Cold email to partially bypass HR screen?

My story is somewhat unique, in that I have a finance degree, but work for a railroad. I've been working on the railroad (all the live long day) for all 6 years of my career and have come to understand many of the aspects of how a railroad is run, it's challenges, and revenue mix. I've worked in marketing/sales, general management of fixed assets and leases, done contract negotiation, and managed some of their real estate. While in undergrad at a non-target state school (3.0 GPA, 3.4 major GPA while working 50 hours a week and raising 3 kids), I was selected as an "equity analyst" of their student managed investment fund, and did a lot of equity research on industrial and healthcare companies, and pitched/helped select stocks to make up the fund's portfolio. I feel that my research is quite good, and sometimes when applying for positions with firms (trying to break into the ER arena as I'm studying for the CFA and about to begin grad school) there are options with the HR software to include copies of work that you've done. I always include some of my equity research reports. I realize that they aren't at the level that an analyst who covers a major company would publish, but it does give a good idea of my skills and writing capability (and shows a historical snapshot of accurate calls that we made). I'm currently applying for an equity associate position with a mid-level regional IB (a research role under their actual analysts for their transportation sector) and there isn't a function in their HR software to include this. My question is, would it be over the top or looked down upon for me to email the Director of that department that oversees the analysts and include a couple of PDFs of my work and BRIEFLY explaining my need to reach out? Or would that kill my chances? All of their analysts and department leaders have emails and phone numbers posted on the website. I just know that there are many kids with better credentials as me, but they don't have a few of those unique things that I feel would make me a fit for the position. I'm just worried that I'll get the HR once over and pushed to the pile of apps to throwaway. I addressed this in my cover letter, but I know companies can be hit or miss with their evaluation of a cover letter. Thoughts anyone?

 
FinanceBrah:

I bet you're making all of the punctuation bros eyes bleed.

The answer to your question is tricky; you can get an interview if you approach this tactfully but you also leave yourself open to some tough questions. Write a report someone disagrees with and you better be able to defend it with consistent, sound arguments.

Gotcha, sorry about the punctuation, I'm lacking of sleep. I appreciate the insight. More or less, I was just wanting to show that I have some talent that could be honed and built upon if given the chance. I wouldn't try to portray that I know more than someone in the field, but would like to show that I think about equities in the correct manner and can write a decent report.
"Decide what to be and go be it." - The Avett Brothers
 
Best Response

Sending a cold email to a director is a good idea. Sending a cold email with a research report attached asking them to look it over is a bad idea.

Start off with the cold email for a chat. Ask to meet up for some coffee. In this coffee meet then you could bring up the idea of the director reviewing your reports.

Out of all of the stuff I would like to do in a day, reading an unsolicited document from a rando is not near the top.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

Thanks for the advice. I won't throw any attachments their way unless asked. I wish I could ask them for coffee, problem is I live in FL and the position is in Cleveland.

"Decide what to be and go be it." - The Avett Brothers
 

Phone calls work as well, and if you're not set on just this one position in the whole world of ER positions, you could get a bunch of meetings set up with multiple people on the same week/day and take a trip to that city.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

Cold emails can sometimes bypass HR... but that is dependent on the person you reach out to and your relationship with him/her. I have been able to pass first and second round interviews and jump straight into final rounds with BB banks just by networking. This was only possible because 1) the person was in a relatively high position, 2) they liked me so they went the extra mile to make sure I was in the final rounds, and 3) luck. That being said, I could cold call/email with tact. But don't expect to get rewarded immediately for your efforts... a lot of this seems to be dependent on luck as well.

 

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"Decide what to be and go be it." - The Avett Brothers

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