Keeping in touch when FT elsewhere
I'm looking for advice on keeping a decent relationship going with the full-time people I interned with. The bank got acquired and my full time offer is through the acquirer, who had all interns reapply to their FT program. No one was laid off though, but my offer is with a different team. I was one of the weaker performers in the internship and was told so in evaluations; the staffer says there was meaningful progress and notable effort but improvement was still slower than they like to see. My program was also rotational, so I only worked with each person a few times (like 2-3; some people I only worked with 1 time). I'm now trying to draft catching-up emails/letting them know how things are going, but have no idea how to keep it from being shallow. I'm studying abroad all of this last/senior year, so I can't ask if they can meet for coffee until the winter break when I'm back in the US. The culture was great, but I was very shy/introverted and I never got to know anyone personally which makes it hard to keep things two-way. Can anyone advise on what my catching-up email should look like without making a report on just me? Or advice on how to navigate this in general? I have not been in touch with anyone since end of internship; I know I shouldn't have dragged my feet for so long and wonder if it's too late now to salvage any real relationship/connection
Ah, the art of keeping in touch! It's a delicate balance, but I've got a few tips up my sleeve that might help you out.
Firstly, it's great that you're taking the initiative to keep the connection warm. Remember, it's not just about you, it's about them too. So, when drafting your catching-up emails, make sure to ask about their work, any new projects they're working on, or even something personal if you feel comfortable doing so.
Here's a rough idea of what your email could look like:
"Hi Name,
I hope this email finds you well. It's been a while since we last connected and I wanted to catch up. I've been studying abroad this year, which has been an incredible experience so far. I'm learning a lot and it's definitely broadening my perspective.
I'm also excited to share that I've accepted a full-time analyst position with [acquirer's name]. I'm looking forward to starting my career in finance and applying all the valuable lessons I learned during my internship.
I'm curious to know how things are going on your end. How has the transition been after the acquisition? Are you working on any interesting projects?
I'll be back in the US during the winter break and it would be great to meet up for coffee if you're available.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best, [Your Name]"
Remember, the goal is to keep the conversation light and casual. You're not just networking, you're building relationships. So, don't stress too much about it. Just be yourself and let the conversation flow naturally.
And hey, don't worry about being introverted. Some of the best financiers I know are introverts. It's all about playing to your strengths.
Good luck, and keep swinging from those branches!
Sources: How to Navigate FT Recruiting: Learn from My Successes/Failures, Two Internships Later: What I wish I Knew While Recruiting! (Toronto), How to reach out to old contacts?
Don’t overthink this lol. For the senior folks, just send an email for a 15 minute catch up phone call and then be friendly and ask open ended questions. Get them talking and make sure you find a topic (e.g. holiday plans, deal they are working on, etc.) that you can use as a warm follow-up topic for a later date.
For analyst peers, either do the same or texting works too. May be less intimidating to text but definitely call more senior people.
“Stay in touch” is also very much a thing people say with sincerity but without any expectations. No need for force anything when you’re 8 months out from FT start. Much easier to catch up once you start or a few weeks before as you can gravitate toward stuff like “what advice do you have” and such
As for an email, as easy as:
Hey X,
I hope all is well!
Wanted to send you a quick update on senior year and abroad! Highlights so far have been seeing ____ and _____. [1-2 more sentences max]
How have things been with you? Did the ____ deal finish up nicely? [the more personal here the better (i.e., “how was your trip to ____” is much better than bringing up work)]
Best,
Name
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