How I Cold E-mailed A CEO And Got A Job At The Top Of My Class

I’ve always been shy and awkward, which is great for a comedian but not so much for my job search. 

When I was looking for a position in media, I didn’t know how else to get the attention of potential employers than cold-emailing them from my mom’s house with my cat as my only audience. It wasn’t pretty but it worked. Here are some tips:

Takeaways
Cold emailing can lead to unexpected job opportunities.
Crafting personalized and well-researched emails is crucial.
Effective subject lines are essential to encourage email opens.
Providing value and showcasing skills can improve response rates.
Follow-up emails play a significant role in maintaining contact.
Customization and persistence can yield successful outcomes.

Be Prepared

You should also research the company, the role, and the person you are contacting. You’ll want to know what they expect from you in this position and whether or not it’s a good fit for your skillset.

It may be that even though we’re looking at this as an interview, it’s more like an interview with one person out of many candidates; some companies hire externally to add diversity of thought and opinions to their teams.

Cold email campaigns can yield impressive results when executed strategically. Learn how to boost your response rate with this Simple Guide to Cold Emailing and discover tactics that can make your outreach more effective.

Show How You’re A Good Listener

It’s important to show that you’re a good listener. This includes repeating what the other person has said and asking questions if you need clarification. If they’re talking about something they care deeply about, they’ll appreciate being heard and understood.

If Bob loves coffee, don’t just tell him which coffee shop is your favorite; ask him why he likes it so much! You can even say something along these lines: “I’m glad we have some things in common! It sounds like we both enjoy coffee.”

When someone asks me what I think about their situation, I usually say something like “Wow” or “Tell me more.” You can let them know that you’re listening by saying these things or asking for clarification on anything that comes up during their story or explanation of an idea.

Tell A Story

Now that you have a list of companies, it’s time to get in touch with some CEOs. This is where things might get a little tricky if you’ve never done something like this before.

The best way to approach cold e-mailing is by telling a story. Tell them about your background and why they should hire you (not the other way around). 

You can talk about why their company interests you, how long it took for them to reach their current level of success, or even give them advice on how they could grow their business further. In short: talk about yourself and don’t tell them what they want to hear!

Uncover the “aha” moments that can revolutionize your cold email approach. Explore the 10 Cold Email Aha Moments that can transform your communication strategy and lead to better engagement.

Bring Your Personality To The Table

You can only be the best version of yourself, so don’t try to be something that you’re not. Be confident in your abilities and be friendly and funny. You want to show that you’re a good person who will add value to the company, so staying professional is key.

Be Ready With A Reason Why The Person Should Hire You

Be prepared to explain why you’re a good fit for the position. Don’t just tell someone that you have experience with Excel and PowerPoint because anyone can say that. Instead, explain how your skillset is a good fit for the position and how it will help grow their business.

You could also mention any personal connections you have to the person hiring or their company this could be through friends/family or even acquaintances from school/work. 

If they know someone from their network who has worked with you before, this would be helpful information for them too. It shows them that people have vouched for your work in the past and can lend credibility to whatever it is you are saying about yourself during this interview process!

Don’t Be Coy

Don’t be shy about your strengths, don’t be afraid to brag a little, and don’t be afraid to show off (in a humble way) what you’ve accomplished this is a chance for you to tell the person why they should hire you. 

Showcase the skills that got you into this position in the first place, but also make sure those skills match up with the job requirements listed on the company’s career board or job ad. If not, go back and beef up those areas before applying again.

Keep It Brief And Professional

Your email should be short and sweet. If you’re cold-emailing to request an informational interview, don’t ask for a job. 

Keep your message professional by using a professional email address (you can get one for free from Gmail or Outlook), and use a professional font such as Calibri or Arial instead of Comic Sans (although I personally love Comic Sans).

Keep your subject line short and to the point. “Requesting an informational interview with the CEO on Monday at 2 pm EST” is better than asking “Can I talk to you about my amazing idea?” 

The CEO will have more respect for you if he or she has no idea what topic you want to discuss before clicking through to read the rest of your message making them curious rather than annoyed is key here!

You should also keep it impersonal don’t say things like “Hi John! It was so nice meeting with you last week.” 

Instead, focus on how much value they can get out of speaking with him/her directly rather than how much fun it would be if they were both in the same room together again soon; 

This way there’s less pressure on both sides when responding favorably toward each other later on down the road!

Elevate your cold email campaigns with proven tips and techniques. Enhance your next outreach effort using the insights shared in these 14 Tips for Your Next Cold Email Campaign and increase your chances of success.

Argue That Your Skills Are Valuable Enough To Justify The Position

This is the most important part of your letter. You need to make it clear that you will be a huge asset to the company, and why they should hire you. Here are some tips:

Be specific. Don’t just say that you’re a hard worker show them with examples! Did you help organize an event? Did you raise money for charity? Did you work on any projects outside of school? These are all things that show how great of an employee (and person) you would be. 

If there’s anything else about your résumé or personal life that makes sense for this job, then add it here too!

Show off your skills and knowledge in the subject area relevant to this position. For example, if this job requires computer programming skills then mention something like “I am proficient in Ruby.” 

Or “I have experience building web applications,” whatever applies best for what type of software development role they’re hiring for at their company (it might not be programming).

Explain What You’ve Already Done, Rather Than What You’re Going To Do Next

I think you’ll find this example speaks for itself.

Hi [name],

I am writing to apply for the position of Marketing Director at [company name]. I have been reading about your company and its products and would like to speak with you about my qualifications as well as how I can help grow your business.

I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2014 with a degree in Economics and Business Management, where I was told by my professors that my work was “top-notch” and that it “showed an understanding above and beyond most of their peers.” 

During my time at Berkeley, I also worked on projects such as organizing an annual fundraising gala for our university’s alumni association while serving as President of the class of 2014.

In addition to these accomplishments, I have had many internships throughout college where I’ve worked directly with C-level executives within companies such as [name], [name], and even Google!

Master the art of cold email outreach and take your strategies to the next level. Dive into the comprehensive insights offered in The Ultimate Guide to Cold E-Mail Outreach and gain a competitive edge in your communication efforts.

You Can Cold E-Mail Anyone, Even A CEO

Be prepared. Before you start writing, make sure your email is free of spelling and grammatical errors. You want to show the CEO that you’re a competent employee who cares about quality work.

Show how you’re a good listener. Showing that you’re open-minded is an important part of being successful in any job interview or networking situation.

But it can be especially beneficial when it comes to cold emails because it gets people talking about themselves and their passions not about what they think is wrong with your resume or cover letter (which we all probably have in common).

Tell a story! Instead of focusing on yourself and what makes you qualified for this position, tell the CEO how his or her company has helped others achieve success through its products/services/programs/etc.

Then share one instance where those same products/services/programs made an impact on someone’s life by changing things for the better (either directly or indirectly). This will give them insight into who YOU are as well as show off another side of yourself: 

Your passion and drive for making positive change happen! Plus if there happened to be anyone else reading over their shoulder while they do so… Well then we have just found our way back onto topic again!

Learn from practical experiences on how cold emails can bear fruitful results. Discover how to effectively use cold email as a tool to achieve tangible outcomes by reading How I Leverage Cold Email to Get Real Fruit in the Basket.

Conclusion

If you follow our tips and make the most of your cold e-mail, you’ll be sure to get a response. The key is to remember that it’s not just about what you say, but how you say it. 

You need to be engaging, friendly, and professional while still showing off your personality (but not too much).

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources for improving your cold email strategies:

Indeed – Cold Email for Job Search: Learn how to effectively use cold emailing as a job search strategy, including tips for crafting compelling emails that stand out to potential employers.

CNBC – 10 Email Templates for Job Hunting Success: Explore a collection of pre-written email templates designed to assist job hunters in various situations, helping you make a strong impression during your outreach.

Woodpecker – How to Write a Cold Email That Actually Works: Follow a comprehensive tutorial outlining the six essential steps to crafting effective cold emails, ensuring your messages are engaging and yield positive responses.

FAQs

How can I make my cold email stand out to potential employers?

Craft personalized and well-researched emails that address the specific needs of the company and showcase how your skills align with their requirements.

What should I include in the subject line of my cold email?

The subject line should be attention-grabbing, concise, and relevant to the recipient’s interests or pain points to encourage them to open the email.

How do I increase my chances of receiving responses to my cold emails?

Focus on providing value and highlighting what you can offer to the recipient. A clear call-to-action and a genuine tone can also enhance your response rate.

Should I use email templates for my job search cold emails?

While templates can serve as a starting point, customizing each email to the recipient and the situation will make your outreach more effective and personalized.

What’s the importance of follow-up in cold email outreach?

Follow-up emails can remind recipients of your initial message and keep you on their radar. Sending well-timed and politely persistent follow-ups can lead to increased response rates.