So, I have developed a contact that's turned into a friend a prominent HF in the region, and he personally forwarded my resume and cover letter to the HR department there.
Didn't hear anything back for 2 weeks, and followed up with them. He told me to keep pressing, so I sent another about a week after. Still had no response.
Finally, I decided to take things up a notch and personally call some of the higher-ups in the HR department, and managed to get past the front desk girl twice to get to two people who pull some weight there. Left messages for both, felt very good about what I said. Got no calls back.
He sent me a message to say that they were very impressed with how I made the effort to reach out to them, and they'd keep me updated if they had anything that matched my skill set.
Just a few days ago, this firm posted an opening for a trading assistant, which is exactly what I've been looking for. Absolutely the type of role I'm looking to get into. Now, I know that my resume is not impressive at all...no finance experience, and a no-name school with a very average GPA. Technically, I have no business even having a resume in at this firm. However, when I look at what they want for a trading assistant, I can't help but think I'd kick ass at the job if for no other reason than I'd be willing to bust my ass every second of every day to be the best, and the fact that this is, among other things, something I have an extreme desire to go after.
It's pretty easy to find directors of trading for this firm on LinkedIn, and I know the email convention for the firm. I have thought about going after one of them with a cold email to perhaps pitch myself for the job. I am an extremely good writer and I'm great at cold emails. However, my friend advised against doing this. I feel though that if I don't continue to be proactive, I'm never going to hear from them again, and I wouldn't blame them. I am much more impressive in person than on paper, and I am much more than my resume. I just need 5 minutes to at least show someone that this is the case.
So, should I take the chance and do it? I don't want to piss someone off and ruin even the .0001% chance that sometime in the future I might have a shot if I can find my way back to this firm. However, the fear of doing nothing and gaining nothing is stronger. Would would you do?
Most likely your resume was looked at by some people at the firm (not just HR) and dinged. Your friend reached out to you because HR probably reached out to him and asked why his friend/recommendation keeps harassing the people at the firm. You can try it, but it will probably fail, and you could ruin a friendship (if I was your friend I would regret the day I ever met you because you will look like a nutjob and I would be the nutjob's friend).
That being said, if you really feel so driven, then go ahead and do it - like you said, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I personally wouldn't though.
For what it's worth, everybody thinks they are more than their resume, which is why most people are judged on their resume.
To clarify...he told me to call them...I didn't harass them, one phone call each to two different people in HR and a pleasant message seems fair. I've heard way of much more bold action taken by many on here.
I can see where you're coming from though, and the scenario you outline is why I haven't. I don't want to push it too hard, although I do feel very strongly about this. I have a few other things I'm hoping to hear back from soon so I might just let this one go, although it hurts to give up.
It sounds like you were dinged given the generic response about contacting you if something matches your skill set.
Why did your friend advise you against cold emailing some people there? I'm assuming it's because you were rejected and he's too big of a pussy to give it to you straight. You need to get him to tell you the truth about the reason(s) why you were rejected (or maybe there's a chance you weren't rejected) so you at least have some idea as to what the objections are so you know what you need to overcome and who you need to impress.
That being said, personally, I would contact the traders. Worse comes to worst, you lose a friend which is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Plus, it doesn't really seem like this is a real good friend anyway, it seems like you barely know him.
Yeah these are all fair points. I don't know him that well, been in contact for just short of a year, definitely has been a huge help and I don't want to burn him, since now his name is attached to mine since they know he pushed this resume. I'm sure any reason I was dinged (if so) would be due to just not being the typical candidate...they mostly recruit at ivy league schools and of course being an extremely well-known and prestigious HF generally always take people straight from undergrad unless they stand out. Seems fairly straightforward to me.
The thing that gets me the most is that this position opened up literally the next day, and we all know a trading assistant isn't exactly rocket science...you don't need a 4.0 from MIT to be a good trading assistant on a non-quant desk, just quick-thinking, good at problem-solving, and a willingness to learn. Which is pretty much what their desired qualifications list describes. I have a draft email to the head of trading sitting in Mail right now ready to go, just trying to figure out if I should send it. Honestly, my biggest worry is causing him any trouble inside the firm as he is just finishing his first year there now and I don't want to put him a bad position. He came straight from UG too so I can appreciate how hard he had to work to get where he is, I'd feel like an asshole for putting any of that in jeopardy. I guess he has plausible deniability since he told me not to do it...you're right, what's the worst that could happen.
Just hit the send button and be done with it.
Here's what I'm sending, would like some feedback on this, as I just can't be totally objective here when trying to perfect this. Thanks in advance.
Mr. [Last Name],
I noticed that your firm recently posted an opening for a trading assistant role within [Firm Execution Services], and I would love to get the chance to speak with you regarding this position.
My cover letter and resume are currently on file with the HR department at Firm. However, I have not received any communication from them directly and would greatly appreciate 5 minutes of your time to show you why I believe I am the best possible candidate for this position. I would consider myself a non-traditional candidate, and I believe that my resume doesn't speak to the full range of attributes and qualities I possess which make me an ideal fit for this role.
I understand that in your position as head of market-making you are incredibly busy, so I am extremely grateful for any time you can spare.
Thank you so much in advance, looking forward to your response.
Best,
[My Name] [My Email Address] [My Mobile Number]
Also can't think of a subject line that doesn't sound like dog shit. Thanks again.
I'll leave detailed suggestions on your draft to more knowledgeable people on the forum, but I'd remove the "haven't heard back from HR" part. It simply says you were dinged at screening level itself, so the recipient will have little reason to give you a shot.
Personally I wouldn't send the email in the first place. Put yourself in your friend's shoes and imagine how you would react if this thing blows up. The guy gave you your fair shot, and unfortunately you didn't make the cut. Move on.
I'll take this under consideration, thanks.
Subject line: Trading Position
Mr. [Last Name],
I am contacting you regarding the ... position you recently posted. I feel I can add value in this position because of [X and Y reasons].
I understand that in your position as head of trading you are incredibly busy, but I would appreciate 5 minutes of your time to demonstrate why I believe I am a strong candidate for this position.
I am looking forward to your response.
Best,
[My Name]
[My Email Address]
[My Mobile Number]
Well I'm not going to say which fund this is (although you can probably figure it out given this info) but that is his exact title at the firm...they're very large and have multiple divisions. It's most definitely the correct way to refer to him.
Thanks for the input though, I appreciate it. That sounds good.
Dude. Love this. Keep sending e-mails / reaching out to the top traders. I have a trader buddy who called the same trader every day for 25 days straight just to talk shop and beg for an internship. He got an internship.
What's the worst that will happen? You'll be in the same position you're in right now.
The worst that can happen is that his trader buddy of yours goes off the boil on this friendship. Not a big loss in the context of this situation since he can't do much more for you if HR managers and senior people have dinged already (if they have...this is an assumption).
Of course if they haven't, there is no harm in sending the email.
Agreed with both above. Its not like the guy knows I'm friends with this guy inside. He might find out if he goes asking around HR but I guess...it is what it is.
At this point I don't have much to lose. I don't take no for an answer easily.
Body of the message now looks like this:
I am contacting you regarding the Trading Assistant position your firm recently posted. I feel I can add value in this position because I am highly intellectually curious, an excellent communicator, and work best under high pressure.
I understand that in your position as head of trading you are incredibly busy, but I would appreciate 5 minutes of your time to demonstrate why I believe I am a strong candidate for this position.
I am looking forward to your response.
Seems about as good as it's going to get. Hopefully it works.
I hope this guy doesn't read WSO and sees that exact email in his inbox.
Highly doubt he does...he's got more important things to do I'm sure.
This whole thing seems like a bad idea.
yeah...probably a bad idea to have all of this on a popular finance forum.
"I feel I can add value in this position because I am highly intellectually curious, an excellent communicator, and work best under high pressure" seems very vague. u need examples to prove this, otherwise it's all in ur imagination.
In terms of cost-benefit I'm having a hard time seeing how poorly this could go...worst case scenario he says no and is annoyed for 5 minutes while he reads it/sends a response. Ideal? Not at all. Tragic? Hardly.
Up-side is theoretically limitless within the context of the question. So, yeah it's risky but I think the risk profile is asymmetric, if you will.
let us know how it works out for you...best of luck
fwiw, I don't think you will harm your friend's career. If I was in his shoes, I'd be pissed at you (hence potential losing of a friendship but definite loss of a network), but if it came back to me I'd also just throw you under the bus as hard as possible (I don't know WHAT that guy is thinking, he's really just a friend of a friend, I always thought he seemed kind of dumb, etc)
Yeah definitely will. Sent it, no response yet. No bounce from the server so that's good.
That was kind of my thought process as well, honestly worse comes to worse I totally respect his right to just distance himself from me. I'm fine with that if he has to. And I don't think he will have to, I mean my thought process is that this guy might ignore me. And honestly, if he doesn't...it will either be a yes, give me your pitch or no, please fuck off. Either way, at least not for a while, he has no idea I'm friends with someone inside. And I can truthfully say this was a unilateral decision. The only way he finds out is if he has the left-field idea to ask around and see if anyone knows who I am (doubtful) after he tells me off, or eventually, on the .0000001% chance that something happens, he eventually finds out through HR that I have a resume and that it was pushed by my friend. At that point he likely won't care at all.
what happened?
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