Any point in cold-emailing if you haven't started university?
Context: I'm going to a semi-target uni (Nottingham) this year, to study Economics. I am currently on a gap year.
The purpose of cold-emailing here would be to establish a connection/relation with the person, to find out more about how they got into the industry and what they do. If there's an opportunity to gain work experience/ work shadowing, that would be great but I don't think they'd offer that opportunity to someone who's not in their first year at some university.
I've built a cold-email tracker with around 100 contacts (approx 3-4 contacts per company). While the cold-email tracker might be useful in the future, is there any point in networking right now? Cold-emailing already has a low response rate but I wonder whether it's a daft idea to start cold-emailing people already.
I'd appreciate any advice, thank you.
Honestly this is way too early and I would think you are weird as hell if I received an email from you. At least wait until you’ve started. You’ll still be plenty early if you wait a bit.
Hey, thank you for your response. Do you have any tips on what to focus my energy on instead?
I want to enjoy my summer, but I keep thinking of the fierce competition for Spring Weeks, especially when i’m not even going to a ‘target.’
honestly i would focus on getting laid for starters
Hi there,
Out of curiosity, what is your industry of interest? IB? Consulting? Others?
I agree with the earlier response, I think it is a little early. I would definitely respond to a message if you were a current student (I'm joining MBB in the Summer), but right now I also think it would be a little weird and premature. I'm a Nottingham alum myself (MSc Econ rather than undergrad, but same diff), so unless you're already going there and experiencing it, we wouldn't yet have much in common that would make me want to help you (assuming consulting was of interest to you). It's so early, you might change your mind in a few months, or in the middle of applications.
That being said, in terms of what to do in the meantime to redirect your energy, you can certainly start planning some of the electives you could take in Years 2 and 3, based on the target industry you want to join (e.g., if you're thinking IB, I wouldn't spend time doing development econ modules but focus on any financial accounting or finance courses you can find). You could also start planning where you would like to do your internships and see what the requirements are, and working your way backwards. For example, demonstrating some degree of leadership and teamwork is always a must in all sectors, so you could start thinking about which society to join at uni, and what role you would like to take there (e.g., Economics Society, and aim to be President or Treasurer, or captain of the rugby team). Get your Extracurriculars lined up in advance, so you know what to do once you arrive.
For now though, I would focus on relaxing and enjoying your summer. This may be one of the last summers you'll have not working long hours in an office! Enjoy the weather, do some prep by reading up on business & finance news, checking out the kind of prep needed for interviews down the line (e.g., casing for consulting or modelling for IB), and otherwise just have fun before "work" starts.
Good luck to you!
- Fellow Notts Alum-
Hey, thank you for your honest response!
Yes, I’m primarily interested in IB (M&A), but I’ll be keeping an open mind for research more on other roles in the finance industry and see what I find appealing really.
I’ll take into account of all the advice you’ve given, especially about the electives I can take in Y2/Y3, because that completely slipped out of my mind as I only had a brief look at them.
How did you find your masters at Nottingham by the way? I know your experience would be different to an undergrad’s, but I’ve been looking forward to hearing about people’s experiences at the uni.
I really loved my time there. I was there 10 years ago, and I made some very close friends in that one year with whom I have kept contact since, and see regularly. A lot of people ended up in pretty decent roles afterwards, from UBS to JP Morgan, but also Deloitte, some people did pretty well.
I loved the city, loved the campus, loved going to Mooch (the student bar in the Portland building), and enjoyed a good pub quiz in Beeston with a group from the student accommodation. I remember it very fondly and have some great memories. At the end of the day, it'll depend on the people you meet there and the friends you make. It's great that you already have a goal in mind (way better than I did when I was at uni), so keep your eyes on that of course, but do enjoy yourself and explore the city and the surroundings (e.g., Wollaton Hall, where they filmed the Wayne Manor from the Nolan Batman trilogy).
Have fun there!
Mate, chill. Spring weeks are essentially a lottery and cold-emailing just isn’t a thing in the UK. Follow the advice above and enjoy your gap year and uni
Yeah I don’t know why I went full-on idiot mode, I really need to chill. Cheers.
Nottingham is the best semi-target second only to loughborough and UWE
Your language syntax is incorrect - the uni can only be ‘second only’ to either Loughborough or UWE, not both unis.
Matter of fact, you’re double wrong. Notts is second only to Bedfordshire.
.
You're actually incorrect. Second doesn't have to mean #2. The 2nd definition of "second" on Google - subordinate or inferior in position, rank, or importance
Networking not really required in UK, would probably seem weird to do it this early too imo.
As others have mentioned I would focus on enjoying the summer, definitely a fun one as likely last time with all your group from home.
I’d personally recommend trying to do a bit of part-time work ( maybe 1/2 days). The money is very helpful once you get to uni, as especially at beginning useful to have spare cash so don’t have it restricting how many people you can meet.
Secondly, I feel like it helps to have some sort of experience on your CV, both for further part time work and IB/consulting etc. style applications
If really committed/ bored, start looking into insight/ spring weeks, some will open stupidly early, like September so having CV and idea of questions answers might be helpful.
Thanks for your comment. I’ve been considering work experience, volunteering and learning french to keep myself preoccupied this summer.
I guess the whole emphasis on networking is more so in the US than the UK, but it’s irrelevant in my scenario as it’s way too early.
All sound like decent plans!
If you can do anything more formal it definitely helps, mainly for getting uni part-time work and some situations to bs about. I also found it increased my appreciation for the need for going to uni as retail pay is so low considering its actually pretty tiring/ draining having to pretend to be enthralled by customers for a shift
Hey, good to see someone else going to study Economics at Nottingham this year!
Hey, I hope exams are going all well for you! Have you joined any groupchats? I’ve been looking forward to joining some.
Same to you with exams! I haven't actually looked for groupchats to join, I've been doing networking which has actually gone in my favour
I will also be joining Nottingham for Economics this year.
I actually did when I was in the same situation as you. PM me
Cold-emailing doesn't really help you land interviews in the UK unlike in the US. You're going to Notts and are female; find the programs that help you recruit (heracademy @ SEO, Rothschild women spring program (i think its called Horizon). Apply early and you will 100% land spring weeks
Thank you!
Lol you can't tell a woman to get laid. That's like telling a fish to swim. What you should tell her is to just chillax because no one in the industry likes a hardo
1) A lot of people are going to say you're early. A lot of these people are american so automatically ignore them. You have to remember this site mainly targets US users, even when we post in the UK forum we still get a lot of overlap. The general rule of thumb: if they're American and commenting on London IGNORE THEM. Their recruiting culture is completely different from ours. A few noticeable differences worth remembering when scrolling WSO:
2) You don't need to network for spring weeks. Just apply early. Enjoy university and ignore the idiots on here that are clowning you for being "early". No need to overdo it but definitely important to think about applications around this time. Goldman opens next month...
Goldman is non-rolling, though.
True, but they apparently look at applications in the order they're done. I applied in August before university and got an offer and I know a few that did it later and got an offer. I would personally apply early though. Roths opens the month after which is before university anyway. Nothing in university will meaningfully improve your CV in the early months of starting.
Thanks a lot, this was very helpful because I was looking for UK- specific advice.
How did you find Spring Weeks by the way?
Do you mean how I found them as in what I thought of them or how i physically found spring weeks to apply to?
never too early to grind. Outreach by email is good, but would keep it informal and use it just to build relationships. Suggest self-studying for CFA as a way of getting knowledge before your classes start.
Please do not self-study the CFA. Thank u
If you reach out too early, there's a good chance you can blow yourself up.
Every interaction is an interview, if you reach out and can't handle the convo, it may cost you that connection.
Networking is great and very important, but you need to be able to professionally carry on with the call.
I suggest waiting till you start and are prepped by your school's finance club.
Best of luck mate.
Thanks!
P.S is your username your real name? Coincidentally I’ve just started reading the Odyssey and the dude’s called Telemachus. Would be pretty cool if you’re called Telemachus.
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