<p>I started at a Community College in the spring semester and I want to get some sort of finance-industry related experience over the summer. I live right in the middle of SF and Silicon Valley so there are tons of firms that do wealth management, VC, consulting, etc..., However, I don't have a lot of previous work experience. So, how effective would cold calling be in getting some sort of internship over the summer from a smaller firm? How should I go about do this? thanks.</p>
<p>Probably tough, and random. I would leverage any connection you might have (family/friend). Also, go to mergersandinquisitions.com and search cold calling. There’s some good stuff.</p>
<p>Remember it’s a numbers game. The more calls you make the better chance you have of success. It may take 300 calls. </p>
<p>Before you call:
Prepare a Resume and Cover letter
Research each firm and try to contact the top person first. They will refer you to their HR or they will interview you.
Be prepared for a telephone interview. Look up interview questions and rehearse the questions with a friend. Know about the company and what they do.
If there is no info on the company you will need a different approach.
Prepare a call script and reherse that with your questions. Then start calling. Commit to calling 10 a day and mailing 10 resumes a day untill you have several interviews. It may take 100 or 200 mailings and scores of calls</p>
<p>Informational interviews:
Contact a few midsized firms and see if you can get an associate or partner to sit with you to discuss the field and what you need to get in.
You will need to approach those firms that you don’t have much information on with an “information interview/job interview”. Let then know you don’t know what they do and you would like to find out about their business. Partners have big egos and would be more than happy to speak to you and talk about their success.</p>
<p>Remember it’s a numbers game. This is sales so keep at it and you’ll get better with each call.</p>
<p>You might want to try emailing, in addition to all the cold-calling. And just as a warning, bankers are very busy people who probably prefer that you email them instead. This mostly applies to larger firms though and is thus less relevant to some of the smaller boutiques you’re targeting.</p>
<p>Just emailing won’t work. Follow it up with a call.</p>