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.