ReachWriter / Cold email for a job

How to cold email for a job

Skip the application pile: write directly to the person who'd hire you. Tell the AI your target role and one or two achievements, and get five short emails for a hiring manager or recruiter.

Five emails appear here — each with a different angle and a small, polite ask.

Cold email to a recruiter or hiring manager: templates

To a hiring manager (no open role)

Subject: {skill} for {company} Hi {name}, I've followed {company}'s work on {project}, and I think I could help your team with {skill}. At {current company}, I {one result}. I know you may not be hiring right now. If there's a chance my background fits later, could I send over a short summary? Thanks, {you}

To a recruiter (open role)

Subject: {job title} — {years} years in {field} Hi {name}, I've just applied for the {job title} role and wanted to introduce myself directly. I have {years} years in {field}, most recently {one result}. Would you be the right person to speak to about it, or is there someone better to contact? Best, {you}

After a referral

Subject: {referrer} suggested I get in touch Hi {name}, {referrer} mentioned your team is growing and thought my experience in {skill} might be relevant. Most recently I {one result}. Would you be open to a 15-minute call in the next couple of weeks? Thanks, {you}

Informational interview

Subject: question about your path into {field} Hi {name}, I'm a {your role} looking to move into {field}, and your path from {their past} to {their current} is exactly the move I'm trying to make. Would you be willing to share 15 minutes of advice? Happy to work around your schedule. Thank you, {you}

What to put in a job cold email

A specific reason for this company. A product, a post, a team you admire. Generic praise reads as mass-sent.
One proof point. A result with a number, if you have one. One strong line beats a pasted CV.
A small ask. A short call, or "who's the right person?" — not "please hire me".
Under 150 words. Hiring managers read on phones between meetings, like everyone else.

Already applied or interviewed? Use the templates for a follow-up after sending your resume, a follow-up after an interview with no response, following up on an application, or asking for a referral.

No reply after a week? One polite follow-up is fine — the follow-up email guide has wording that isn't pushy. Connecting on LinkedIn too? Keep the note under 300 characters with the connection message generator.

Questions people ask

Is it OK to cold email for a job?

Yes. Many roles are filled through referrals and direct contact before or alongside a job ad. A short, specific email to the hiring manager is a normal, professional way to get noticed — as long as you keep it brief and don't pester.

Who should I cold email — the recruiter or the hiring manager?

Ideally the hiring manager, who owns the problem you would solve. Recruiters are a good choice when a role is already advertised or when you can't identify the manager. Emailing both, with different messages, is fine.

Should I attach my CV to a cold email?

A link to your portfolio or LinkedIn is usually safer than an attachment from an unknown sender. Offer to send your CV, or attach it only if the email clearly relates to an open role.

How do I find a hiring manager's email address?

Check the company website and the person's LinkedIn profile, look for their email format in press releases or public posts, and use the company's general careers contact if nothing else works. Don't guess dozens of addresses — bounces reflect badly on you.