I’m prepping for internship coffee chats and keep hearing about ‘proven templates’ from experienced bankers in the community. I read through some shared examples but struggle to adapt them authentically. What specific question structures have you found effective for demonstrating curiosity beyond basic deal talk? For those who’ve succeeded, how did you balance prep with natural flow?
tbh half these templates get recycled so much theyre basically cliches now. real differentiator? ask about their worst deal disaster. shows you actually care about the grind, not just parroting technical terms. bonus points if you can connect it to current markets. stop trying to be perfect and be human ffs
pls share examples! my last chat went silent after i asked about market trends, need better scripts. maybe 2-3 go-to questions that worked for others? thx!
The key is customization. Start with a template, then add personal flair. For example: ‘I noticed your team worked on [specific deal]. As someone interested in [niche sector], I’m curious how you navigated [industry challenge] during that process?’ This demonstrates preparation while inviting unique insights. Always end with a forward-looking question about emerging opportunities to spark meaningful dialogue.
You’ve got this! Templates are springboards, not cages. Just add your genuine curiosity and watch connections blossom!
Used a template question about restructuring trends last month but panicked when the MD said ‘We don’t do that here.’ Salvaged it by laughing and asking what they ACTUALLY do want to discuss. Ended up talking Formula 1 sponsorships for 30 mins. Sometimes the best script is no script?