Should you include resume in first cold email?
Does it differ if you are emailing an analyst or VP?
Trending Content
Career Resources
WSO Free Modeling Series - Now Open Through
June 30, 2024
9 Free Financial Modeling Lessons
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
in my experience, I got a better response rate by not including it. I typically requested informational interviews, tried to build a rapport, and then asked if they could take my resume along after I felt comfortable acting.
Of course I'm from a non target and didn't have an ounce of 'pedigree' after my first job. If you have an outstanding resume, you might have a different experience than me in just attaching it.
Really depends on a multitude of factors; what you are trying to accomplish, the person, your personality. If it is simply to network and build a relationship with an alumnus which you can then ask for help 5-12 months down the line, I wouldn't include my resume. But if you are cold emailing companies who you have no connections to, I would write up a short email message, a cover letter, and send that along with your resume. Then give them a cold call in a couple days to follow up, and keep following up until you get a firm no.
If you are a college student or relatively new grad, unless you have a strong connection to me (ie. you have been introduced by someone), there's a zero % chance I will reply if you don't include your resume.
Interesting. Including one doesn't seem too presumptuous to you?
I really don't get why people seem to think that. I really enjoy networking and my fund takes a very long term approach to recruiting (ie. we do a lot of coffee chats leading up to our formal recruiting) and I was one of the lead for recruiting when I was in IBD so I have done this a lot. I am also extremely busy and get way more requests for informationals than I can possible do. So before agreeing to spend some of my time to meet someone, I need a way to judge whether that person has any potential. It is hard to do that without seeing a resume, especially for people with limited or no experience.
I am very fortunate in that I go to a target school. Many alumni from my school work in finance. Should I include my resume even when reaching out to alumni?
I've tried without over the past couple months. I'm gonna source fresh contacts tonight and try with to see if it makes a big difference in reply rates.
cold emailing or cold.. resume? (Originally Posted: 02/01/2012)
Hey guys, i just graduated from UG a few weeks ago and have been trying to land a finance position in NYC. So far dropping my resumes online and on my school network has not been very fruitful (non target) and i want to move onto cold emailing. I did some research into this, and most people 'cold email' for informal interviews, advice etc. I have already graduated and want to land a job as soon as possible so i don't think the the long term network approach will help me at all. I want to target small boutique firms so i believe this might work much better. How should i word my email for this purpose? Would sending my standard resume/coverletter to a number of associates be a wasted and/or disrespectful approach?
Let me know how it goes!
Other people can answer these questions better than I, but I think it's generally not a great idea to send a resume/cover letter in your initial email. I've always asked for informational interviews, then asked about any internship possibilities-in your case it would be full time opportunities. From my experience, talking to them for even just 5-10 min over the phone before asking about job openings works better than asking upfront.
does anyone else have an opinion on this? i feel that attaching my resume on the first email saves a step. They might not have time to reply but they might forward the resume to someone else.
I personally think attaching a resume on your first email is a bit presumptuous. It basically reads like "Here, you have time to read this and are interested, even though I don't know you and we've never met." Better to meet with someone and talk, then ask them if you can give them your resume.
any other opinions on this?
Have you read M&I?
are you referring to when they say to cold call instead? I'm trying both approaches.
If you have time to build a relationship, don't include it; if you need results fast, include it "for their reference".
Reiciendis harum soluta eos sint nihil. Qui quibusdam corporis corporis rerum. Aut porro sed molestias porro recusandae. Sed qui enim enim distinctio tempore consequatur provident ipsa.
Id ut consequatur quo consequuntur. Saepe eum neque veniam culpa. Perspiciatis qui vitae eum voluptas eligendi.
Est assumenda expedita deserunt consequuntur doloremque qui quo. Libero inventore fuga et dolorum aut temporibus perspiciatis. Et sunt aut voluptatibus dicta culpa. Quibusdam praesentium quia impedit et beatae.
Dolores aperiam voluptatum qui voluptates. Cumque aut molestias aliquid aliquid facere quidem minima. Ea recusandae non molestiae.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...