Networking: Cold Messaging and Outreach

Welcome to the latest post! This is another edition of my credit resource course materials for younger professionals recruiting for private credit, direct lending, and high yield credit seats. This networking specific article though can show you how to cold message for Investment Banking Analyst jobs as well.

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Cold Calling/Networking: If you’re non-target as hell, or trying to differentiate yourself, you’re going to want to lean into cold networking hard. Some people get lucky and can breeze into a role with only a few networking calls/emails or benefit from a friend of a parent; or traditional recruiting from your college. But for a lot of people, you’ll need to network and apply for seats constantly and understand that it won’t all work out overnight. When building your network, you’ll funnel through 1) a list of people → 2) the people who even respond → 3) the people who are even relevant after talking to them → and 4) the people who actually can get you in front of someone conducting interviews.

You should be looking to network with as many relevant people as you can: This can include family connections, alumni from your college or high school (if even relevant), and any random person you meet through industry events, internships, or collegiate events. There’s always a hesitancy that stops a lot of people from networking. That hesitancy is the “Oh, I have no direct connection to this person. It’d be awkward to reach out.” The sooner you squash out that voice the better.

I am a firm believer of “The worst answer you can get is No”. Even better, the worst answer you can get is no answer. If you’re not afraid of a “No” or being ghosted then it’s really not that big of a deal if one rando dude you’re trying to network with doesn’t get back to you. You’re not going to be given anything unless you ask for it, so you might as well ask for it.

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