What is a cold email and how do I write my first one?

— so you want a job

You may still be trying to understand what the whole point of a cold email is. The purpose of a cold email varies from person to person but essentially boils down to a point of outreach with a stranger to gain information.

Metaphorically speaking, you are a scout who has been sent out into the wild to understand the world around you. You want to understand what exists out there and if there are any endeavors worthy of pursuing. What does the lay of the land look like? What path will provide me with the greatest fruits of my labor? Where can I eventually settle?

This part requires introspection on your behalf. You may want:

— to break into a specific field
— to learn about an industry
— to know what opportunities exist out there
— to know how other people navigated the path from student to corporate life

Obviously, the goal of a job seeker is to get a job. Everybody knows this. It's as much of a secret to your career counsellor as it is to the software engineer you're reaching out to. We have all been in this position before. That being said, it is uncouth to blatantly ask for a job or a referral to a job from a stranger, and is sure to rub the individual the wrong way. Job seekers should be wary of this and approach cold emailing with delicacy. Executives and hiring managers will still subtly get the message if you ask for advice on breaking into the field. There is an art to crafting an email with the right tone of voice and it is important to get the balance right.

— your first template

I first found this cold emailing template by watching Alex Banayan's interview at Talks at Google, but the original credit goes to Tim Ferriss. The video is linked above and is definitely worth a watch, but the template boils down to five things:

1. Hook
2. Who you are
3. Why you are relevant
4. A very specific question
5. Clincher

Most importantly, the question should be specific and minimal. Examples of good questions to ask include:

• What do you think are the most critical skills or qualities that an aspiring research analyst in this field should possess?
• Any advice you might have for someone hoping to contribute to the team?
• What do you think are the most critical skills or qualities that an aspiring analyst should possess, given the current market dynamics?
• What attributes do you look for when hiring into your team?

Lastly, it is important to follow up with people who have responded to your emails and thank them. They took time out of their day to acknowledge your concerns and answer them. A little reciprocity goes a long way.