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Cold emailing

cold email MBB networking
New answer on Nov 05, 2020
8 Answers
1.8 k Views
Anonymous A asked on Jul 25, 2020

Hello ,

I have started to cold email my school alums who work at MBB, instead of emailing thier personal email I have started to use their busines email by using the standard email format.

Do you expect any partners/managers to get annoyed by this or would they simply ignore it if they don't want to respond.

I don't want to anger anyone prior to recruiting season

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Francesco
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jul 27, 2020
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.000+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ InterviewOffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching
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Anonymous replied on Jul 26, 2020

Hi Anonymous

Although I don't see any downside to this, I would guess your emails get deleted most of the time. McK at least really tightened spam controls last year and most emails from personal IDs get deprioritized

Personally I find LinkedIn a more suitable portal for outreach. People who are active on LinkedIn are usually more open to mentoring and hopefully referring you

So rather than sending generic emails to everyone, maybe look for alums who are a little bit active on LinkedIn and try and send them a personalised note referencing some shared connections

Best of luck

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Ian
Expert
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replied on Jul 26, 2020
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

I think this is fine. In fact, it's good that you are emailing their work email as opposed to their personal emails.

As long as you're polite, respectiful, short, and look like you've put in some effort to tailor to them, they shouldn't be annoyed!

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Udayan
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updated an answer on Jul 28, 2020
Top rated Case & PEI coach/Multiple real offers/McKinsey EM in New York /6 years McKinsey recruiting experience

I personally would advise against it. Unless someone has given you their email to use you always risk a negative reaction by invading their inbox and seeming too aggressive. Stick to acceptable ways of contacting them - alumni email IDs and LinkedIn which most people respond to just as frequently.

(edited)

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Axel
Expert
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replied on Jul 26, 2020
Bain Consultant | Interviewer for 3 years at Bain |Passionate about coaching |I will make you a case interview Rockstar

I think this is perfectly fine as long as you are reaching out in a thoughtful manner and not spamming them with generic emails. The question is only if you will have better success with reaching out via Linkedin first and then sending a message. Maybe you can run an A/B test and see what yields the best results?

-A

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Anonymous replied on Jul 28, 2020

Dear A,

It's totally fine to use business emails.

Also, if you are polte and straight in your thoughts and point it's totally ok, and actually significantly maximise your chances to get reply.

If your reply is delayed there might be 2 reasons:

- Either person is really busy, so you can remind in a couple of weeks

- Your message is not clear enough, so better revise it.

Hope it helps,

Best,

André

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Clara
Expert
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replied on Jul 28, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

you have totally nothing to loose.

If they get annoyed, the worst that would happen is that they won´t reply.

Hence, persevere!

Cheers,

Clara

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Gaurav
Expert
Content Creator
updated an answer on Nov 05, 2020
Ex-Mckinsey|Certified Career Coach |Placed 500+ candidates at MBB & other consultancies

Hi there,

Just be polite and use the business style of emails. I agree with experts that the worst thing can happen is that some of them would not respond to you, but some of them would answer.

Do you need any further help?

All the best,

GB

(edited)

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