N ETWORKING : T HE G ATEWAY TO YOUR D REAM J OB April 8 th, 2015 MSU Student Investment Association1

O UTLINE I. Networking Tools LinkedIn Personal Rolodex II. Networking Process Prospecting First contact Following up if unsuccessful Second Contact: The Phone Call Good basic questions Staying in touch Leveraging your network Takeaways MSU Student Investment Association2

I. N ETWORKING T OOLS MSU Student Investment Association3

L INKED I N LinkedIn is a social network for professionals – Way of connecting with MSU alumni, industry contacts, potential employers, etc. – Great way to maintain and expand your network – Accounts are free to sign up for and use MSU Student Investment Association4

P ERSONAL R OLODEX Personal Rolodex: a list of business and professional contacts that you have Information that is included: Name of contact Line of work/position Firm they work for Address Phone Number Date last contacted Any additional notes Easy to create in Excel MSU Student Investment Association5

E MAIL is the primary method of first contact in networking s that are both well written and concise are most effective – Less than four sentences Important to be aware of any possible negative interpretations of your ’s content MSU Student Investment Association6

II. N ETWORKING P ROCESS MSU Student Investment Association7

P ROSPECTING Prospecting involves actively searching for, and identifying potential connections Multiple methods: Linkedin Searches Linkedin – MSU Alums, Target Firms, Target Fields, Target Industries Equity Research Reports – Great if you are in Analyst Program Wallstreetoasis firm search tab Wallstreetoasis MSU Student Investment Association8 Goal: Cast a wide net, find people who are good targets for initial contact

I NITIAL C ONTACT Contact generally initiated through Keep it short & to the point Introduce yourself Mention specific reason you are interested in connecting – show you have done your research No grammar/spelling mistakes!!! Mr./Ms. ________, My name is [Full Name], and I am a junior finance major at Michigan State University. I am interested in sales and trading and would appreciate the opportunity to learn more about your work on the investment grade debt desk at JP Morgan. Is there a time in the next week that you would be available to talk over the phone? My schedule is fairly flexible, and evenings or weekends generally work for me. Best regards, [First Name] MSU Student Investment Association9 Goal: Get to a phone call

F OLLOWING U P IF I NITIAL E MAIL IS U NSUCCESSFUL Important to wait at least 5 days before sending a follow up Don’t want to pester/give impression that you are annoying Mr./Ms. ________, I wanted to circle back in case you missed my initial note. I am still very interested in learning about your work as well as the culture at JP Morgan. Is there a time in the next week that you are available to talk? Best regards, [First Name] MSU Student Investment Association10

T HE P HONE C ALL The initial phone call is a very important part of building a strong networking relationship Be prepared to: Give background on yourself and your experiences/interests Make a strong impression by asking good questions Provide them with a resume if they ask for one – don’t automatically send one Be sure to thank them for their time MSU Student Investment Association11

S OME G OOD B ASIC Q UESTIONS How did you get started in the business? – Alternatively: Tell me about your background, how did you end up in (IB/S&T/Research)? What is a typical day like for you? – What do you enjoy most about your job? – What are some negative parts about your job? What is the culture like at your firm? What can someone in my position do to prepare themselves for a career in (IB/S&T/Research)? MSU Student Investment Association12

Q UESTIONS NOT TO ASK What the work/life balance is like? How much money do you make? Can you send my resume to HR? – On your first call Don’t take up too much time – First call shouldn’t take more than twenty minutes MSU Student Investment Association13

S TAYING IN T OUCH It is a good practice to follow up with a brief thank you after a first phone call – Shows your appreciation, helps establish a more meaningful connection – Opens door for continued communication Mr./Ms. ________, Thank you for taking the time to talk with me this past Friday. I appreciate your insight on the direction of the S&T industry as well as your role on the investment grade debt desk. I will be sure to keep you updated on my progress this year, and look forward to staying in touch. Best regards, [First Name] MSU Student Investment Association14

S TAYING IN T OUCH C ONTINUED It’s a good idea to reach out to each of your contacts at minimum, once every three months. – Some contacts should be contacted more often, especially strong mentor like contacts. A great way to build a relationship is to ask if a contact is willing to critique your resume MSU Student Investment Association15

L EVERAGING Y OUR N ETWORK In order to leverage your network, you must first build strong relationships with the people in your network Once you have a good relationship, most people are willing to open their network to you and help connect you with additional people Linkedin 2 nd Connections Resume submissions to HR for internships and full time – VERY IMPORTANT from non-target schools MSU Student Investment Association16

T AKEAWAYS Networking is extremely important to landing top- tier jobs in the financial services industry. Networking allows you to: – Become more knowledgeable about the industry – Develop relationships with people who can mentor you, and maybe even help you land your dream job. In networking, you get out of it what you put into it. The harder you work, the better your results. It’s never too early to start networking. MSU Student Investment Association17

Q UESTIONS ? MSU Student Investment Association18