Is cold emailing okay?

[Anonymous]

DS just finished summer internship, going into senior year of college.

Didn't love the industry and wants to expand his network. Is cold emailing a bad idea? Was recommended by his friends in finance as opposed to LinkedIn messaging in case professionals don't check their messages or can't respond given it's considered a social media platform.

Would you, as a professional, find it invasive to get a cold email from a college student curious about your career and looking to chat?

[Anonymous]

I have gotten cold emails from time to time, and TBH, I don't tend to respond. I do respond though if there is some connection - attended same school, a mutual acquaintance, etc. So have your DS look up alums in the industry and contact them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have gotten cold emails from time to time, and TBH, I don't tend to respond. I do respond though if there is some connection - attended same school, a mutual acquaintance, etc. So have your DS look up alums in the industry and contact them.

Honestly I would respond if there was a mutual professional or personal connection but probably not otherwise. I went to U Michigan and don't feel a great connection as an alum, though many others do.

[Anonymous]

DH and I both get these emails/messages. Alums will definitely be more likely to read and respond. DH especially will take note of someone who shows theyve either researched him and formed thoughtful questions based off that, or those who have shown they've put a lot of thought into their questions.

[Anonymous]

I would call them during office hours. Take 1-3 minutes tops, be prepared with thoughtful questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would call them during office hours. Take 1-3 minutes tops, be prepared with thoughtful questions.

I wouldn't pick up an unknown call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would call them during office hours. Take 1-3 minutes tops, be prepared with thoughtful questions.

I wouldn't pick up an unknown call.

Then you would be known as the loser professor that didn’t answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would call them during office hours. Take 1-3 minutes tops, be prepared with thoughtful questions.

I wouldn't pick up an unknown call.

How could you possibly have a conversation with a stranger in that amount of time? I find intro coffee chats need to last at least 20 minutes to make somewhat of a connection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would call them during office hours. Take 1-3 minutes tops, be prepared with thoughtful questions.

PP. Meant to respond to this.

[Anonymous]

I get these from time to time. I would MUCH prefer a cold email to a cold call. Either I’m not picking that up or I’m annoyed at the interruption.

If your kid does this, make sure they regularly check email after doing so. I’ve had a handful where the person reaches out, I offer to talk to them, and then I don’t hear back for several weeks (or at all). At which point I don’t think they are serious so I’m not going to waste my time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would call them during office hours. Take 1-3 minutes tops, be prepared with thoughtful questions.

OP isn't asking about reaching out to professors, though.

[Anonymous]

Is it better to email over LinkedIn message?

[Anonymous]

I’m part of my alumni network/website. Current students/soon to be grads can message me via the platform. I’ve responded to notes there as well as to those who took the initiative to look me up on LinkedIn and message me there (mentioning they went to my school).

More often than not, they ask for advice or ask for 15min to jump on a Zoom call to talk about first steps after graduating. If I have the time I don’t mind doing it, it’s rough out there.

[Anonymous]

As long as the student doesn’t expect a response and doesn’t continue to e-mail.

[Anonymous]

Honestly yes I am more likely to reply to a direct email than a LinkedIn message. But I check the latter only sporadically. And I would ignore it probably unless it was a kid from my college.