Cold calling/emailing, walking in

Hey Everyone,UK 2nd year student here.

I have done 105 applications for summer internships so far and haven't been able to secure an offer yet. I will still be applying through websites as they open.Last year I cold emailed 85 firms and managed to secure 2 internships and built a good CV.

I want to further develop my strategy of getting an internship from boutiques. Should I continue just emailing, or should I start calling and going into offices as well? Would trying to connect and get a coffee with Associates/VPs be a better strategy?Please give some advice on what I should do to secure an IB(preferably) or AM internships.

If you are a senior, I would love to connect and pitch myself for a potential internship.

Yours Sincerely,
Someone

 
Most Helpful

Definitely do not do this. You will not get past the receptionist, and it's also just creepy. I'm not from the UK, but from what I hear networking is not at all a big thing there like it is the US, so take the advice on this site with a grain of salt as it's US based. Your school and grades will be most important for UK recruiting. That said, clearly your cold email is going pretty well (2 internships / 85 emails is an incredible rate, most people are shooting 300-400 emails for one internship) so I would keep doing it

I would also change your username as WSO is an anonymous website

 

Hey, Thank you for the reply! I asked about walking in as I saw it on Quora(yeah..). I thought it was creepy as well lol. I will continue with emailing then. My grades first year were good and seems like they are going to stay the same.

I also changed the name. Thanks for all the comments!!

 

Thanks for the kind words. Yeah I think it is a decent uni, recently 2 of us got IBD GS HireVue. But damn, looking at target schools, they take out all the spots. But I understand it, an employer would want the best candidate. Unfortunately I couldn't go to likes of LSE because I am from a different part of the world, so had to take a foundation degree. 

What uni are you from? would love to connect

 

Don't listen to the haters. they're just mad they didn't think to do this, and instead focused on cold-email and cold-calls that got a .05% hit rate. If you do this, make sure you bring a copy of your resume (printed on a nice, 32 lb paper) for each MD in the office to have. When you get there, make sure you personally hand-deliver to resume to each intended recipient. If they are in a meeting, remember: a client is NOT more important than you. Have confidence!

 

Regarding that, many boutiques have very strict office entry receptionists. What should my strategy be to have a chance at going through?

Should I try standing outside offices? The other day I asked someone coming out an office turns out he is a CFO for massive PE.

I am someone that doesn’t care about awkwardness, I am willing to do anything to get an IB internship.

 

Standing outside the office is a good idea! You'll come across as desperate, and if getting a job is anything like dating, this is what makes people want you!

However, if it's too cold and you left your coat at home, you can try applying for a job with the building's cleaning staff. That will give you access to the office. The rest should be pretty straightforward. 

 

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