Dilemma: Network or send cold email
Hi - I am wondering if people can weigh in on the following: should I network (ask for informational interviews and then let that person know I need a job) or should I simply email a VP/ MD and ask if his/her firm has any openings?
I tried to network last spring, and received a good number of responses that led to informational phone calls. Recruiting for summer internships was done, so I could not find any opportunities, but I learned a bit about the industry and got some experience with interviews. It was not very aggressive networking (I probably emailed 20-30 people at local shops and talked to maybe 7-8). Now some of those people left to either corporate development world or PE. I am set to graduate this spring. My question is: should I spend a lot of time on setting up informational interviews and then hope to convert those connections into job opportunities or simply play the numbers game and contact VPs and/or MDs and say "hey I can help your team."
Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.
My background:
Internship at MS in wealth management
Internship at a search fund (learned deal sourcing, modeling etc.)
Internship in consulting (education/government)
Internship at a big bank (think Citi, Wells Fargo, Bank of America etc.) in corporate tax
1 year of audit at a big four
Undegrad. GPA above 3.6
Grad GPA 4.0 (master of accountancy at a no name school - graduate this spring)
tons of leadership experience on campus
