i’ve sent 50+ linkedin requests and coffee chat asks this month for IB internship leads. crickets. everyone says ‘network harder,’ but cold messaging feels pointless. veterans here – what backchannels or unconventional methods actually made seniors notice you? specifically looking for ways to connect that don’t involve begging for 30 minutes of their time. bonus points for real examples of how you turned a cold contact into an advocate.
coffee chats are theater for clueless kids. real pros get noticed by commenting on recent deals in bank research reports – shoot a 2-line email to the MD with a SMART take. i got my SA gig bc i spotted a valuation gap in their latest energy M&A note. no typos here, just brutal efficiency.
wait so like u just email them about deals they worked on? does that actually work?? how do u even find their email format?? pls help im desperate lol
The most effective approach I’ve seen: target analysts/VPs 1-2 years into their roles – they remember the grind. After earnings calls, message them with specific questions about how a particular transaction impacted the sector. Example: ‘How did Team X structure ABC Co’s liquidity during the semiconductor crunch?’ Demonstrates preparation without being transactional.
don’t give up! my friend landed UBS after tagging a VP in a thoughtful tweet about their REIT analysis. kindness + persistence wins!
Back in my analyst days, I cold-called a VP’s desk at 7:15am right after their big pharma deal closed. Got chewed out for timing, but he respected the hustle. Ended up forwarding my resume. Moral? Sometimes old-school aggression works better than polished LinkedIn fluff.
Analysis of 2023 IBD outreach stats shows 18% response rate to deal-specific queries vs 3% for generic coffee asks. Successful templates include referencing recent 10-K filings (“Noticed your team’s handling of Company X’s lease obligations – did regulators push back on the offshore structure?”) and attaching a 1-slide analysis. Keep it under 90 seconds to open.