How can you use cold emailing and direct messaging to find job opportunities?

In today's job market, cold outreach is a necessity to getting hired. If you're not reaching out to people at the companies you're interested in to get noticed, you're fighting an uphill battle against a job application response rate of 2-5%. A quick tip: Don't just start with a request. You've got to build a relationship first. Even the coldest of connections can turn warm if you take this approach.

Cold emailing and direct messaging are ways to reach out to people you don't know for information or opportunities. Cold emailing involves sending unsolicited emails with professional requests, while direct messaging is reaching out through social platforms like LinkedIn. Both methods need careful planning and execution, such as personalized messages and follow-ups. They're about building relationships and connections for career growth. So, whether you're exploring new opportunities or seeking advice, these approaches can be key to expanding your network and finding success in your field.

Cold Emailing and Direct Messaging approaches allow you to tap into the unadvertised realm of job openings, commonly known as the "hidden job market." In this expansive job landscape, many positions are filled through personal connections, recommendations, or internal channels rather than traditional job postings. By proactively reaching out to professionals in your desired field, company, or role with hiring decision-makers. These personalized interactions enable you to showcase your unique skills, passion for the role, and alignment with the company culture—setting you apart from the crowd of applicants. So, don't shy away from making that initial connection—your next job opportunity might just be a message away.

Cold emailing /direct messaging should always have one of three direct purposes: 1. You saw a job posted and you are reaching out to flag your résumé to the recruiter or hiring manager for that job. 2. You were reaching out to someone who works in the field that you want to work in and you were asking for a meet and greet. 3. You are reaching out to somebody from the company you want to work for and you want to learn about the culture. Someone won’t always respond to your reach out, but you need to be clear as to why you were reaching out. You can’t email people you don’t know and ask them to “help“ you find a job. They can’t champion someone they don’t know! Reaching out for any other reason will most likely be met with silence.

The most useful connections will almost always be those who are in the roles that you want. Use LinkedIn as a search tool to filter people by job title within the organizations you are targeting. Use an approach that is genuine in your messages. Don't immediately ask for help. Find something interesting or something in common from that person's profile. When you reach out, use that information as the ice breaker. Ask about the role, the company, their experience, etc. Your goal is to gather insights that you can leverage by demonstrating your value in those areas. Your goal is also to build a relationship. If someone likes you, they're more likely to help.

There are many ways to find the right people to contact. Many of the most useful connections are going to be the ones who already have the role that you want. Here are some of my top suggestions: - If there are people in your organization that do the job you want to do, reach out to them first. - LinkedIn allows you to search by job title and organization. Use this to your advantage and prioritize 2nd connections and those who have posted to LinkedIn recently. - Join groups and events that center around what you want to do. Professional organizations and their events will often have a large population of people in the industry to connect with but if you can't find something near you, even a Facebook group will do!

#1. Start by researching the company and the person you're reaching out to. #2. Mention a recent achievement of theirs to show genuine interest. #3. Craft a concise message, breaking it into short paragraphs or using bullet points for clarity. #4. Keep the tone friendly and professional, avoiding overly formal language. #5. Politely express your interest in their work and inquire about potential opportunities. #6.End with a clear call to action, like suggesting a coffee chat or asking for insights. Including a personalized touch and being respectful can significantly boost your chances of getting a positive response. Remember, it's about building connections, so stay authentic and thank them for their time.

Instead of applying for hundreds of jobs, message recruiters that are assigned to that job posting, send them your resume, tell them which job# you're interested in and let them know you're available for an introductory call. This worked for me

One of the ways to get in touch in a nice way is to send a nice seasonal message, such as congratulating with Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year. This has to be region/ religion appropriate, of course.