Build A Stronger Finance Network

Reviewed by Fallon Han· Updated 2026-06-01 06:05:33.037

This conversation was generated using Cook'd AI's career assistant and reviewed by Fallon Han from our editorial team for accuracy.

I'm a first-year finance student in Singapore targeting a bulge-bracket analyst internship in New York, and eventually a STEM OPT path. I need a step-by-step way to find useful contacts from alumni and LinkedIn, then write a first outreach note that sounds credible and concise. Where do I start?

Start with a simple target list, not a huge one. Build it in 3 buckets: 1. Alumni from your school now in New York finance 2. People one step ahead of you, like interns and first-year analysts 3. Recruiters only after you have a few warm conversations For each contact, capture: - Firm - Role - School connection - Location - Why they are relevant - Last activity on LinkedIn Then rank them by fit. For your case, prioritize: - Singapore or Southeast Asia alumni in New York - Analysts in investment banking at bulge-bracket firms - People who recently posted, changed roles, or engaged with finance content Your first message should be short and specific. Goal: ask for a 10 to 15 minute chat, not a job. Example: Hi [Name], I am a first-year finance student from Singapore exploring investment banking in New York. I saw your path from [School] to [Firm], and I would love to learn how you approached recruiting and early career decisions. If you are open to it, I would appreciate 10 to 15 minutes for a quick chat. धन्यवाद, and thank you for considering it. Keep it under 70 words, and make the school or location link obvious.

How do I decide which alumni are actually worth reaching out to first? I do not want to spam people with generic messages.

Use a simple scoring filter of 1 to 5 on each factor: - Strong school connection - Relevant role in banking or markets - Geography fit, especially New York - Recent activity or visible engagement - Likelihood of replying, such as alumni who mentor or post advice Your top outreach list should be the people scoring highest on at least three of those five. For LinkedIn, search by school and filter for: - Company: bulge-bracket banks - Geography: New York metro - Keywords: analyst, investment banking, summer analyst Then check their profile for clues: - Same club, program, or major - Shared hometown or region - Recent graduation year close to yours - Posts or comments showing they are active Do not send more than 15 to 20 first messages at once. That lets you personalize without sounding robotic. Also, avoid contacting senior bankers first. Analysts and associates are more likely to respond to a student request.

What should I actually say in the note so it sounds credible? I am worried that as a first-year student, I sound too early or too naive.

Credibility comes from being specific about your situation and your ask. You do not need to pretend to be advanced. You need to sound focused. Use this structure: 1. Who you are 2. Why them 3. What you want 4. Time limit 5. Easy exit Example: Hi [Name], I am a first-year finance student in Singapore and I am building a focused view of New York banking recruiting for future internship cycles. I noticed your path from [School] to [Firm], and it stood out because I am exploring a similar direction. Would you be open to a brief 10 minute chat next week? If your schedule is packed, I understand completely. Why this works: - It is honest about being early - It shows a clear plan, not a random ask - It respects their time Do not ask for a referral in the first message. Do not attach a resume yet unless they request it.

If they do not reply, when should I follow up, and what should I say without sounding pushy?

Use a clean follow-up schedule: - Follow-up 1: 4 to 5 business days later - Follow-up 2: 7 to 10 business days after that - Stop after 2 follow-ups unless there is a clear signal of interest Each follow-up should be shorter than the first message. Follow-up 1 example: Hi [Name], just bumping this in case my note got buried. I am still hoping to learn from your path into New York banking, and I would be grateful for any 10 minute window that works for you. Thank you again. Follow-up 2 example: Hi [Name], I know things get busy, so I will keep this brief. If a quick chat is not possible, I would still appreciate any one piece of advice on breaking into New York banking from Singapore. Thanks for your time. The key is to make the ask easier each time. First, ask for a chat. Second, ask for one piece of advice. That often improves reply rate.

Once someone replies yes, what CTA wording should I use so the conversation feels natural and I can maybe build toward future help later?

When they say yes, move quickly and make scheduling easy. Reply with: Thank you, I really appreciate it. I can work around your schedule. Would [Option A] or [Option B] be easier for a short call? I am happy to keep it to 10 to 15 minutes. If they ask what you want to discuss, send a tight agenda: - Your path into banking - Skills that mattered most in early recruiting - Advice for a Singapore student targeting New York internships After the call, send a thank-you note within 24 hours. Mention one specific thing you learned. Then, 2 to 4 weeks later, you can re-open the relationship with a small update. Example later CTA: Hi [Name], I wanted to share a quick update that I am working on [specific action]. Your advice helped me focus on [specific point]. If I can ever return the favor, I would be glad to. That keeps the relationship warm without asking for too much too soon.