In my experience I have found that the majority of the emails I send out are ignored.

Some people are busy and don't want to be helpful..I've been rejected by alumni non-alumni as well...Its on to the next one..

You have to think that these people have a lot more important things to do then email you. Plain and simple I bet they see it, think about emailing you back in a bit, then simply forget because they are pre-occupied.

This has happened to me, when I would call the person up after finding their number..

Two words: phone call.
It's so easy to ignore an email and say, "I'll get to it later."
It's hard for them to ignore you if you're calling them. Don't hide behind text on a screen.

Most of my emails are never returned, although I usually find that if I email back once a week with, "I'd like to follow up on this," then I get a response after maybe the 3rd week.

Go to their corporate website. Sometimes there are direct emails to MDs on the website. Otherwise, call the main phone number. If HR picks up, ask to be transferred and ask for the individual's extension while you're at it. I actually like to call after-hours so I'm directed to the automated company directory. From there, I can look up anyone I want by name and write down their extension. The next day, I call them directly.

Most of your e-mails will be read. If you are good at it, and have a good story, you should get 70-80% response rate after 3 e-mail blasts. By response I mean they agree to help you, or tell you they won't help you for some reason.

A few thoughts from someone on the other side:

1. During peak recruiting session, I get a lot more emails from prospective monkeys than during off-season. As a consequence, my response rate is lower during peak months. Usually, I just thin-slice an email when it comes in, but will respond after the day or week is over. When you have more of such emails, it's easy to lose track of who to respond to.
Takeaway: Start networking early when there're fewer competing monkeys vying for my time. This gives you the added benefit of getting to know me longer.

2. In general, I'm likelier to respond to students from my alma-mater. However, I almost always respond to someone with a similar story to mine (even if he/she didn't goto my school). I come from an unconventional background (for someone in finance), and when a student with a similar story emails me, I usually mark that email for follow-up and act on it. That said, there's a fine line between due-diligence and stalking.
Takeaway: Your due-diligence on the professional should be more than just finding their email address. If you mention something you have in common (beyond just school), the person will be likelier to get back to you. Btw, linkedin is great for this.

3. This point is more general, but I think it needs to be said: be clear, concise, and to the point. It makes a great impression. The kids I usually offer to circulate resumes for are the ones who're the most articulate. They have a 1minute pitch nailed, and are courteous and a pleasure to talk to.

Saying thanks after receiving advice will increase your chances of being remembered.

Why should someone sending me a generic email deserve any of my attention or time (even if it is only a few seconds)?

You have to remember that we get nothing from helping you. Make sure your email isn't obviously mass produced and say something unique. Those are the only emails I respond to. Go the extra mile and find out something about the person you are emailing.

Someone mentioned this above, lots of layoffs and shitty bonuses going around right now. Don't expect a very high response rate no matter what you write. My response rate is rate is probably about 20%.

Personally, I prefer receiving emails to calls, but can see why others think calls are better.

On a side note I think it's kind of weird that you mention Steve Job's e-mail adress. Could've picked someone else's...

My method of breaking in was:

1) Search on LinkedIn for companies I wanted to work for.
2) Looked at LinkedIn profiles for guys/girls I had something in common with (this helps facilitate conversation).
3) Used their LinkedIn name and company email format to get an email in front of them.
4) Kept my emails short and to the point. Asked to speak with them.

I had a very good response rate and it led to a FT offer.

can you post your background/gpa/major etc??

That's life isn't it. People forget about helping out their alums once got their own asses in.

I personally reached out to 40-50 alums in my sophomore year, and only one actually followed through and backed me till I got the offer for SA back in the day.

I concur. I am currently in b-school trying to "break in," and at the same time I receive an occasional email from an undergrad from my alma mater asking for advice. When someone responds to me, they get a reply immediately after I read the message even if it is just a quick "thanks." In the last week I replied to three or four kids looking for my advice, and I didn't get a reply back from any of them after I spent quite a bit of time answering their questions. It's probably petty, but I find it annoying nonetheless.

Two things:
If they are important then they have other people they meet with often and have to be selective with who they meet.

If they decide not to meet with you, ignoring is the best option for them and you. Why should they waste their time crafting a nice email saying they can't meet. They can't just say no because it sounds like a rejection and often they have to be careful because they really don't know who they are emailing and their firm's reputation is on the line if they say something inappropriately. Although, you'd like to know about who says yes and no, in reality it's better for you if you don't see 20 nos a day.

You guys need to put yourself in these ppl's shoes....random people asking you for a job...why would they go above and beyond if they have HR doing the hiring. That is the reason you need to find a way to connect. It's not always easy but it can be done. If you are not good at it, you need to refine your approach each time.

A large majority of alumni want to see how persistent and hungry you are - as a result, they will never respond to the first couple of emails. Your success rate will be much higher by being persistent and CALLING. If your school has a finance lab, use the PEOP function on bloomberg to look up the phone number of the alumni and CALL THEM! They will be much more responsive and impressed that you called them rather than hid behind an email, as someone has already mentioned.

Treat networking as a part time job. Keep an excel file of who've contacted and what you talked about so you can refer back to it later before you contact them again.

When you call you set up a time to talk in the future. Introduce yourself, say you want to learn more about what they do blah blah then say is there a time we can talk more in the future or I'm free now if you're not tied up? They'll respond to this well, since it gives them flexibility.

You need to overcome the fear of talking to them on the phone. You're out to get contacts and get your resume forwarded around - don't worry about "hassling" someone just because you want an interview - go out and get it and they'll respect you for that.

No one should feel obliged to do anything. If one day I'm working as an analyst, and some random students from my alma mater send me a generic email, I shouldn't feel like I have to reply simply because of that university connection. Never been a fan of these help-by-association things (I have the same sentiments about fraternities, but let's not go there). I'll help you if I feel like it; otherwise, line up like everyone else.

1-minute spiel. If they're busy and don't have the time, they'll tell you. Takes them just as long to skim an email and send a reply... so why not do it over the phone and get an instant reply instead?

SB to Flake because I know where you went to school.

Do I know you somehow?