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(Cold) emailing a family friend of sorts
 

Boreed's picture
PE
 
Points)
 on 2/20/12 at 4:52pm

Hi,

So...my mothers colleagues sister's husband is a Managing Director of a corporate law firm in NYC specialising in M&A mostly.

My mum's colleague told him about me, and how I am trying to go to NYC from Europe for an internship. He told her that I should email him.

I have his email and I have no idea how to do this because it's not exactly a cold email, nor do I personally know the man.

What should the subject be? What should I say? I was thinking to start with saying that I was given the email by **** and then a thank you for offering to help me out. After that I should possibly give a brief summary of my experience and education, and then talk about my M&A passion etc... and my ''dream'' of coming to work in NYC.

What do you guys think? Could you please give me advice on how to do this? I'm stuck...

I mean, should I ask if there would be any opportunity for me there? Or should I just ask for information? Maybe he'll decide to refer me to somewhere... and should I attach my resume as well?

Thanks for your help!

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charmander's picture

WTF. Talk to your mother

IB
 
Points)
 on 2/20/12 at 5:50pm

WTF. Talk to your mother first.

J.'s picture

I've attached a sample email

 
Points)
 on 2/20/12 at 5:53pm

I've attached a sample email below, but to be honest its your sisters husband, you should just ask her to ask her husband to speak with you. Sending a cold email makes NO sense considering its not a cold lead and hes one connection away from family. Don't attach an email and instead of treating it as networking treat it as getting to know the guy considering hes your brother in law. At the end ask, if he has any additional advice or contacts in the field that wouldn't mind talking to you.

If its too uncomfortable to speak to your sis to introduce you, use the below.

Subject: "Your name here" Reaching out

Body:

Hi "sisters husband". Hope your doing well. We haven't previously met but ("sisters name") has told me that you're currently in corporate law and work within the M&A space. Im very interested in corporate finance and I wanted to know if it would be possible to have a few minutes of your time to grab lunch to speak a bit mroe about what you do. Any of your time would be appreciated. Thanks

Oreos's picture

You're over thinking this

HF
(Neanderthal, 2,459
 
Points)
 on 2/20/12 at 5:54pm

You're over thinking this dude.

Boreed's picture

Thanks, but it's my mother's

PE
 
Points)
 on 2/20/12 at 6:12pm

Thanks, but it's my mother's colleague's sister's husband.

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FlakieBear's picture

Boreed wrote: Thanks, but

(Gorilla, 502
 
Points)
 on 2/20/12 at 6:47pm
Boreed:

Thanks, but it's my mother's colleague's sister's husband.

Or the Brother-in-law of my mother's colleague
One of my mother's colleagues has a brother-in-law ...

Power and Money do not change men; they only unmask them

john2's picture

Ask your mom to ask her

(Baboon, 134
 
Points)
 on 2/20/12 at 7:42pm

Ask your mom to ask her friend to ask her brother-in-law.

Pike's picture

Agree, you are over thinking

IB
 
Points)
 on 2/21/12 at 4:26pm

Agree, you are over thinking it. If they have told him about you this isn't really a cold e-mail call. Hit him up whats the worst that can happen. Just be polite.

Example of sentences:
1) introduce yourself what school and major
2) How you are connected to him (or remind him who told him about you)
3) Quick background of your experience and what you want
4) Ask him to meet or speak on the phone (if you live in a different state) and learn more about his experiences at XXX
5) Thank him for his time

Good is the enemy of Great

Boreed's picture

Cool thanks! I already sent

PE
 
Points)
 on 2/22/12 at 5:55pm

Cool thanks! I already sent an email yesterday. I just asked if we could talk and he could tell me about M&A in NYC etc, and he said ok, and also told me to send my resume to him so that he could "pass it on to a couple of colleagues at banks".

Americans are more helpful in this way than Europeans, I have the feeling. Anyway, thanks for your advice everyone.

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Boreed's picture

I live in the UK btw.

PE
 
Points)
 on 2/22/12 at 5:56pm

I live in the UK btw.

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FlakieBear's picture

Boreed wrote: Cool thanks! I

(Gorilla, 502
 
Points)
 on 2/22/12 at 6:14pm
Boreed:

Cool thanks! I already sent an email yesterday. I just asked if we could talk and he could tell me about M&A in NYC etc, and he said ok, and also told me to send my resume to him so that he could "pass it on to a couple of colleagues at banks".

Americans are more helpful in this way than Europeans, I have the feeling. Anyway, thanks for your advice everyone.

You won't get an offer
troll

Power and Money do not change men; they only unmask them

Soros's picture

Definitely don't ask for a

O
(Baboon, 100
 
Points)
 on 8/10/12 at 11:46am

Definitely don't ask for a job or interview, just that so and so RECOMMENDED that you speak with him. If you can mention something specific that you want to ask about, maybe that's a plus

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