#InternshipRequest #ColdEmailStruggles #AlumniConnection
Trying to secure an internship through an alumni connection can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. You want to make a good impression, showcase your skills, and demonstrate your passion for the industry. However, crafting a cold email to ask for an internship opportunity can be challenging. How do you reach out to someone you may not know well and convince them to consider you for a position at their firm?
If you’re facing this dilemma, you’re not alone. Many students and recent graduates struggle with crafting the perfect cold email to ask for an internship from an alumni. But fear not, as we’re here to help you navigate this process and increase your chances of landing that dream internship.
##Understanding the Challenge
Sending a cold email to an alumnus can feel intimidating, especially if you have limited experience in professional communication. You may worry about sounding too formal or too casual, lacking confidence in your skills, or not knowing how to effectively sell yourself in a short email.
##Solutions to Roast Your Cold Email
###Research and Personalize
Before crafting your email, take the time to research the alumni’s background, current role, and the company they work for. By personalizing your email with specific details about their career journey or achievements, you show genuine interest and increase the likelihood of a positive response.
###Highlight Your Relevant Experience
In your email, highlight any relevant experience, skills, or achievements that align with the internship opportunity. Whether it’s coursework, extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, or previous internships, make sure to showcase how your background makes you a strong candidate for the position.
###Express Genuine Enthusiasm
Show your passion for the industry and the internship opportunity in your email. Use emotive language to convey your excitement about the possibility of learning from the alumnus and gaining valuable experience in their firm. Authenticity and enthusiasm can make your email stand out and leave a positive impression.
###Request a Referral or Meeting
In your email, politely ask the alumnus for a referral or a meeting to discuss the internship opportunity further. By expressing your willingness to connect and learn more about the firm, you demonstrate proactive interest and a commitment to exploring the potential collaboration.
###Follow-Up and Stay Persistent
If you don’t receive a response to your initial email, don’t be discouraged. Follow up politely after a week or two to reiterate your interest and inquire about the status of your application. Persistence and determination can sometimes lead to successful outcomes in securing an internship.
##Final Thoughts
Crafting a cold email to ask for an internship from an alumni may seem daunting, but with the right approach and mindset, you can increase your chances of success. By researching, personalizing, highlighting your experience, expressing enthusiasm, requesting a referral, and staying persistent, you can roast your cold email and make a memorable impression on the recipient. Remember, each email is an opportunity to showcase your skills, passion, and potential contribution to the firm. Good luck in your internship search!💌🎓
Oh god don’t send this, listen to the 3 sentence suggestions from others
Sounds too robotic and formal, keep it short and I’m not sure what the right word is but informal?
Oh god please never send this to anyone. Keep it short and sweet.
Hi [name]
My name is [Name], and I’m a fellow [college] alumni. I’m currently interested in exploring opportunities in [their field], and was wondering if you had some time this week to chat about your experience.
Thanks,
[Name]
don’t throw the teacher (or anyone) under the bus. especially in writing. this isn’t school anymore. i’d be put off by your message. someone would screenshot it and share the cringe with their network.
Tf is this shit, make it shorter my g!
Are you hoping he’ll reply with an offer…? Baby step first, like asking he has time to schedule a call with you and then figure out how to sell yourself. Try to condense your CV into a catchy sentence to see if he’s interested…
You should never directly ask for an opportunity. Always always always just ask to chat for 20-30 mins on the phone or over a coffee. If you do well in the conversation then they will offer guidance or assistance in landing something but do. Not. Ever. Ask. Directly.
As others have said, way too long and the goal is to get a quick phone call. Something along the lines of asking for a quick 15-20 minutes to discuss their experience at XY company is enough. Don’t attach your resume – that’s too presumptuous. During the call, learn about their experience and then at the end of the call if you’re still interested, ask who else you could speak with to learn more about finance at XY company. Slide in that you’re applying for the internship and if you made a good impression, they’ll ask you to send them your resume to forward to the hiring manager. If not, you’ll at least be able to talk to a few people and put that on your cover letter, which will make your stand out from the crowd. Best of luck to you.
If I received a cold email asking for an internship I’d instantly delete it because I’m assuming you’re emailing 100 of my competitors
Get rid of most of the first paragraph.
I ain’t reading all that
Max 3 sentences.
I didn’t bother to read your email and no one you send it to will read it.
Too long
I say this with kindness – your email is awful. It sounds contrived, rehearsed, artificial, and disingenuous. Plus it reads like a strange dialect of English.
Something like this would be less abrasive:
>
Dear [name],
>
I’m writing to you seeking employment. I’m a hard worker with significant accomplishment. We went to the same school and you likely had Dr. [professor] as well – I bet you could tell me some stories.
>
Please allow me to follow up with an email with more details if you’re open to hearing more about me?
>
Thanks,
>
[me]
Quilbot – paste entire text – shorten
You’re welcome
Make it short, get to the point. 3 sentences max. No floral language. We don’t have time to read War & Peace.
Hi X
I’m an alum of X
I’ve worked at X, Y doing Z, want to continue my career in X.
Would X company be able to take me on in an unpaid internship?
Speak soon,
X
–
Follow up with short emails over a suitable cadence until you get your yes/no
Way too long. I stopped two sentences I.
Also, don’t bash teachers. Who knows, that person might have liked the teacher. And it doesn’t look good putting others down
Im curious about the US system… if you are first year undergrad and the person you are writing to is ‘a couple of years’ your senior’, you are writing to someone who is, at best, a couple of years in. I.e., you are writing to plancton, seniority-wise
How do you expect this could affect your chances to get an internship?
Make it shorter. Don’t talk about your cringey teacher thing.
Do 2 minutes of research on the person you’re sending this to and mention why what they are doing is relevant and interesting, rather than listing your college accomplishments that no one cares about.
Don’t just blast shit out
Shrink this shit please. Everything can be said in 1 para. And please remove the cringe.
Just say
• You’re an alum
• Your experience
• You want an unpaid internship
I ain’t reading all that
i like it. say how u found him too. honestly quite region dependent and culture factors matter too
Make it shorter
economics degree is ur first mistake
First of all that’s a long email from someone that I probably don’t want to talk to, I read the first paragraph and realized the whole thing was an email and said I ain’t reading all that.
>albeit a couple of years apart I am sure you were also terrorised by [mutual teacher]!
That’s a little cringe unless its super common and 90% of students had the same experience, and how do you know you had the same teacher?
Plus there’s some grammatical errors, and why in the world would you purposely ask for an unpaid internship 🤦🏾.
>During the internship I conversed with a lot of traders, and I realise there is a whole world outside of the classroom waiting to be explored! I am very interested about this possibility to be in your firm and be exposed to the real-life trading sessions. I will be very happy, even if I am only operating printers and doing manual office work, I just want to be in that space and pick up as much knowledge and wisdom as I possibly can.
Omg cut this out this looks so terribly desperate like your begging 😭 ewwww
While I agree with others, that you can probably reduce the length a bit, and consider removing the teacher part. However, on a major level, I feel the template successfully adds a personal touch, and overall, is decent. Just consider changing the unpaid part, leave it to them in case they have a budgetary constraint they will let you know.
Good luck with bagging that offer
Firstly I’m on mobile so hopefully this format translates.
No one will read all that. Follow this basic structure and keep it to 3 sentences. I would make the title something like “____ university undergraduate – internship opportunities”
Hi___,
I go to __ school majoring in ___. I have experience in ___ from my family thing. I am reaching out to explore potential internship opportunities with your firm.
Would you have any availability to connect over the coming week to discuss further?
Regards,
Your name
Phone #
Please no.
Unless it’s a small firm and your alum has power to create an unpaid internship on the spot, this is useless.