Following Up on a Cold Email after No Response

When someone does not respond to a cold email and I want to follow up with them again after a week, should I just send the same email again or preface it by saying something like "I hope this email finds you well."

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance

61 Comments
 

Any ideas on what I should say though?

I don't think resending the same message would be a good idea since that comes off as spammy.

 
Funniest

Follow up with him every single day and say that you know that he is a busy man, but if you could just have 5 minutes of his time...

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 
Best Response

i usually do something like "dear x, i am following up with regards to my last e-mail..." then reiterate what i said in the last message. oh and i do it as a reply to the last e-mail i sent.

 

First,

If you don't get a response within a half hour of posting something, especially in the middle of a work day... assume people are working, don't try to "bump it up".

Second,

Today is still part of the "next week" that he said. If you do end up sending out an email following up, do it on Monday as you'll have a better chance of it being seen than on a Friday.

You could also put something in there like "I don't mean to be a bother, but summer is approaching quickly..."

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

I told him that I was interested in a position at his firm (I applied for that position via the black hole aka taleo). Introduced myself and how my skills and qualifications where a good match for that position and told him I would appreciate the opportunity to speak to him about the position and what I can offer.

 
BTbanker

why the hell are you cold emailing mds at large banks?

I got a laugh out of that one.

But I am pretty eager as this guy. I really want to break into IB and I am thinking of cold emailing MDs at some boutique firms. Just curious if you have a success rate?

 

If they have chosen to reject you, then following up won't hurt your chances (or lack thereof), and I also think following up politely would be a great idea. Esp since it is almost May.

"History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme."
 

What was the format of your pitch?

The difference between successful people and others is largely a habit - a controlled habit of doing every task better, faster and more efficiently.
 

Idk about everyone else but i think that is a pretty bad idea..you sound like you are begging. Why don't you just explain you are looking for an internship give a brif discription of what you are doing now and ask for a phone call becuase you beleive you could learn alot from them and are seeking advice/help/feedback.

if they like you they will help you..then you can ask about the internship after the convo or they may offer to interview you or whatever.

 
jdrdeerIdk about everyone else but i think that is a pretty bad idea..you sound like you are begging. Why don't you just explain you are looking for an internship give a brif discription of what you are doing now and ask for a phone call becuase you beleive you could learn alot from them and are seeking advice/help/feedback.

if they like you they will help you..then you can ask about the internship after the convo or they may offer to interview you or whatever.

Well in my initial email I did exactly that but adding the part about a posible phone call to the follow up email sounds like a good idea

thanks

 

Re-state the "so that I can convince you of my qualifications." That part doesn't sound good. And don't follow up a few days later. Maybe a couple days later, but not a few days later.

 
blackjack21Re-state the "so that I can convince you of my qualifications." That part doesn't sound good. And don't follow up a few days later. Maybe a couple days later, but not a few days later.

could you please tell me the difference - I thought 5 days later would be a good time to follow up

 
blackjack21 And don't follow up a few days later. Maybe a couple days later, but not a few days later.

This makes no sense.

 

The email isnt great.

I would lead with -

'I was hoping to discover whether you've had a moment to review my prior email. I would like to reiterate my interest within xxxxx and would be delighted to be provided with an opportunity to display my capabilities for the internship.

I anticipate hearing from you. '

Flows much better and doesnt make you look like you're begging for the role.

Good luck.

 
ZenMasterThe email isnt great.

I would lead with -

'I was hoping to discover whether you've had a moment to review my prior email. I would like to reiterate my interest within xxxxx and would be delighted to be provided with an opportunity to display my capabilities for the internship.

I anticipate hearing from you. '

Flows much better and doesnt make you look like you're begging for the role.

Good luck.

ZenMaster that does indeed sound very good!

thanks a lot

greatly appreciate your help

 

How about a telephone call.

[quote]The HBS guys have MAD SWAGGER. They frequently wear their class jackets to boston bars, strutting and acting like they own the joint. They just ooze success, confidence, swagger, basically attributes of alpha males.[/quote]
 

Uh, does distance affect phones? More 'formal', Skype just gives me the impression of using it to speak with family & friends.

[quote]The HBS guys have MAD SWAGGER. They frequently wear their class jackets to boston bars, strutting and acting like they own the joint. They just ooze success, confidence, swagger, basically attributes of alpha males.[/quote]
 

Expect to have a low hit rate and when you do get someone on the phone, be brief and listen more than you speak.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

No, it's good to pepper those emails with a couple of personal references depending on how well you vibe with the person you meet.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it's the courage to continue that counts" -Winston Churchill
 

Yes. Follow up. The person is most likely busy, you're not his top priority (fall interns in general most likely aren't anywhere near a top priority) and he probably just let it fall through the cracks. Think about networking like this: if they're not interested in you there's no harm in contacting them again, but if reaching out to them again gets you in front of them, you gain. Of course that's within reason-don't be a freak who emails/calls too much.

 

Dolorum doloribus natus maiores voluptatum culpa aut. Molestias rerum reprehenderit eum beatae. Impedit laboriosam porro illum quam omnis. Ipsum ut est dignissimos laborum blanditiis.

Dolorum dicta quia expedita et voluptas. Voluptas corrupti aut quaerat perspiciatis. Hic reprehenderit iure voluptatem eos autem non dolor quidem. Molestias voluptas sit eaque quia et architecto.

Dolorem quia beatae temporibus expedita numquam cumque rem. Non qui quia sed cumque eum molestiae ut. Est adipisci facere doloremque aliquam.

Molestiae tempora consequuntur iure sunt vel repudiandae consectetur. Nam voluptatem est ad aut voluptatem sint.

 

Vitae laborum quae possimus voluptatem libero cumque. Ut sint id temporibus et nihil dolore. Tempore facere temporibus dicta labore aliquid. Consequuntur qui recusandae expedita ut praesentium quas.

Quaerat quia iste fuga nihil voluptatum autem reprehenderit quasi. Voluptas necessitatibus repellendus corporis a rerum hic dolore. Nulla mollitia in soluta debitis. Voluptas accusamus aut eius harum cumque et consequatur. Nesciunt enim sit voluptatem ut a. Ducimus et numquam unde.

Cumque dolorem quia ea pariatur repellendus beatae qui. Aut nihil aut sapiente quia sit eos. Quae quisquam cumque vel. Adipisci quibusdam dolor dolor asperiores est iste necessitatibus. Eaque a itaque voluptatem consectetur. Voluptatem dolore dolorem delectus nam expedita.

Accusantium rerum placeat tempore. Delectus quod illo qui laborum eaque et doloribus eius. Placeat facere eum et qui. Quis reprehenderit ad officiis officia qui.

twitter: @CorpFin_Guy

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”