SourceCon Community, 

I hope this email finds you well... 

Hah! What a cliche' way to start an email. This has to be one of the most overused opening lines in an email ever which is why so many memes have been generated about it. 

Yet, I don't see many suggestions to the contrary. I mean, I see a lot of lampooning of the phrase online but not much in terms of what else you could say. So I thought, why not make a list? And so I did. Here are a few opening line alternatives you can use in your candidate outreach emails. I hope you find them well... useful. (Hah! See what I did there?) 

One way to start off a candidate outreach email is to focus on what they are interested in. For example...

• "I came across your profile on [Platform] and was impressed by your experience in [Area]." (Highlights their skills)

• "I've been following your work on [Platform/Project] and am a big fan of [Specific achievement]." (Shows genuine interest)

• "I noticed your interest in [Industry/Technology] and believe this role at [Company] could be a great fit." (Connects to their passions)

Or, you could skip to the chase and highlight the opportunity.

• "I'm reaching out about an exciting opportunity at [Company] that I suspect you'd be a perfect fit for. Of course, I won't know for sure until we talk." (Intriguing and direct)

• "I'm recruiting for a challenging and rewarding role at [Company] that aligns with your expertise in [Area]." (Emphasizes career growth)

Stroking the ego is good for building rapport... 

• "I'm a big fan of [Candidate's past work/a publication they wrote/a conference they spoke at]. Your insights on [Topic] are truly valuable." (Expresses genuine admiration for their work)

• "I came across your work on [Platform/Project] and was particularly impressed by [Specific achievement/insight]. It reminded me of a similar challenge we faced at [Company Name], and I immediately thought of you." (Shows genuine interest and finds a common ground)

Direct and concise is a plan, especially if you think the chance of a reply is really low. 

• "I'm writing to introduce myself and share a potential opportunity at [Company]." (Clear and professional)

• "I'm recruiting for a [Job Title] position at [Company] and believe your skills and experience would be a valuable asset." (Straightforward and informative)

And who doesn't appreciate a referral? 

• "I was referred to you by [Mutual Connection Name], who highly recommended your expertise in [Area]." (Builds trust and credibility)

• "I noticed you and [Mutual Connection Name] are connected on LinkedIn. They spoke very highly of your work in [Area]." (Leverages existing relationships)

Another angle is to pitch the company culture. This could really work in your favor if you are targeting a company with consistent negative Glassdoor reviews. Just sayin'.

• "I'm reaching out to introduce you to [Company Name], a company known for its [Company Culture Value, e.g., innovation, employee growth, work-life balance]." (Highlights company values that might resonate with the candidate)

• "I'm reaching out because I believe your expertise in [Candidate's Skill] could significantly impact [Company's Mission/Impact on the World]." (Appeals to their sense of purpose)

• "At [Company Name], we're passionate about [Company's Core Value] and I think your values align perfectly with ours." (Connects with their personal values)

My last suggestion is to try an "act now, while supplies last" type of urgency. Just be sure not to lay it on too thick and burn your credibility. 

• "I'm recruiting for a unique opportunity at [Company Name] that won't be open for long." (Creates a sense of urgency, but avoids being pushy)

• "This is a rare chance to join a high-growth company at an exciting stage." (Highlights the exclusive nature of the opportunity)

I don't have any data to back up these ideas, just gut instinct. This is where you come in. Please experiment with these approaches and share the results in our Facebook group. I would love to see the chatter around this topic. 

Jim Stroud
Your SourceCon Editor

;-) 

###

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