you decide where to focus.
When an event does not go well
Not every event will go smoothly. You might freeze during a conversation, miss a chance to talk to someone you wanted to meet, or feel that everyone else seemed more polished. This is normal, and it happens to most students at some point.
The fix. Debrief for five minutes after each event. What went well? What would you change? Make one adjustment for the next one. If recruiting stress builds, our post on dealing with rejection offers a healthy way to think about setbacks.
Key Takeaways
- Research each firm for twenty minutes and bring two specific questions.
- Talk to analysts and associates, and keep any exchange with senior people short.
- Skip the memorized pitch and aim to listen more than you talk.
- Avoid questions about pay, hours or favors at a first meeting.
- Take notes after each conversation and send a short thank-you within 24 hours.
Want Personalized Interview Coaching?
If you are serious about breaking into investment banking, the best thing you can do is work with someone who has been through the recruiting process and knows what top banks look for. At Wall Street Mastermind, we have coached over 2,500 students through recruiting at bulge bracket banks, elite boutiques, and middle market firms. Book a free strategy call to learn how we can help you prepare.
Related Articles
- Bulge Bracket vs. Boutique vs. Middle Market: Which Bank Should You Target?
- Coffee Chat Tips for Investment Banking Recruiting
- Dealing with Rejection in Investment Banking Recruiting
- International Students in Investment Banking: Visa Sponsorship and Recruiting Guide
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