How to turn informal phone call into interview

Posted this in the "Sophomore summer" thread but seeing as how I have to deal with this tomorrow, I'd really like some input.

I'm a sophomore at Penn and have been networking my ass off by cold-emailing alumni of the newspaper here (there's a newspaper alumni directory that they volunteer their info for). A couple MD/VPs/associates emailed me back and asked for my resume and that I should call them. What can I do to have a chance of turning the call (I asked if I can call them to ask for advice and have them talk about their own experience in finance) into an interview for a summer position?

They know that I'm really emailing because I want a job, right? That's why they asked for my resume, I guess...

2 Comments
 

Do you know what you want to do?  Do you know anything about the divisions that these guys are a part of?  If you know enough about them, you can at least sound like you have a genuine interest, and that's all they can really ask from a sophomore.  If you really don't know what they do, just be positive, express your interest and your willingness to work hard to learn the business.  It's a pretty simple equation:  if you sound confident on the phone, and don't tell an MD in S&T that you really want to work in IBD (even then, he may pass your resume along, but more often than not he'll lose interest), there's is a good chance you will land some interviews.  Best of luck...

 

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