The prompt
Score 10 of 10, Excellent
Use it when Someone came close in an earlier hiring round, and you want a personal note inviting them to apply for a new role that suits them better.
- {{candidate_name}}
- {{past_stage}}
- {{past_role}}
- {{time_since}}
- {{past_notes}}
- {{new_role}}
- {{why_fit}}
- {{next_step}}
- {{sender}}
Full prompt and why it works
Prompt
Write a message to {{candidate_name}}, who reached the {{past_stage}} stage for our {{past_role}} role {{time_since}} and was not hired, inviting them to apply for a new opening, so that they feel remembered for something specific and can say yes or no in one reply. Strong past candidates already know us, so the message should skip the company pitch and go straight to why this role suits them. What we remember from their process, from the hiring notes we are comfortable sharing with them: """ {{past_notes}} """ The new role, with pay range, location and what the person will do: """ {{new_role}} """ Why we think it fits them: {{why_fit}} The easy next step we are offering (a short call, joining at a later stage, a link to apply): {{next_step}} Sent by: {{sender}} Write two versions: 1. Email, under 150 words, with a subject line under 8 words that names the new role. 2. Short message for a networking site, under 60 words. Each version opens with one sentence that refers to their earlier process specifically and positively, for example "Your approach to the scheduling case in your final interview has stayed with the team." That example shows the form only; use our notes. Then the new role in two sentences, why it fits them, and the next step with how quickly we can move. It should read as personal and honest, from someone who would genuinely like to work with them. Do not: - Imply they are guaranteed an offer or can skip steps beyond what the next step above says. - Mention why they were not hired last time, other candidates, or anything in the notes about their personal life. - Use lines like "we never forgot you" or "dream role". If the notes do not show that the candidate agreed to hear from us about future roles, or the time since their process may be longer than our candidate privacy notice lets us keep their details, add a first line "FOR THE RECRUITER: check we may still contact this candidate before sending." If the notes are too thin to say anything specific, write [SPECIFIC MEMORY NEEDED] where the first sentence goes rather than inventing one.
Variables
- {{candidate_name}}
- The candidate's first name.
- {{past_stage}}
- How far they got, for example "final interview".
- {{past_role}}
- The role they applied for before.
- {{time_since}}
- When that was, for example "last spring" or "eight months ago".
- {{past_notes}}
- What the panel noted that you are comfortable reflecting back: strengths, a memorable answer, what they said they wanted next.
- {{new_role}}
- The new opening: title, pay range, location and what the person will do.
- {{why_fit}}
- Why this role suits them better, for example "they wanted more client contact, and this role is mostly client-facing".
- {{next_step}}
- What you offer, for example "a 20-minute call with the hiring manager, then straight to the final round".
- {{sender}}
- Who the message comes from, for example "the recruiter who ran their last process".
Why it works
- Who it's for. It is written for someone who already knows the company, so it skips the pitch and leads with a specific memory and why the new role fits.
- What to avoid. No hint of a guaranteed offer and no mention of why they were turned down last time, the two things that make these messages backfire.
- If unsure. If the notes do not show consent to future contact, the recruiter is told to check before sending, and a missing specific memory is left as a marked gap.