How To Write a Successful Cold Email for Job Searching

The question on every job-seeker’s mind right now is: how do I stand out as an applicant for the job I really want? The answer can be as easy as this: Initiate the conversation yourself! Instead of scrolling through job postings that do not appeal to you, take action and email the people at the companies you want to work for. For introverts, this may feel intimidating, but this is a practice that you might train yourself to get used to and help you break out of your shell!

Here’s how we recommend you write those cold emails to potential employers:

Step 1: Research Your Recipient

Once you’ve outlined what you want for your career, research companies that align with your values. Then dig into the org chart. Find the hiring manager of the team you want to work for. Look at the qualifications of recent hires and see how you might best fit on the team. 

Pro tip? See if you can find recent hires and review their background and experience. Identify similarities you have - in industry experience, educational background, or anything that you can highlight to make yourself stand out and show how you understand the company's needs.

Step 2: Write Your Draft (Without AI!)

Look, AI can be helpful sometimes, but in this situation, you want to be as human as possible. Otherwise, the recipient or email provider might think you’re a scammy bot! Thankfully this outline can make drafting your job-searching emails easy:

• Start with a Greeting
• Introduce Yourself
  • Include your title as an indicator of your level of experience and expertise.
  • Example: "I'm a Senior Copywriter with 10 years of experience writing short-form scroll-stopping ad copy, including X years in the Y industry."
• State What Interests You About Their Company
  • Use your research of the company to state why you want to work with them.
  • Example: "I saw that you recently posted a Senior Copywriter role and immediately knew I needed to reach out. I've been a fan of <company name> since <insert a cool project>."
• Bold Important Career Accomplishments
  • Have you worked in the industry before? Or completed similar projects to what's listed in the job posting? Literally, bold it within the email. This will grab their attention to the most important part of your experience, even if they only have a few minutes to scan the email.
• Request a Meeting Or Phone Call
  • They can always decline or opt to continue via email, but face-to-face or audio communication is key to making a lasting impression—one that keeps you top-of-mind for future job openings.

• Sign Off
  • Use pleasantries that come naturally to you while still being respectful

Step 3: Proofread + Send!

Take an hour, let the email draft rest, and come back to it a few hours later before sending it. Make sure the whole email is brief—about 150-200 words. Edit it down if necessary. If you’re a shy person, asking someone who knows you well to proofread is key to boosting your confidence, too. They might even offer ways you can strengthen your email!

Step 4: Follow Up

After you send your email, follow up professionally. People are busy (especially at successful companies). Lead with empathy and give them grace! You can follow up a maximum of two more times—and then repeat these steps with other dream companies, using your email as a sort of template. That’s it! Now go get ’em—you’ve got this. 

Another way to initiate the conversation? Reach out to a recruiter! Here at Artisan, we’ve perfected the art of placing top talent (that’s you) with great companies in our network. Why not work together to help you achieve your career goals?