Find Finance Contacts And Reach Out

Reviewed by Fallon Han· Updated 2026-06-01 21:30:02.218

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 fourth-year engineering student in Singapore, and I want to break into infrastructure finance, especially project finance teams. I know I need to network, but I do not know how to find the right people in such a niche field. Can you help me build a practical starting plan for identifying contacts and writing the first outreach message?

Yes. Start with a narrow target list instead of trying to reach everyone in infrastructure finance. Build it in three layers: 1. Alumni and near-alumni from your university in Singapore 2. People in project finance teams at banks, advisory firms, and infrastructure funds 3. People one step adjacent to your target, such as infrastructure debt, project finance origination, and renewables finance For each contact, collect only a few details: current role, firm, recent project, and how they connect to your interests. Then write messages that are specific and short. Your first goal is not to ask for a job. Your first goal is to ask for a 10 to 15 minute chat and show that you understand their work. A good first message structure is: - who you are - why you are reaching out to them specifically - one sentence showing relevant interest - a clear ask for a short conversation Example phrasing: Hello [Name], I am a final-year engineering student in Singapore exploring infrastructure finance. I came across your work in project finance at [Firm] and wanted to learn how you built your path into the space. If you are open to it, I would appreciate a brief 10 to 15 minute chat at your convenience. Keep it simple and tailored.

That makes sense. How do I actually find these people in a niche like project finance without wasting time on random profiles? I am not sure what search terms or filters to use.

Use a search process, not a broad browse. Start with these sources: - Alumni database and LinkedIn alumni page - Firm websites for team pages - Conference speaker lists and deal announcements - Professional associations and university clubs Search terms to try: - project finance Singapore - infrastructure finance - infrastructure debt - renewable project finance - project finance analyst - power and utilities finance - transportation project finance Then filter by relevance: - people based in Singapore or nearby hubs - analysts, associates, vice presidents, and directors in project finance - people who worked on infrastructure, energy, transport, or utilities deals - alumni from your university or similar programs Make a spreadsheet with columns for name placeholder, firm, role, why relevant, and outreach status. Aim for 20 good targets, not 200 weak ones. The niche is small, so quality matters more than volume.

Once I have a list, what should I say in the first message so it does not sound generic or too pushy? I want something that feels professional but still natural.

Use one specific reason for contact and one small ask. A strong first message should avoid asking for advice in a vague way like, Can you share your career journey? Instead, make the request easy to answer. Template: Hello [Name], I am a fourth-year engineering student in Singapore exploring infrastructure finance, with a particular interest in project finance teams. I noticed your background in [specific area or deal type], and I would value a short conversation to understand what skills and experiences matter most for entering the field. If you are open, I would be grateful for 10 to 15 minutes at a time that suits you. Why this works: - It shows you did research - It signals a clear niche - It gives a time limit - It sounds respectful, not demanding If you want it even warmer, add one line of connection: I am especially interested in how engineering graduates can position themselves for this path. That makes your purpose feel authentic.

How many people should I contact, and how should I follow up if they do not reply? I do not want to spam anyone, but I also do not want to be too passive.

A good starting pace is 5 to 8 well-targeted messages per week. For follow-up, use a light and polite sequence: - First message - Follow-up after 5 to 7 business days - Final follow-up after another 7 to 10 days Keep each follow-up short and helpful. Do not repeat the whole pitch. Just make it easy for them to respond. Example follow-up: Hello [Name], just following up on my note below. I know you are busy, so no worries if now is not a good time. I remain very interested in learning about your path into project finance and would appreciate any chance for a brief chat. If there is still no response after the second follow-up, move on politely. The goal is to build a broad but selective outreach habit, not to chase one contact too hard. Also, track response patterns. If alumni reply more often than non-alumni, prioritize them. If people from certain firms are more open, adjust your list accordingly.

Could you help me turn this into a few question prompts I can use in a mentor session so I get specific feedback on contact finding and first outreach wording?

Absolutely. Here are focused mentor-session questions you can use: 1. How would you recommend I build a target list of project finance contacts in Singapore without relying on random LinkedIn searches? 2. What filters or search terms would you use to find people who are most relevant to infrastructure finance and project finance teams? 3. How can I tell whether a contact is worth reaching out to, especially if I have limited time? 4. What should the first outreach message include so it feels tailored, concise, and professional? 5. Can you review this draft opening line and suggest a stronger version: I am a fourth-year engineering student in Singapore interested in infrastructure finance. 6. What is a good follow-up cadence if someone does not reply, and how should I phrase the follow-up so it does not sound pushy? 7. If my background is engineering, what angle should I use to make my outreach credible and relevant to project finance? If you want, I can also turn these into a single polished mentor-session script with a brief intro and closing ask.