For those needing a bit of inspiration:
How I passed an internship offer for top 10 strategy consulting to my best friend, who had been looking for a job for 2 years.
People involved:
- SENIOR MD in charge of country's group, who forwarded my email.
- BEST VP ever who received my email and passed my email to his wife that night.
- VP'S WIFE who is management at the strategy firm and emailed me next morning.
I received an internship offer at my current employer in Singapore (not this one); thus, recommended my best friend to the VP's wife. He is now Hong Kong's first intern at her strategy firm.
This is exactly how you should approach cold-emails. Be humble, be open-minded, and as luck may have it, someone will notice.
Good luck.
-James
Dear James,
Congratulations on your new role in Singapore. All the best for that.
Thank you very much for referring XXXBEST FRIENDXXX – I will get in touch with him directly.
Best regards,
VP'S WIFE XXXX
From: James XXXX Sent: Monday, September 27, 2010 8:03 PM To: XXXXX VP'S WIFE Cc: XXXXX BEST FRIEND Subject: Re: XXXX Internship - Good News/Referral from James
Dear XXXXVP'S WIFE,
I wanted to thank you for offering to speak about XXXXX. My good news is I will be joining XXXX's Global Strategy Group in Singapore this fall before graduate school applications.
I lucked out through a friend and wanted to pass on the goodwill. XXXX BEST VP XXX told me you are looking for interns with Western-trained minds; my friend XXX BEST FRIENDXXX is an asset I'd like to introduce.
XXX BEST FRIEND XXX is a recent graduate from IVY TARGET, currently in Hong Kong. He has a very unique narrative (translator for the Beijing Olympics, heavyweight crew, great grades, recession survivor). He is a better candidate than I in many ways; I am certain he can help your team as a part-time intern.
I am leaving his contact information and credentials. Thanks again to you and your husband for giving me a shot, and please do keep in touch.
Much appreciated, James
On 8/27/2010 9:49 AM, VP'S WIFE wrote:
Dear James,
I received your resume via my husband, who works at XXXXELITE BOUTIQUE. I would be interested in talking with you to gauge your interest in being a part-time intern for our firm, TOP STRATEGY FIRM. I can tell you more about what we do and see if there's mutual interest.
Please let me know if you'd like to discuss on Monday.
Thank you, VP'S WIFE
--
VP'S WIFE Senior Manager
TOP STRATEGY FIRM Hong Kong Office XXXXXXX
--------------> This is when I thanked the BEST VP for VP WIFE's referral/offer.
I am an M&A guy, so always trying to put deals together.
XXXXX's consulting firm does use interns and needs more western-trained minds. Perhaps there could be a fit.
XXXXXXXXXXX Vice President Elite Boutique Bank Office XXXXXX Mobile XXXXX
From: James XXXX To: XXXX Sent: XXXXX Subject: Re: Off-cycles for BlackRock/XXXXX
Hi XXXXX - Best VP Ever,
Never thought my email would make it to Hong Kong. Thanks so much for your response--it gives me only good things to say about XXXXX. I was just packing up my belongings for my last day at XXXX when I received an email from Mrs. XXXX. I will definitely follow up with her.
The way we do internships here is a very small stipend (hence, paid) and academic credit for American students. Interns are a driving force in XXX in XXX and XXXX, where it's understood that there will be no conversion--just brand exchange for execution assistance. That's the model for American businesses in the future.
Thanks again for lending an ear. Very rarely do we receive emails back; I tell all my mentees to go ahead and email anyway.
All the best, James
On 8/26/2010 8:08 PM, XXXXXX
>
> James,
>
> You sound like a great guy and I am sure that you would be a positive contributor to XXXXXX. We do not have an internship program or the flexibility to hire unpaid interns (I have looked into this several time). We are also out of desks.
>
>
>
> Therefore, we are not able to offer you any position here, but I do wish you the best of luck and think that you are in the right place to find a job.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> XXXXXX
>
>
>
>
>
> XXXXX
>
> XXXX
>
> XXXX
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: XXXXX
> To: Managing Director in Charge of Elite Boutique
> Sent: Mon Aug 23 21:43:13 2010
> Subject: Off-cycles for BlackRock/XXX Alum
>
>
> Hi XXX--Managing Director in Charge of Elite Boutique whose email I found on the website,
>
> Saw your name as the Beijing contact and wanted to see if you would pass me along as a candidate looking for an off-cycle internship.
>
> State school kid from Umass Amherst who bought a one-way to Beijing--willing to learn and grind out work.
>
> This is my last week at XXXXX, where I am XXXXX. I did 3 at BlackRock, where I XXXX and worked on their XXXXXX investment suite.
>
> I will be straight and say it's been a while for finance, but I am great at decks, run pitchbooks without fail, and I've done amazing/dirty work with a willingness to learn.
>
> Let me know if you're interested in an intern to make everyone's life easier. Unpaid, immediate availability. Thanks for reading my cold-email.
>
> Cheers,
> James
>
>
Related thread: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/networking-…
