Networking in Finance When You Don't Know Anyone

I'll be direct: networking in finance is awkward, uncomfortable, and absolutely necessary. If you're waiting for someone to discover your talent on a resume alone, you'll be waiting a long time. Around 70% of banking positions — some estimates go higher — get filled through referrals or networking. That's not a suggestion to network. It's math.

But here's what nobody tells you: most people are terrible at networking. They blast generic LinkedIn messages, attend events and stand in corners, or ask senior people for jobs in the first conversation. If you can avoid those mistakes, you're already ahead of 90% of candidates.

Stop Thinking About Networking as Networking

Seriously. The word "networking" makes people act weird. They put on a performance. They try to seem impressive. They ask for things too fast.

Think of it differently. You're just trying to have conversations with people who do work you find interesting. That's it. If you approach it as genuine curiosity — "Hey, I'm trying to understand what credit risk management actually looks like day to day" — people respond. If you approach it as "I need you to get me a job" — people run.

The Cold Email That Actually Works

I've seen people send hundreds of LinkedIn messages that say "I'd love to pick your brain about your career journey." Delete. Nobody responds to that because it's vague and self-serving.

Here's what gets responses: specificity and low commitment.

"Hi Sarah — I saw that your team at JPMorgan worked on the [specific deal]. I'm studying credit analysis and had a question about how the capital structure was evaluated. Would you have 15 minutes for a quick call this week?"

Three things make this work. You referenced something specific (shows you did homework). You asked a concrete question (not a vague "tell me about your career"). And you asked for 15 minutes, not coffee, not lunch, not an ongoing mentorship.

Where to Find People

Alumni networks are the most underused resource in existence. Even if your school isn't a "target," there are alumni in finance somewhere. Your career services office has a directory. Use it.

LinkedIn is obvious but most people use it wrong. Don't just search "investment banking analyst." Search for people who went to your school, grew up in your city, share a hobby, or worked at a company you worked at. Shared context gives you a reason to reach out that isn't just "you have a job I want."

Industry events and conferences are great if you actually talk to people. CFA Society chapters host events monthly in most major cities. Banking association meetups happen regularly. Go to these. Stand near the coffee, not against the wall.

The Follow-Up Nobody Does

Here's the secret: following up is where all the value is, and almost nobody does it. You had a good 15-minute call with someone at Citi? Send a thank you email within 24 hours. Then, three weeks later, send a brief note mentioning something relevant — an article about their sector, a deal their bank just announced, whatever.

You're not asking for anything. You're staying on their radar. When a position opens up on their team six months later, your name comes to mind because you maintained the relationship.

The Numbers Game Nobody Mentions

Reaching out to 5 people and getting ghosted doesn't mean networking doesn't work. It means you need a bigger sample size. Aim for 30-40 outreach messages over a couple of months. If even 8-10 turn into conversations, and 2-3 of those turn into ongoing relationships, you've built something real.

Banking is a smaller world than it looks. People move between firms constantly. The person who's an Associate at a middle-market bank today might be a VP at a bulge bracket in three years. Relationships compound over time in this industry more than almost any other.

One Thing to Stop Doing Immediately

Stop asking people "how do I get into banking?" in your first conversation. They've heard it a thousand times and it puts them in an uncomfortable position. Instead, ask them about their work. What they like about it, what surprised them, what they'd do differently. Let the career advice come naturally — and it will, because people love talking about themselves and offering guidance when they don't feel pressured to.