How to Network Like a Pro in Investment Banking | The Coffee Chat Podcast: Ep. 29

In this episode of The Coffee Chat, host Ben sits down with Jack, a first-year student at Miami University of Ohio, to discuss how to navigate the world of investment banking recruiting — from networking and technical prep to understanding the middle market vs. bulge bracket difference.

Jack shares his early interest in finance and how he’s preparing to break into the industry, while Ben offers practical coaching on building authentic relationships, asking better questions, and standing out in early conversations with bankers.

They also cover what makes the middle market such a strong training ground for future private equity professionals and how students can use storytelling, curiosity, and specificity to turn networking calls into real connections.

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00:00 – Intro: Welcome to The Coffee Chat
00:24 – Meet Jack from Miami University of Ohio
01:20 – Jack’s path to investment banking and long-term goals
02:11 – Why diligence matters for future buy-side roles
03:11 – How middle market banking builds stronger deal experience
04:00 – Comparing middle market vs. bulge bracket exposure
05:20 – Why smaller deals can mean better learning opportunities
06:10 – Middle market deal flow and stability
07:20 – Choosing the right banking environment for your style
08:40 – Networking to confirm your career interests
09:30 – Balancing technical prep and networking as a freshman
10:00 – How to tell if a networking call went well
11:15 – Making conversations enjoyable for the banker
12:30 – The right and wrong way to ask questions
14:00 – How to ask open-ended questions that engage
15:10 – Examples of good vs. bad networking questions
16:40 – Avoiding “interrogation-style” conversations
17:55 – Using research to make conversations memorable
18:50 – Getting people to talk about what they love
19:20 – Developing technical prep through guides and books
20:15 – What finance books are worth reading (and which aren’t)
21:00 – Learning from real-world middle market deal stories
22:30 – Jack’s experience writing for Unfiltered Finance
23:45 – How writing improves market knowledge and communication
24:45 – Turning your experiences into strong interview stories
25:50 – Example: Writing about the consumer credit report
26:30 – Covering industrials and learning about niche businesses
27:15 – How to sound more fluent in industry language
28:45 – Using detailed examples to show real understanding
30:10 – Building story-based answers for interviews
31:00 – Can you move from Cleveland to New York in finance?
32:20 – How different banking environments shape your skills
33:40 – Navigating career transitions and networking geography
35:00 – Timing and market cycles in banking career moves
36:15 – Staying flexible and exploring new opportunities
37:10 – Final thoughts and encouragement for students