London Networking Email Mastery

Reviewed by Fallon Han· Updated 2026-06-01 06:09:27.993

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

I am a second-year undergrad at a UK non-target, targeting boutique investment banking in London on a graduate route visa. I want to practice a first outreach message to an analyst, then a polite follow-up if they do not reply. I want it to feel realistic and concise.

Great. We will keep it sharp, respectful, and specific to your situation. For the first message, aim for 4 parts: who you are, why them, one mutual-interest line, and a very small ask. Because you are on a graduate route visa, do not mention it unless they ask. Focus on interest in their path and the firm's deals. Draft structure: Hi [Name], I hope you are well. I am a second-year student at [University] interested in boutique investment banking in London, and I came across your profile through [shared source]. I was particularly interested in your work on [deal/sector]. If you have 10 minutes in the coming weeks, I would be grateful for a brief chat to hear about your experience and any advice you might have for someone aiming to break into the industry. Best, [Your Name] Send me your version and I will tighten it for tone and realism.

Hi [Name], I hope you are well. I am a second-year student at a UK university and I am really interested in boutique investment banking in London. I saw your profile on LinkedIn and was interested in your experience at [Firm]. If you have 10 minutes, I would really appreciate a quick chat to learn more about your role and any advice you might have.

That is a solid base. To make it more believable and higher-converting, add one specific reason for reaching out and remove a little softness from the ask. Right now it reads a bit generic. Improved version: Hi [Name], I hope you are well. I am a second-year student at [University] and I am exploring boutique investment banking in London. I came across your profile and was interested in your work at [Firm], especially your exposure to [sector or deal type]. If you would be open to it, I would really value 10 minutes to hear about your experience and any advice you may have for someone looking to pursue the same path. Best regards, [Your Name] Why this works: - It is concise and respectful. - It shows a real reason for messaging them. - The ask is small and easy to say yes to. - It sounds more like a student who has done basic homework. Now let us do the follow-up. If there is no reply after 5 to 7 business days, you want polite persistence, not pressure.

Okay, here is my follow-up draft: Hi [Name], just wanted to follow up on my previous message. I understand you are busy, but I would really appreciate the chance to speak if you have time. Thank you again for considering.

Good instinct, but this can be stronger. The best follow-up does three things: references the prior note, keeps the tone light, and gives them an easy out. Avoid sounding apologetic or overly eager. Better follow-up: Hi [Name], I hope you are well. Just wanted to follow up on my note below in case it got buried. I remain very interested in learning more about your experience at [Firm], and I would be grateful for a brief chat if you have a spare 10 minutes at any point. If not, no worries at all, and thank you for considering. Best regards, [Your Name] If you want to be slightly more polished, you can add one line of mutual interest: I noticed your background in [specific area], which is particularly relevant to the area I am hoping to explore. Try writing a final version that sounds natural for a UK student and I will mark it as if I were the analyst.

Hi [Name], I hope you are well. Just wanted to follow up on my note below in case it got buried. I remain very interested in learning more about your experience at [Firm], particularly your background in [specific area]. If you have 10 minutes at any point, I would be very grateful for a brief chat. If not, no worries at all and thank you for considering.

This is now strong. It is concise, polite, and realistic for a networking follow-up. A few final tweaks would make it sound even more native and less formulaic: Polished version: Hi [Name], I hope you are well. Just wanted to follow up on my note below in case it got buried. I remain very interested in learning more about your experience at [Firm], especially your work in [specific area]. If you happen to have 10 minutes at any point, I would be very grateful for a brief chat. If not, no problem at all, and thank you for your time. Best regards, [Your Name] Key feedback as your mentor: - This is the right length, around 70 to 90 words. - The ask is clear and low-friction. - The follow-up is polite without sounding needy. - The mutual-interest framing is subtle, which is ideal for cold outreach. For your next step, I would test one version aimed at a boutique banker and one version aimed at a generalist analyst so you can see how the tone changes slightly.