How to Write Cold Emails for Job Opportunities

Sending cold emails to potential employers might generate some anxiety, but it can also bring you some great benefits in the long run.

But how to get through your anxiety and get your cold emails just right?

We are here to help you, in this article, we are going to find out:

• What are cold emails?
• Why should you send out cold emails for job opportunities?
• How to write cold emails for a job opportunity?

And we are going to wrap things up with a few example cold emails for job opportunities to get you started.

So, if you are ready to get the best out of cold emails for job opportunities, stick around.

What are cold emails?

A cold email, much like a cold call, is a way for you to connect with someone you have not interacted with before.

It can be used for many things, but mainly for networking, employment, or business opportunities, and it is often the first step in establishing a professional connection with someone.

If you are looking for a new job, a cold email is a great way to inform a company of your interest in working with them.

You can use cold emails to:

• Ask for an informational interview with an HR manager
• Reach out to a company representative for career advice
• Learn more about the hiring process for a job opening or an internship

Why should you send out cold emails for job opportunities?

In today’s technological era, cold emails might be the best way to reach out to people for job opportunities.

Here are the best reasons for you to use cold emails:

• They reach an inbox that the person you reach out to frequently uses – most professionals check their email inbox multiple times a day, which makes the chances of your email being noticed better
• They are persistent – you can always send a follow-up email if the first one did not get noticed. However, don’t overdo it
• They are non-invasive – they let the person you are reaching out to feel like they have the space and option for how and when to respond

How to write cold emails for a job opportunity?

Now that you understand what is a cold email, and why is it a great way to reach out to people for job opportunities, let’s figure out how to write one just right.

You can do so in just a few simple steps.

Identify the right person to email

The first step you need to take is to identify which person you want to reach out to. This step is often overlooked, but it is actually extremely important to get it right.

There is no point in creating the perfect cold email if it goes to the wrong person.

The best way to find the right person to receive your email is to look through the “About us” page in the company’s website.

In most cases, the job titles of their team can lead you to the perfect recipient, just look for anything like:

• Hiring Manager
• Talent Acquisition Specialist
• Human Resources Manager

However, if you find it difficult to find the right person, consider checking out the company’s social media profiles, starting with their LinkedIn page.

Write a strong and relevant subject line

The next essential step is to make the recipient actually open and read your email.

To achieve that, you would need a strong and relevant subject line, which would catch their interest.

Already knowing the company and who you are reaching out to should help you get the best out of your subject line.

To help you out even more, you can include in your subject line:

• A common connection of yours
• A compliment of their business
• A pertinent question

However, make sure your subject line does not get too long.

Use a proper salutation

Once you are ready with your subject line, make sure you start off the email on the right foot.

The initial salutation on your email might be just a small part of the email, but it actually sets the tone for the entire email.

Make sure you begin your message with “Dear”, followed by “Mr./Ms.” and the recipient’s name, as it is the safest way to go.

Tell them why are you reaching out to them

Once you have started off your email on the right foot, you need to share why you are reaching out to them, and really catch their interest.

The best way is to be specific, and quickly provide them with the following information:

• Who you are
• Where you work
• How you got their contact information
• Why you are interested in the company
• Why you would be a great fit for the job

This is the best place for you to try out your elevation speech in writing, and highlight all your best and relevant skills.

Finish up with a call to action and note of thanks

At the end, don’t forget one of the most important parts of emails – the call to action.

You would want to invite the reader to take some sort of action after reading the email – schedule an interview, phone call, or simply responding to the email.

To end your email on a positive note, you should also thank the recipient for their time and consideration.

Add in your name and contact information in the end

Finally, you should end with a professional closing statement, followed by your contact information.

Common closing statements you can use are:

• Best regards
• Kind regards
• Sincerely

Successful cold email for a job opportunity examples

Now that you know how to write a cold email for a job opportunity, let’s check out a few specific examples to help you out write yours.

Example cold email when you need to connect with someone you don’t know

Dear Mr. Doe,

My name is Jane Doe, and I am interested in the marketing specialist open position you have listed on your website. Your personal assistant provided me with this email, so that I can contact you.

I find your work fascinating, and would love to pick your brain, especially regarding the article you posted in your company website about empathetic leadership.

I would love to schedule a time to discuss how I can fit in the role of a marketing specialist within the next couple of weeks. I am flexible when it comes to availability.

Thank you for your time, I will follow up next week if I have not received a reply from you before then.

Best regards,

Jane Doe

Example cold email when you want an informational interview

Dear Ms. Doe,

My name is John Doe. I am a 2018 graduate from the City University, and I came across your name on the website, leading me to your published research.

If possible, I would love meeting with you for 30 minutes over coffee to discuss your career and any potential upcoming opportunities within your company.

Would you have availability for us to meet soon? I have a flexible schedule, so I am available at your earliest convenience.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

John Doe

Takeaways

We are all done, now you know how to write a successful cold email for a job opportunity.

Let’s go through all the steps needed one more time:

• Identify the right person to contact – you wouldn’t want to craft the perfect email, and for it to never be read
• Write strong and relevant subject line – you need to catch the respondent’s attention right from the beginning, and make them open up the email
• Use a proper salutation – it might be just a small part of your email, but it sets the tone for the entire thing
• Tell them why you are reaching out to them – briefly share who you are, how do you have their contact information, and what you are interested in
• Finish up with a call to action – don’t miss out on inviting them to take action once they read your email
• Add in your name and contact information – finally, wrap things up with a professional sign-off, your name, and your contact information

Check out our example emails once again, and craft your own cold email for your next job opportunity.