The rules
- Keep it under 100 words. It will be read on a phone between meetings.
- Give one reason you chose them. The same university, the same home country, a deal their team worked on, a previous career like yours.
- Ask for something small. Fifteen minutes on a call, not a job and not a referral.
- Make it easy to say yes. Offer two or three times, and say you’re happy to fit around them.
A template
Subject: [University] student, quick question about [team]
Hi [Name],
I’m a second-year economics student at [University] and I’m applying for summer internships in [city]. I saw you joined [bank]’s [team] after [shared background], which is the path I’m hoping to follow.
Would you have 15 minutes for a call in the next couple of weeks? I’d love to hear how you found the move and what you’d focus on in my position.
Thanks very much,
[Your name]
[Phone number] · [LinkedIn]
Who to write to
Start with analysts and associates who graduated in the last three years. They remember recruiting, they’re often asked to suggest candidates, and they reply more than senior bankers. Alumni from your university are the warmest contacts.
Following up
If there’s no reply after a week, send one short follow-up in the same thread. If there’s still nothing, move on and don’t take it personally. After a call, send a thank-you email the same day, mentioning one thing you learned.
On the call
- Prepare three or four questions about their work and their path, not about the application process.
- Keep to the time you asked for.
- At the end, ask: “Is there anyone else you think I should speak to?”
Our city guides list which firms hire in each city, so you can build your list before you start writing.