The prompt
Score 10 of 10, Excellent
Use it when You need a short, specific message that gives someone who is not job hunting a reason to talk.
- {{candidate_first_name}}
- {{channel}}
- {{candidate_background}}
- {{role_details}}
- {{connection}}
- {{sender}}
Full prompt and why it works
Prompt
Write a short recruiting message to {{candidate_first_name}}, who is not looking for a job, to send by {{channel}}. The goal is a 15-minute conversation, not an application, so the message has to give them one specific reason to reply. What I know about their work, from their public profile or work they have published: """ {{candidate_background}} """ About the role: """ {{role_details}} """ How I came across them: {{connection}} From: {{sender}} Format your answer as three numbered parts: 1. The message, under 120 words, in three short parts: why I am writing to them in particular, naming one specific piece of their work; what about the role might interest someone like them, in one or two concrete facts from the role details; and a low-pressure ask for a short call, with an easy way to say no. 2. If the channel is email, three subject lines of under 8 words each. 3. One follow-up of under 60 words to send a week later if there is no reply, which adds one new fact rather than repeating the first message. The message should read as if it could only have been sent to this person: if another name were swapped in, it would stop making sense. For example, an opening with the right level of detail: "Your talk on rebuilding the returns process at a regional retailer is the reason I'm writing." The example shows the form only; use their real work. Rules: - Refer only to their professional work as described above. Do not mention or guess at their age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, family, appearance or anything else personal, and do not draw conclusions from their name or photo. - Avoid flattery and recruiter cliches such as "impressive profile", "rockstar", "exciting opportunity" or "perfect fit", and avoid false urgency. - Do not imply an offer, a title or pay that the role details do not state. Mention pay only if a range is given. - Do not invent facts about the company, the team or the role. If the background gives nothing specific enough to mention, do not make up a compliment: say so, and tell me what to look for before writing.
Variables
- {{candidate_first_name}}
- The person's first name.
- {{channel}}
- How you will send it, for example a LinkedIn message or email.
- {{candidate_background}}
- What you know about their work from public sources: projects, talks, articles, roles. Work facts only.
- {{role_details}}
- The role, why it exists, what is interesting about it, and the pay range if you can share it.
- {{connection}}
- How you found them or who referred them, or "none".
- {{sender}}
- Your name and role, as they should appear in the signature.
Why it works
- What good looks like. The swap test, that the message stops making sense with another name in it, is what separates outreach people answer from outreach they delete.
- What to avoid. It keeps the message on their work and rules out personal details and guesses from a name or photo, which are unfair and off-putting.
- If unsure. If there is nothing specific to mention, it says so instead of inventing a compliment the candidate would see through.