Secured a coffee chat with an associate at a PE firm(HELP)
Hello everyone,
In my quest for an M&A internship in my freshman year, I started sending people at PE firms, banks, VC's, etc. messages on LinkedIn(which ive been told might not be the best approach) and I managed to get a coffee chat with an associate at a PE firm.
How can I try to turn this into an internship? Im shit at selling.
I have a personal pitch, however, after that, I dont know how to keep the conversation going and organically turn it into me giving him my CV to eventually schedule an interview at his firm.
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
First, I commend your efforts.
Second, please focus on the relationship and don’t try too hard. I am that associate your meeting (not actually, but I have these conversations frequently) and I have a sleeve of connections I can introduce you to. I can typically help you line something up. If you are not approaching the conversation genuinely and instead transactionally I won’t invest my time into you. First rule of thumb is I have to know you won’t embarrass me before I help you. I was in your shoes and it took me too long to figure that out.
Thanks a lot for the advice and for the compliment!
Yeah, I hope I dont look too rushed because Im kinda worried about the fact that its a bit late to get a summer internship.
Ill definitely apply try and approach it from a not transactional angle! Thanks a lot again!
PE is not M&A so please leave the words "M&A" out of it entirely
Agree with the other guy, keep it casual and friendly. No personal pitch at all and definitely no selling. Ask him about career stuff - why did you take the path you did, what do you like about firm X, what would you do if you were a freshman, how did you approach getting those first few internships or your foot in the door.
At the end you can say one of (depending on whether they've taken interns before; look on LinkedIn)
1. Hey, I see firm X has taken on some interns in the past, what does your process look like normally? I'd love to get some experience even if unpaid
2. Would you guys ever consider taking on an intern over the summer? I'd love to get some experience even if unpaid
PE is definitely M&A lol
Fair, in that context I just think it reads as thinking you're talking about an IB internship. He also grouped VC into M&A which is more what triggered me.
Just not a broad stroke you should be painting when talking to people in various financial services roles - talk about PE when talking to people in PE
Thanks for the reply and the advice man! That really surprised me because I thought a personal pitch and a sort of "value proposition" would be good but you and the other comment definitely changed my mind!
Sorry for the confusing post mixing IB M&A, PE and VC.
What do you think about LinkedIn messaging vs trying to get someones email btw?
Personal preference on LinkedIn vs email, people swear by both of them - try both and see what works better for you. I personally respond to emails more
Just act like a normal human being Jesus.
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