Worst Networking Call?
What’s the worst/craziest/funniest thing that’s happened to you on a coffee chat or networking call?
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Signed up for a coffee chat through my school's career center. Walked in, admitted I had no interest in his company but we can talk for 3-5 minutes (went to the info session, job didn't really interest me and it was in a city I would never want to live in). I told him I felt bad for wasting him time. Left early. He left out a laugh and probably thought I was being a dick. Had a long week. Probably should have handled that a lot better than I actually did.
Networked with a LMM healthcare M&A group in midwest, got a call with two analysts at once. Seemed like nice guys, started asking them questions about their time at college (one was on the basketball team, other went to a neighboring college) thought things were fine and dandy until they start GRILLING ME on technicals… not “walk me through a three statement” stuff, but “how much would you have to lever beta to get COE from x to y.”
After answering this, I mentioned that I liked a deal they had worked on; they proceeded to ask me “oh you liked the deal? Tell me something about it, how much revolver did we model into this?” etc.) Kind of got the hint that either A, these guys really don’t want me to apply or B, these guys have nothing but IB going for them. Very awkward but prepared me very well for super days that ended in an offer with a different place!
I get that the vibe was not good and maybe that's a reason to not join but I would take this call as a good sign. If I was interviewing for a LMM in the midwest, I would be really concerned about whether I'm going to learn the business well there and whether there will be deal flow.
These don't sound like cool guys but I think that they actually checked the box for what would be my biggest concerns if I was a student thinking about a LMM.
Was Friday afternoon. WFH in NYC. Signed off of the computer at 5pm, proceeded to smoke a fat blunt with the girlfriend at the time. Then smoked another and maybe another. Was chillin. We talked about getting this runner rug for the apartment, maybe a 40ft runner (big apartment). So we get to the rug store and I told them I need a 40ft runner rug. They started laughing. My girlfriend and I were so stoned we laughed harder. They laughed harder. But, they showed us a few rolls of long rugs we could choose from.
Then I get this call on my cell. I don't recognize the number. But, I'm in the mood for randoms and messing with them so I pick up the phone in the rug store. It's 5:45pm on a Friday. Turns out it was some HR screening for a job I applied for. He said "is this a good time to talk?" I said no. I was paranoid as I was so stoned. I didn't want to do job talk. Then he said "please, you're my last interview of the day, can I just ask you a few questions?" I said "ok sure."
This guy proceeds to grill me on the phone and asks more than a few questions, but he keeps laughing at my perspective and I laugh too, but still am paranoid and maybe am laughing too hard. He then throws a few lowball questions at me and I knock them out of the park. He said some joke at the end and I start crazy laughing as I thought it was so funny and forget for a moment I'm in interview mode. I thought I botched it. He says that's all he needs and said he would get back to me.
1hr later get an email saying how well our talk went and he would forward my info to the MD for a final interview.
Interviewer: Hi
Isaiah: No
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