Following up 3 times vs 2 times?
Just was curious if it was ok to follow up three times vs 2 times to someone who hasn't replied to my past two emails. I know that the end of the year is a busy time so I'd rather just send another email as a reminder 2-3 weeks after my second one was not replied to. Is this alright?
If it's a possibility, I would pick up the phone and call them. Emails are forgettable, and easily disregarded. A phone call tells you a lot more by the tone of the person, and you can make a polite impression where things can be lost in written text. If that is completely not an option then yeah, after 2-3 weeks a 3rd email is fine, it's not going to hurt anything.
Good Luck
Edit: didn’t realize it was for networking and not an interview follow up. Yeah, I would just move on. Plenty of fish in the sea for networking. Also important: make sure you’re bringing something to the table when you are cold networking. Don’t just say, “hi I’m John Doe, I’d like to network”... I’ve found something as simple as offering to buy SBUX and asking if you can chat about the target’s current role, group, company, etc is a good minimum. Most people like to talk about themselves more than someone else.
Cheers!
For people, that haven't responded to me for both the initial contact and the follow up email. Is it still alright to send them a 2nd follow up email/3rd email overall?
I guess it depends on the purpose of the email (network vs. job you interviewed for) and the timing between each of your emails
Networking. I emailed them once (initial email) > waited a week and no response > sent a follow up > no response > should I send another follow up?
No. Theres a theory about getting girls - it's called the Brad Pitt rule. Basically, if you were Brad Pitt, how would she treat you? Would she cancel? Would she act any different? The same thing goes for emailing. If these people actually cared about you, they would put more of an effort into talking to you.
In my experience, it is all boiled down to your intention and how you write it in your email. Typically, if you want to get someone on the phone as you have an interview with his team coming up soon, he might respond to your email immediately. Also, if you are a sophomore navigating the recruiting process, they will be likely to respond to you at the first email/second follow-up - because they used to be in your position before.
However, if your email is vague like "can we chat for no reason", the odds of getting a response are low. Why would you waste time responding to a stranger that does not know what he wants, right? Try to be more specific and upfront about your intention, and explain why/how that person would be of help. Maybe he is from the team you want to be in, or maybe he knows someone that you want to reach out to? Maybe you guys come from the same school, or maybe he lateralled from your current place and you want to lateral as well? If there is still no response after the third follow-up, I would stop. This means that your contact knows about your situation and cannot help (or doesn't want to help). My two cents.
You should also always send Email around 8am. That way your email will tend to be the first one they'll see in the morning. If you send an email at noon / 2 / 3pm then oftentimes it will get buried and passed over in favor of intra-day issues / emails.
I've been sending emails around 9:30 am as I felt 8am was way to early and could detrimentally impact me as in "I have important work to do and some random college kid is emailing me this early". Is it really better to send that early?
I suppose it depends on the recipient / industry and when they are expected to come in.
For reference I am generally in by 7:30 or 8 so sending me an email at 8 would be ideal.
IF I am not busy / swamped then I will likely respond. If I'm busy obviously all bets are off.
The difference is I MIGHT be busy prepping things in the morning, but I'll almost definitely be busy at 12, 1, 3, 5pm.
If you're messaging a trader that gets in 8:30 to 9ish just before market open you might be ok sending it later.
I need context. What's the email for? Networking? Interview follow up? Cold email?
Networking, didn't get a response for the first contact, sent a follow up no response. My question is should I send another email a month later?
Yes. No reason not to. IBers are busy. So busy that random emails from strangers get neglected. Keep at it. I would echo the comments about earlier vs later.
Who is the recipient? Which level? In my experience, MDs get in early. Then Directors, then VPs, then Associates and analysts. So if you’re emailing an MD, and you probably should be, you need to get them early.
All the mentioned groups.
What are you asking them in your email? Are you asking for a phone call or "informational interview"?
Phone call.
Lot of bad advice here. No harm in checking in twice, three times, four times, five times. Do you think the world's best salespeople stop after two emails? Until someone gives you an indication that you should not follow up again, assume that they're just busy and appreciate you staying on their radar. I have days where I get hundreds of emails and sometimes the young gunner who's trying to get an informational just slips through the cracks.
This goes for networking, dating, sales, etc. Never leave an opportunity on the table. There's literally no downside to another professional follow up (as long as an appropriate amount of time has passed - a few days at least) and plenty of upside.
totally agreed. As the wolf of wall street once said with regards to cold calls, "never take no for an answer!" (within reason ofc)
Followup as much as you want as long as its polite and there's a decent amount of space in between the reach outs.
Every couple of weeks to a month is fine. I find that undergrads are often times scared to be too forward, which generally is a good thing, but the problem is sometimes I need someone to followup with me a few times before I get to it, especially if it isn't something pressing.
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