WATERING HOLES
The Bull and Bear Steakhouse & Bar at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel is a popular spot for midtown firm J.P. Morgan Chase. Other fertile hunting grounds: Red Bar; the restaurant Eleven Madison Park (a name and address all rolled into one!); and eatery Dos Caminos on Park Avenue South.
DRINK
Beers are never wrong if you're looking to land a spot on the analyst desk. Aiming higher? Think martini (gin or vodka) or scotch (on ice for bottom-shelf, straight up for single malt). A grasshopper or Kahlua will probably make you stand out -- and not in a good way.
EQUIPMENT
Don't even think of showing up without a BlackBerry and a cell phone. For the phone, the smaller the better. Preferably it's of the GSM Tri-band variety (if you're going on business trips around the world, your phone should work there, too). And always set it to vibrate: Any kind of cute ring tone or -- God forbid -- the bleep of a Nextel two-way will quickly and painfully expose your poseur-dom. And speaking of things in your pocket, if your wallet is overstuffed, empty it and get a money clip.
GETUP
For stock analysts, the attire is a little bookish: Blue shirts and khakis are common (avoid flash; no one wants to be mistaken for another Blodget or Grubman). Aiming for a banking job? A Brooks Brothers suit is never wrong, along with a tie that's a little bold, but not too bright. Show up in Armani and they'll think you don't need a job. And unless you're Larry Kudlow, leave the suspenders at home.
SECRET HANDSHAKE
To hit home a point, the hand-gesture du jour is the faux golf swing -- think of it as air guitar for brokers. Says one banking insider, "For some reason, everyone's doing it."
