Effective Ways of Writing a Cold Email for Job Opportunities

Updated 22 May 2023

A cold email is an email sent by job seekers to prospective employers who they have no prior relationship with. Contacting potential employers by sending cold emails expands your network and possibilities of securing a job. Learning about cold emails can help you write impressive emails for jobs and increase the chances of employers hiring you. In this article, we explain what cold emails are, discuss the steps you can take to write one and provide a sample.

Related: The Essential Job Search Guide

What is a cold email for job opportunities?

A cold email for job opportunities is an email sent to someone you don't know to enquire about job opportunities. Sending a cold email reveals your passion for a role. It also shows that you're willing to put in the effort, which a hiring manager may appreciate. You can write a cold call email for a job in the following situations:

when searching for a job in your dream company
when you want to connect to the manager or human resource personnel introduced to you
when you want to enquire about an upcoming interview
when you're following up on the previous cold email

Benefits of sending cold emails

Here are some benefits of using cold emails:

Responding to emails is fast. Managers have busy schedules and may handle several management tasks and meetings at once. Receiving a cold email can make it easier for them to respond at a time that's appropriate for them, unlike when you phone for an appointment or go there physically to secure a meeting.
They're convenient. Most professionals make use of their emails daily. It may be convenient for them to review emails and refer to them more easily in the future, unlike cold calls or physical meetings.
Cold emails are informative: Cold emails allow you to give more information because you can attach documents. In cold emails, you can attach your resume or a portfolio to showcase your skills to the potential employer.

What does a cold email include?

A cold email may include:

Subject line: Write a clear subject line that mentions the exact post you're requesting.
Opening line: The introduction can convey your name and clearly state the purpose of your email.
Body: Outline how your skills and interests relate to the company's needs.
Closing: Show your availability and end your email by expressing gratitude to the management.
Signature: Show the closing tag such as kind regards, yours faithfully or sincerely and your name.

8 steps to make cold emails successful

Here are eight steps to make cold email successful:

1. Identify the right company to contact

It is important to review the information about a certain company or person before you send them a cold email. Thoroughly research the companies you have in mind to find the right company that matches your skills and competencies. Find the correct information about the company from its website, friends or colleagues who work in that company. Locate the correct email address and the leadership structures to find the right recipient for the email.

2. Draft the reason for writing the email

It is important to state clearly the reason you're applying for the job in the cold email. Prepare your brief introduction to ensure it contains the information you need to give, such as who you are. Let them know where you're working and how you found information about them.

3. Draft a catchy subject line

The subject line may increase the chances that your recipient reads your email. You can clearly state the job you wish to apply for. Keep the email subject line short and to the point. You can also personalise the subject line specific to each company you email it to. For instance, if you send the same email to two companies, personalise the subject line for each of them.

4. Write the cold email introduction

In the introduction, you can declare your main reason for writing the email. Make sure it interests the manager by the way you state your interests and skills. Use the first sentence to introduce yourself and tell how you found information about the company.

5. Confirm whether you have customised your email

Try to ensure your cold email is customised for the specific company, role and recipient. If you're sending cold emails to multiple companies and using a similar template, ensure you have the correct names throughout the email. This can show your professionalism and attention to detail. It also shows that you took the time and effort to research the position and the recipient.

6. Consider the length

Cold emails are typically precise and direct. This increases the chances that the recipient reads your entire message. State your intentions and share your skills without going into details as this can portray a defensive personality. To give your necessary details, you can upload the rest of the information, such as cover letters, resumes and testimonials, as attachments to the email.

7. Close the email

As you conclude your cold email, be clear on the action you want them to take in response to it. Tell your prospective employer whether they're free to contact you or your referees to understand your skills better. You may state your contact details in the paragraph or add them under your email closing. You may also encourage them to call you to talk further and let the employer know you're eagerly waiting for their response. At the end, also thank them for their time and consideration.

8. Consider following up

Sometimes, a recipient might not have seen your email or may have thought it was a spam message. Consider sending one follow-up email a week or two after your initial message. Keep the follow-up message short and direct. It's best to only use one follow-up message. The recipient may be busy or may not open emails from people they don't know.

Tips for sending cold emails for job information

Here are some helpful pointers for sending cold emails that enquire about the information of a certain job:

Email at a convenient time: It is a good practice to send emails in the morning between 9am and 11am. This can increase the chances that your recipient sees and reads your message.
Remain simple and clear: Managers may not have the time to read first-time emails that may be very detailed. Remain clear with your intentions while briefly sharing your skills and how they can benefit the organisation.
Note your shared interests with the company: Let the recipient know about those things that excite you about the company and the work they do. Share how your interests could benefit the company, and discuss your shared missions or beliefs if you have them.
Proofread your cold email: Before you send it, remember to read through your email to proofread it before you can send it. An excellent email that was edited can display your professionalism to your prospective employer.
State your availability: While finishing up your cold email, it may be prudent to state the time you're available to report for work or an interview that the employer may schedule to discuss your application. It is important to specify whether you can meet virtually, with a phone call or in person.

Cold email inquiry template

Below is a cold email template that you can personalise with your desired details for a job:

Dear [Mr/Ms/Mrs/Miss/Dr recipient's name]

My name is [your name] and I learned about your company from [where you learned about the company]. I am currently searching for a challenging, new opportunity to grow and deepen my skills and enhance my experience in [state the areas you want to gain experience in]. At present, I work for [current company name] in the capacity of [position]. I am applying for the advertised position of [position] at your company. I believe I can make use of my [values you can offer] for the betterment of [company name].

I wish to be given a chance to discuss the open opportunity over a virtual meeting if you wish. I am available at [your availability schedule].

Please inform me if you're available for further engagement. I am open to your schedule.

Thank you for taking the time to read this email.

Kind regards,

[Your name]

Cold email inquiry example

Here's an example you can reference:

Dear Mr Greene,

My name is Sarah Brown, and I learned about your company from Indeed. I am currently searching for a challenging, new opportunity to grow and deepen my skills and enhance my experience in marketing. At present, I work for Better Way Designs in the capacity of a market associate. I am applying for the advertised position of marketing manager at your company. I believe I can make use of my content strategy and leadership for the betterment of Simple Solutions.

I wish to be given a chance to discuss the open opportunity over a virtual meeting if you wish. I am available to talk further any time after 5pm.