Unsure on how to sell myself in cold emails to Search Funds
I’m an undergrad studying Finance who finished first year and is looking to try and gain some financial experience by interning at a search fund. I’ve been looking on places like Searchfunder and Handshake but realise I need to follow up by emailing these companies individually. However I quite simply have no physical work experience in finance or any related fields and only some online courses which I’ve completed. One of which was related to Investment Banking and Asset Management and the other in Venture Capital and Private Equity. I’ve done a fair amount of research on how search funds work and what they do but I’m struggling on how I’d show skills relevant to the operations they carry out in a cold email. If anyone would be able to help guide me in how to structure an email specifically for search fund it would be great.
Hey there, it sounds like you're on the right track with your approach to reaching out to search funds. Here are a few tips to help you craft your cold emails:
Keep it Short and Sweet: As one analyst mentioned, it's best to keep your email concise and to the point. They're more likely to respond if your email is easy to read and doesn't take up too much of their time.
Show Your Knowledge: Even though you don't have physical work experience, you can still demonstrate your understanding of the industry. Mention the online courses you've completed and how they've given you a solid foundation in Investment Banking, Asset Management, Venture Capital, and Private Equity.
Express Your Interest: Make sure to express your interest in their specific fund and why you want to intern there. This shows that you've done your research and are genuinely interested in their work.
Ask for Advice, Not a Job: Instead of directly asking for an internship, you could ask for advice or insights about the industry. This could lead to a more in-depth conversation and potentially an internship offer down the line.
Don't Mention LinkedIn: Even if you found their contact information on LinkedIn, it's best not to mention it. It can come across as a bit creepy.
End with a Call to Action: At the end of your email, ask if they would be willing to have a brief call or meeting to discuss the industry and their experiences. This gives them a clear next step if they're interested in continuing the conversation.
Remember, the goal of the email is to start a conversation, not to land an internship with one message. Good luck!
Sources: (Mis)adventures in PE fundraising (part 2), Cold email advice from analyst, Fundraising sucks. Please help.
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