19 Comments
 

in my experience, I got a better response rate by not including it. I typically requested informational interviews, tried to build a rapport, and then asked if they could take my resume along after I felt comfortable acting.

Of course I'm from a non target and didn't have an ounce of 'pedigree' after my first job. If you have an outstanding resume, you might have a different experience than me in just attaching it.

 

Really depends on a multitude of factors; what you are trying to accomplish, the person, your personality. If it is simply to network and build a relationship with an alumnus which you can then ask for help 5-12 months down the line, I wouldn't include my resume. But if you are cold emailing companies who you have no connections to, I would write up a short email message, a cover letter, and send that along with your resume. Then give them a cold call in a couple days to follow up, and keep following up until you get a firm no.

 

Interesting. Including one doesn't seem too presumptuous to you?

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I really don't get why people seem to think that. I really enjoy networking and my fund takes a very long term approach to recruiting (ie. we do a lot of coffee chats leading up to our formal recruiting) and I was one of the lead for recruiting when I was in IBD so I have done this a lot. I am also extremely busy and get way more requests for informationals than I can possible do. So before agreeing to spend some of my time to meet someone, I need a way to judge whether that person has any potential. It is hard to do that without seeing a resume, especially for people with limited or no experience.

 

I am very fortunate in that I go to a target school. Many alumni from my school work in finance. Should I include my resume even when reaching out to alumni?

 

Other people can answer these questions better than I, but I think it's generally not a great idea to send a resume/cover letter in your initial email. I've always asked for informational interviews, then asked about any internship possibilities-in your case it would be full time opportunities. From my experience, talking to them for even just 5-10 min over the phone before asking about job openings works better than asking upfront.

 

does anyone else have an opinion on this? i feel that attaching my resume on the first email saves a step. They might not have time to reply but they might forward the resume to someone else.

 

I personally think attaching a resume on your first email is a bit presumptuous. It basically reads like "Here, you have time to read this and are interested, even though I don't know you and we've never met." Better to meet with someone and talk, then ask them if you can give them your resume.

 

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