Cold outreach works when done right. Most do it wrong.
What doesn't work:
- Long messages
- Asking for a job in the first message
- Generic mass messages
What works:
- Short, specific, personal
- Clear ask (usually minutes for coffee chat)
- Something that shows you researched them
Template:
"Hi [Name], I saw your post about [specific thing]. I'm a career changer moving into [role type] and your path from [their background] caught my attention. Would you have minutes to share what you've learned? Happy to work around your schedule."
Response rate: Expect -% with good personalization. That's normal.