Finding work experience London as a first year
Current first year target, I know about the regular spring week applications but I want to know how to approach the less trodden route of getting experience via networking and connecting.
I am acquainted with a person who managed to get a 12 month internship at a search fund and American fin tech firm(all remote) after conducting around 500 outreaches. I am well versed in outreach as used I to run my own lead generation agency so I know its all a numbers game.
However finding search funds etc to even reach out to is the hard part, the only avenues I know of are connecting in Linked in (which has a cap) and finding emails from that or using the companies house registry and iterating possible fund names, and last resort would be google maps. My friend said he found these funds on sites with large data dumps with details of these funds, but he doesnt go to a target and so understandably gatekept this info.
Does anyone know of any data dumps or platforms where funds/search funds post that they are looking for businesses to buy or announce they are inviting more funding/investors/deal sourcing etc?
Advice appreciated.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some actionable steps and resources to help you find work experience in London through networking and connecting:
Leverage Job Boards and Platforms:
Bloomberg Terminal and CapIQ:
LinkedIn and Networking Events:
Companies House Registry:
Google and Media Searches:
Databases like PitchBook and Crunchbase:
Recruiters and Headhunters:
Cold Outreach:
By combining these resources and strategies, you can effectively identify and connect with search funds or other firms in London. Good luck!
Sources: Advice for London 2022 Applications Cycle - A Couple of Observations, London - Roadmap to FT and SA Hiring, FT recruiting timeline London, Q&A and Yet Another Post On How To Break Into The Buy-side, Lateral or B-School?
Google my friend. I did a search fund internship and some summer stints 2 years ago in my first year just with coldmailing firms on Google
Currently an A1 at a US MM IB in London. I went to a Semi-Target and didn't have any finance connections who could just open up the door to an internship in my first year.
What I did was walk around Mayfair, St James's etc. and look into the receptions/front windows of each building. Every building has a plaque that says what tenants are in the building. I noted down everyone with a vaguely finance term in its name (XXX Capital, YYY Management, ZZZ Advisory).
I then searched them all online and filtered for ones that were too large (unfortunately a MF PE fund isn't going to give a first year a summer internship from a cold email) or I wasn't interested in (you can't be super picky, but for example removing Quant HFs (as I knew I wasn't smart enough lol).
I then emailed a senior university alumnus if there was one, or just emailed the most senior person. I would be upfront saying I'm looking for an internship/work experience (with CV attached) and it could be paid or unpaid. I also asked if they didn't have anything going, could I have a call anyway as I'm interested in their strategy/sector focus etc.
From this I got 2x opportunities: a week at a MM PE fund job shadowing a partner (which I did in my Easter holidays) and a offer of a longer internship at a metals and mining boutique PE fund (which I ended up not taking because I managed to get something totally unrelated to this but that's another story).
I also got to speak to c.25 senior people across IB, PE and Infra PE, which was very useful for giving me a better understanding of what investment banks and PE funds do beyond the basics.
I know this really only works if you are London-based (either at Uni or parents love there), but if you can do this I would highly recommend. Hope this helps!
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