How to network your way into investment banking

Networking is how most people actually break into banking. Here is the system, from your first email to a referral.

Updated June 2026 · 9 min read

Banking is a relationships business, and recruiting is no different. Strong grades and a clean resume get you considered; networking is what gets you in front of the people who decide. This is the system, step by step.

Why networking matters more than the application

Large analyst classes receive thousands of applications for a handful of seats. A warm introduction from someone inside the firm moves your resume from the pile to a human being. The goal of networking is simple: turn yourself from a name on a list into a person someone will vouch for.

Who you should be reaching out to

Alumni from your school or program — the single highest-response group.
Former teammates, club members, and people from your hometown — shared history earns replies.
Analysts and associates (one to four years in) — close enough to recruiting to remember it, junior enough to have time.
People whose career path mirrors the move you want to make.

Start with the warmest connection, not the most senior

A second-year analyst who shares your fraternity will do more for you than a managing director who has never heard of you. Warmth beats seniority every time at this stage.

The networking funnel

1Build a target list. Pick firms and groups you actually want, then find real people inside them who overlap with you.
2Send a specific cold email. Reference something real, ask for a brief chat, make it easy to say yes.
3Have a good conversation. Be curious, be prepared, and never lead with "can you refer me."
4Follow up and stay on their radar. A short thank-you, then a periodic, genuine update.
5Earn the referral. It comes when someone believes you are worth vouching for — which is a product of the first four steps.

How many people should you contact?

More than you think, but not at the expense of quality. A focused list of well-researched, specific emails outperforms a hundred copy-pasted ones. Aim for depth: each person you reach should feel like you wrote to them, because you did.

Quality over volume

One thoughtful email to the right alum beats fifty identical ones to strangers. The right alum replies, talks to you, and remembers your name when a seat opens.

On the call: what to actually say

Ask about their path and their group — people enjoy talking about their own experience.
Have two or three specific questions ready that you could not have answered from the website.
Listen more than you talk; take light notes for your follow-up.
Close by asking who else they would suggest you speak with. That is how one chat becomes five.

The follow-up that keeps you on the radar

Send a short thank-you within a day. Then stay in light touch: a brief note when you act on their advice, or when recruiting opens. The students who get referred are the ones who stayed visible without being a nuisance.

Build your target list in minutes

Maybole does this for you: it reads your resume, finds the bankers who actually share your school, clubs, major, and hometown, and drafts the note around what you genuinely have in common.

Frequently asked questions

When should I start networking for investment banking?

Earlier than the application deadline — ideally six to twelve months ahead. Relationships take time to build, and the best referrals come from people who have known you for a while.

Is it better to email or message on LinkedIn?

A work email usually gets more attention than a LinkedIn message, which can sit unread. If you have a verified email and a real point of connection, email first.

How do I ask for a referral without being awkward?

You usually do not ask directly. You have good conversations, follow up, and let the person offer. If you must ask, do it after a genuine relationship exists and frame it as "would you be comfortable" rather than "can you."

Let Maybole do the hard part

Upload your resume and Maybole finds the bankers who share your school, clubs, major, and hometown — then drafts the calm, personal email that earns a reply.

Start free

Who you should be reaching out to

Alumni from your school or program — the single highest-response group.

Former teammates, club members, and people from your hometown — shared history earns replies.

Analysts and associates (one to four years in) — close enough to recruiting to remember it, junior enough to have time.

People whose career path mirrors the move you want to make.

Start with the warmest connection, not the most senior

A second-year analyst who shares your fraternity will do more for you than a managing director who has never heard of you. Warmth beats seniority every time at this stage.

The networking funnel

1Build a target list. Pick firms and groups you actually want, then find real people inside them who overlap with you.

2Send a specific cold email. Reference something real, ask for a brief chat, make it easy to say yes.

3Have a good conversation. Be curious, be prepared, and never lead with "can you refer me."

4Follow up and stay on their radar. A short thank-you, then a periodic, genuine update.

5Earn the referral. It comes when someone believes you are worth vouching for — which is a product of the first four steps.