The 11 checks before you send
| Check | What to inspect |
|---|---|
| 1. A relevant person | You can explain why their work or experience is relevant to your question. |
| 2. An accurate introduction | Your school, role and connection are true. A professional personal email is fine. |
| 3. A useful subject | Name the shared context or topic in a short, clear phrase. |
| 4. A specific connection | Refer to a public talk, project, career path or genuine shared affiliation. |
| 5. A focused purpose | Explain what you hope to learn; avoid asking someone to solve your entire job search. |
| 6. A modest request | Ask whether they would be open to a brief conversation, with room to decline. |
| 7. Easy scheduling | Offer flexibility and include your time zone when proposing times. |
| 8. A readable message | Keep only the context needed to understand the request. There is no universal word-count cutoff. |
| 9. Sensible attachments | Follow any instructions. Attach a clean PDF resume only when relevant; do not send a large unsolicited deck. |
| 10. A final accuracy check | Check name, firm, links, spelling and any quoted detail against its source. |
| 11. A respectful follow-up plan | Record the contact and date. Follow up once after a reasonable interval, then move on if there is no response. |
A message you can annotate
The following is a fictional example. The detail about a public discussion should be replaced with something you actually read or attended.
- The introduction gives enough context to place the sender.
- The connection refers to a specific, public piece of work.
- The question is narrow enough for a useful conversation.
- The closing asks permission and does not presume a referral.
Follow up without creating pressure
A reasonable example is to wait roughly a week before one short follow-up. Adjust for holidays, stated availability and any instructions from the recipient. There is no reliable universal best send time, and silence does not prove the first message was read.
- Keep the original context available in the thread.
- Stop if they decline or ask not to be contacted.
- If they respond, prepare three questions you cannot answer from their public biography.
- After a conversation, send a short thank-you mentioning a specific useful point.
- Apply through the employer's required application process; networking does not replace it.
A small contact log you will actually use
Track the next action, not just the number of messages sent. Avoid recording private details that are irrelevant to the professional conversation.
| Person / context | Contact date | Response / next action |
|---|---|---|
| Example: Priya / alumni discussion | Day 1 | No response; review once on Day 8 |
| ________________ | ____________ | ________________________ |
| ________________ | ____________ | ________________________ |
| ________________ | ____________ | ________________________ |
My reason for contacting this person
One question I could ask in a conversation
The next action and date
Use your own notes or the writing space in the downloadable PDF.
Fix these three weak requests
Too broad
BeforeCan you help me break into finance?
RewrittenCould I ask which parts of your credit-analysis work were most important when you moved into leveraged finance?
Make the request answerable. Use a question that fits the actual recipient.
Unsupported flattery
BeforeYour incredible career is a huge inspiration to me.
RewrittenYour discussion of the transition from engineering to finance helped me identify the accounting gap in my preparation.
Only reference that discussion if it happened and you engaged with it.
Presuming an outcome
BeforePlease refer me for the analyst role and send this to the hiring manager.
RewrittenI'm applying through the firm's analyst portal and would value your perspective on the role's day-to-day work.
A referral may emerge from a real relationship; it should not be presented as an obligation.
Source notes
Sources support the underlying concepts. The worked cases, figures and examples are original teaching material with the assumptions stated in the resource.
Background on informational conversations. Checklist, examples and suggested cadence are original editorial guidance.
Questions about this resource
Do I need a university email address?
No. Use an address that identifies you professionally and that you monitor. A school address is useful context only when it reflects a genuine affiliation.
Should I attach my resume?
Follow the recipient's instructions. A concise PDF can be useful when relevant, but an attachment is not a universal requirement for an informational request.
Build on the exercise
More practice for the gap you found.
The full guide adds scenario-specific templates, conversation prompts and a broader outreach workflow.
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The finance networking email checklist
Free resource
Send a specific, accurate message and keep track of the conversation.