Can I Work With This InMail Rejection?

I've been on the summer analyst stint search, hitting up boutiques in large quantities, asking for informational interviews in some cases, sending resumes if their websites ask for it, etc. I contacted a CEO on LinkedIn with a generic InMail and he responded with the following:

[idaho],

Unfortunately, that's too unspecific a request (it's a note that could've been written to anyone at any firm), no mention of why you're approaching me, any acknowledgement of what we do, any specific interest of yours in what we do, etc. And, I have limited time for "informational interviews," these days. I appreciate the "soft" approach, but I'm just too jammed.

Best of luck to you -- [redacted]

That being said, their website has a summer analyst application. I was dumb and didn't look at the website because this the last firm I contacted today, was lazy, and didn't think I'd get a response. While he did call me out on my mass email bullshit (touche, this is why you're on Wall Street), I can't tell from his mixed signals whether I could salvage this. Should I send him a reply? Should I just apply to the summer analyst program? With the latter, will I get screwed because of this previous communication?

5 Comments
 
Best Response

Doesn't look good, but, would say there may be a slight opening to reply to him.

Firstly, and I 100% get where you're coming from re: hustling to land SA interviews, but dude come on. You've got to exhibit some better sense than blasting the CEO of company a boiler plate give me a job email.

The "CEO" here gave you some excellent advice on cold emails, and would encourage you to adhere to what he said in every single cold email you send out from here out:

  1. "why you're approaching me," - Why are you hitting this guy up? Not a rhetorical question, but seriously. Did you both go to the same college? Do you have a 2nd degree connection that recommended you to him? Shit, even being from the same state / city will work as an excuse. Developing connections with people is based off of two fundamental principals: 1) Intimacy (no, not spooning or some dumb shit) - underlying bond based on shared experiences and or relationships; 2) Trust - does my experience or knowledge of this persons quality of background earn my trust. Answer these questions before you hit send

  2. "any acknowledgement of what we do," - Show some basic interest in what the group does. What do they focus on specifically that sets them apart from their competitors and why. Go beyond just whats up on their website and do a thorough google search on the company, it's recent activity and its history

  3. "specific interest of yours in what we do" - Finally, try to demonstrate why the research you did you #2 resonates with you and genuine interest. Seriously, if you could literally care less about what a company does to make money, you have next to no chance in selling yourself as a value add during the interview process and you'll likely hate the job given the slim chance you get an offer

Ace all your PE interview questions with the WSO Private Equity Prep Pack: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/guide/private-equity-interview-prep-questions
 

Word, I appreciate it. If I had any silver bananas, I'd give you one. I'm going to send him a personal follow-up and see what happens, and if I yield anything, I'll post it. Thanks, y'all.

Make Idaho a Semi-Target Again 2016 Not an alumnus of Idaho
 

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