the whole remote work situation has changed everything about how people network, and i’m trying to figure out if it’s actually possible to build genuine relationships through a screen. like, everyone still talks about coffee chats and in-person events, but for a lot of us, especially if we’re not in major financial centers, that’s just not an option right now.
i’ve done a few virtual coffee chats, but honestly they feel different. there’s something about being on zoom that makes conversations feel shorter and less personal. i’m wondering if the playbook for in-person networking just doesn’t translate, or if i’m approaching it all wrong.
also, what about follow-up? when you’re not meeting in person, how do you actually stay on someone’s radar? is email enough, or do you need to be more active on linkedin? and here’s the real question: have people actually landed internships or jobs through purely virtual networking, or is it still sort of a secondary channel?
how are you all handling this? what’s been your experience with building relationships completely online, and what’s actually made the difference for you?
Virtual networking is absolutely viable; it just requires different tactics. The advantage is you can reach bankers across geography without travel constraints. Structure your virtual conversations carefully—send a brief agenda beforehand, show up early, have a specific question prepared. Follow up within 24 hours with a personalized email referencing something specific they mentioned. On LinkedIn, engage thoughtfully with their posts—don’t just like, actually comment substantively. The bankers who remember you are the ones you’ve had multiple micro-interactions with, not just one zoom call. Build a cadence: coffee chat, email follow-up, LinkedIn engagement, another conversation three weeks later. This consistency matters more in virtual settings because human connection is otherwise limited.
zoom chats are weirdly better than in person imo cuz bankers have less excuse to cancel. but yeah u gotta be intentional. actually prepare an agenda, ask good questions, follow up fast. dont just chat and disappear. and on linkedin, actually engage not just mass connect. ppl remember effort. plenty of ppl have gotten jobs fully virtual so its def possible, just takes more deliberate follow-through.
oh interesting! i thought in-person was way better but sounds like virtual can actually work if ur strategic. thx for the tips!
Virtual networking is your superpower! You can connect with people worldwide now. Your dedication to making it work is going to pay off big!
I landed my internship through virtual networking entirely. Had a zoom chat with an associate, followed up with a specific note about something we discussed, engaged with his LinkedIn posts over the next month, and then had another conversation. By the third interaction, he felt comfortable referring me to recruiting. The key was consistency and showing genuine interest beyond just the initial call.
Virtual networking conversion rates have reached parity with in-person at 22-28% over three-month periods. Optimal zoom meeting duration is 25-35 minutes; longer conversations show no additional relationship deepening. Follow-up within 24 hours increases subsequent engagement probability by 45%. LinkedIn engagement on banker posts shows 60% correlation with eventual relationship strengthening. Multi-touch virtual cadence (zoom + email + LinkedIn) yields 2.8x higher conversion compared to single-interaction models.