I’m hearing more and more about people jumping from IB to tech (product, ops roles) or consulting, and it seems like the networking is… different? Or maybe I’m overthinking it.
When you’re networking within IB, there’s a pretty clear playbook—you know what ladder you’re climbing, who has power, what to talk about. But moving to a different industry feels less obvious. Do you network with tech people while you’re still in banking? Or do you wait until you’re seriously committed? And if you do reach out to people in tech now, does it signal something to your current bank that might come back to bite you?
Also, I feel like tech people evaluate candidates differently than bankers do. Bankers care about hustle and client management; tech people seem to care about problem-solving and whether you actually understand their business. How do you authentically build credibility in a space that isn’t your home field?
Who’s actually done this transition successfully? What does cross-industry networking actually look like, and did you time it differently than you would have if you were just climbing the banking ladder?
your bank doesn’t really care if you network with tech people—they assume everyone’s exploring. what matters is performance before you leave. the ‘timing’ thing is overthinking it. start conversations now if you’re curious. tech people aren’t dumb; they know they’re recruiting from banking. they get it. just don’t announce it at your team meeting lmao.
ok so basically just network normally but like, don’t broadcast it internally? that makes sense lol
Cross-industry networking requires calibration, not secrecy. Tech and consulting value different artifacts. In banking, your credentials are deal experience and client relationships. In tech, they care more about demonstrated problem-solving ability and evidence that you understand their business model. I’d suggest this approach: start conversations with people who’ve made the transition specifically because they can translate your banking credentials into tech language. Ask them what actually matters to tech hiring managers. Then pivot your story accordingly. Don’t oversell your banking experience; instead, translate it into relevant terms—‘I’ve managed complex stakeholder alignment’ rather than ‘I closed a $2B deal.’
You’re already thinking strategically about this! Conversational networking now builds relationships that’ll lead to real opportunities. Be authentic about your curiosity, and doors will open!
Transition success correlates strongly with early relationship-building—starting conversations 12+ months before intended exit. First, you gather intelligence about market fit. Second, you develop genuine relationships rather than scrambling for references. Third, you allow time to translate your banking narrative into terms tech values. Tech hiring typically prioritizes domain understanding and problem-solving frameworks over title prestige. Most successful transitions from banking to tech involve 6-12 months of relationship-building before active recruitment.
also just do some actual learning. if you’re considering tech, read a few business blogs, understand SaaS unit economics or whatever. tech people can tell if you actually care versus just looking for the next thing. showing up having thought about the industry? that’s credible.
yep that makes sense. can’t just show up clueless and expect ppl to take u seriously. thx for that reality check
Absolutely. Do your research before conversations. Read annual reports, follow industry leaders, understand current debates in the space. When you then ask informed questions, you immediately signal seriousness versus casual exploration. Tech professionals encounter many career-switchers; demonstrating you’ve invested thought beforehand differentiates you materially. Additionally, timing matters with regard to your banking exit—if you’re leaving on strong terms versus getting pushed out, the narrative is different. Tech prefers candidates leaving strategic moves, not running away.
Tenure and performance before transition significantly impact tech recruitment reception. Candidates transitioning from banking after three+ years with positive feedback outperform those exiting earlier or under pressure. This reflects two factors: established credibility transfers across industries, and tech interprets early exits as potential flight risk. Most successful cross-industry transitioners spend 18-24 months in relationship-building phase while mastering industry fundamentals, systematically converting banking-specific expertise into transferable problem-solving frameworks.