When to begin cold emailing for PE, HF, and small IB firms seeking sophomore summer internships?

I'm a rising sophomore at a non-target, beginning my internship search for sophomore summer. I know the big banks are beginning to open their applications for next summer. Beyond BB's, many banks don't have online applications for sophomores and PE/HFs certainly don't. I need to know if small investment banks, PE, and HF follow the same recruiting timeline as BB and Boutique banks? In short, should I start cold emailing smaller firms now or wait until spring when my GPA is higher? I know that with small PE and HFs it is more subjective depending on the specific firm, but any help/insight would be greatly appreciated.

Also - when cold emailing, who are the best people to email? The senior directors? HR people? People in analyst-type roles? Or just whoever you may have the best connection with (e.g. someone from hometown, alumni)?

Thank you!

4 Comments
 

I think it's never too early to start networking. As far as seniority level, I have really mixed feelings and historical results. A lot of people on here will say to target analysts and maybe associates, but my luck was always with senior people. Look up some threads and suggestions for cold emailing formats to make sure you have the correct understanding.

There are actually a lot of buy side shops that would let you intern there because they don't give return offers. I would think asset managers and PE funds. Excellent springboard to IB for the next summer.

JUST DO IT. Don't let your memes be dreams.
 
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"TheDarkLordBigChungus" I think it's never too early to start networking. As far as seniority level, I have really mixed feelings and historical results. A lot of people on here will say to target analysts and maybe associates, but my luck was always with senior people. Look up some threads and suggestions for cold emailing formats to make sure you have the correct understanding.

There are actually a lot of buy side shops that would let you intern there because they don't give return offers. I would think asset managers and PE funds. Excellent springboard to IB for the next summer.

THIS.

Unless you are buddy buddy with juniors, go to senior types, be young, eager beaver, get them to like you and try to get something. If not, keep in touch once in a while so when it comes time to try and get a full time job...

Good Luck

I used to do Asia-Pacific PE (kind of like FoF). Now I do something else but happy to try and answer questions on that stuff.
 

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I used to do Asia-Pacific PE (kind of like FoF). Now I do something else but happy to try and answer questions on that stuff.

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