FT Networking: Better To Be Direct Or Indirect?
I know there’s a million posts on networking so bear with me here, but when sending a cold email for FT networking should I directly ask about job opportunities or don’t even mention it, and then bring it up on the phone?
It seems like half the posts on networking contradict, on some there is a consensus that asking about a job in a cold email is way too much for a cold email, but on other posts everyone says you gotta be direct so people know why you’re emailing.
If it’s the former, is it okay to ask to talk about a company they cover? I genuinely would enjoy talking with some sell side analysts whose research I’ve read, but I also don’t want to come off like a hardo that they’d dread being stuck in an airport with.
The goal would not be to impress them with my knowledge or anything (they obviously will know more than me) but just to talk about something we both find interesting.
Thank you in advance for your time.
TDLR: do I ask about a job in an email or dance around it, and will I come off as boring for asking to talk about a company they cover?
I would totally reach out directly to people on the team or the Senior Analyst if there's currently and opening and attach a stock write-up and 3 statement model. If not just treat it as networking and getting to know the person, company and team otherwise it sounds like you're demanding for a job opening to come up. Networking is very transactional, and they already know that you're looking to work on their team in the future or at least have some desire to. You can be a bit more direct in the call and ask about churn on the team or when would be the best time to reach back out if they actually had an opportunity (usually January-Feb around bonus season, sometimes August as well when they're trying to fill up some teams).
posting a contrarian view point to the albiet 7 votes.
If you're reaching out to someone you've never met, they likely already know that you want something and in this case a job.
It's like flirting you don't just drop your pants on the first date (it being I want a job).
cold networking comes down to 3 things (imo), who you are, why they should talk to you, and what you want.
why they should talk to you should vary, if you wanted to learn about LO AM and you were from the DMV you could network at T Rowe, saying its like a home town name, or if you were from LA/OC you could do the same thing to Capital Group. Find similar connections somehow whether its to the firm or the person to increase your odds.
They know you want a job ask them for 15 minutes of their time to learn about their career path/industry/company (people love to talk about themselves, this works with dating too) ... I would advise against trying to impress a professional stock pitcher with a stock pitch. (especially in their sector)
Thank you for your response. Do you think talking about a stock that they cover which I am also interested in is a good common ground?
I know you’re talking about other things I might have in common (e.g. an alum from my school), but if nothing else is a stock something most people in ER would want to talk about?
I think talking about a stock is assumed that everyone wants to sort of talk about.
You have to get someone to go out of their way to schedule a meeting with you and then show up to that meeting and be engaged.
I don't think talking about 1 stock with someone they don't know is going to do that for them.
Stalk them on instagram, linkedin, facebook, find SOMETHING to connect about. It will improve your odds greatly.
Just to add on to this. If you do end up talking/pitching a stock, please please please keep it under 3 minutes. A pitch that's too long leaves a much worse impression than no stock pitch coming out of a networking call for me.
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