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📧 The Art of Cold Emailing: Getting Responses

Cold emailing is the process of reaching out to someone you don't know to ask for an opportunity (internship, referral, or advice). If done right, it's a superpower.

anatomy of a Perfect Cold Email

1. The Subject Line (The Hook)

It must be relevant and specific. * Bad: "Internship request" (Too vague) * Good: "[College Student] - Full Stack Developer Interested in [Company Name] Internship" * Good: "Question regarding your recent post about [Topic]"

2. The Salutation

Use the person's name. "Dear Hiring Manager" is too robotic. Use "Hi [First Name]" or "Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name]".

3. The Intro (The Context)

Who are you and why are you emailing them?

"I'm a Final Year CSE student at [College Name] and a huge fan of how [Company] is solving [Problem]."

4. The Value Proposition (The Why)

Why should they care about you? Link 1-2 specific projects or achievements.

"I recently built a [Project Name] that handles [X] requests per second using [Tech Stack]. I believe my skills in [Skill A] and [Skill B] could contribute to your [Specific Team]'s current goals."

5. The Ask (The Goal)

Be clear but flexible. * Bad: "Can you give me a job?" * Good: "Would you be open to a 10-minute chat about your experience at [Company], or would you consider reviewing my resume for potential internship openings?"

📝 Proven Templates

Template A: The Referral Request (LinkedIn/Email)

Subject: CSE Student from [College] | Interest in [Role] at [Company]

Hi [Name],

I'm a 3rd-year CS student at [College] currently following your work in [Field]. I've been extremely impressed by [Specific Project/Achievement of the person].

I'm writing to express my interest in the [Role Name] position at [Company]. I've previously interned at [Company/Project] where I [Specific Achievement]. Given my background in [Skill], I'm confident I can add value to the team.

Would you be open to referring me for this role? I've attached my resume for your review.

Regardless, I'd love to stay connected!

Best, [Your Name]

Template B: The Startup Founder "Self-Pitch"

Subject: How I can help [Startup Name] with [Specific Area]

Hi [Founder Name],

I've been following [Startup Name] since you launched [Feature/Product]. I really admire the approach you're taking with [Problem].

I'm a developer who loves building [X]. I noticed that [Specific Suggestion/Observation about their product]. I actually built a small prototype that addresses [Y], which you can see here: [Link].

I'm looking for a summer internship and would love to bring my skills in [Tech Stack] to [Startup Name]. Are you open to a quick call to discuss how I can contribute?

Best, [Your Name]

🛠️ Finding Anyone's Email

  • Hunter.io: The industry standard for finding professional emails.
  • Apollo.io: Great for finding both emails and LinkedIn profiles.
  • Clearbit Connect: A Gmail extension that finds emails directly.
  • The "Guessing" Method: Most company emails follow firstname@company.com or first.last@company.com.

🔄 The Follow-up Protocol

People are busy. If you don't get a response in 3-5 business days, send ONE polite follow-up.

"Hi [Name], just bumping this to the top of your inbox. I'm still very interested in [Subject]. Completely understand if you're busy, but would love to hear from you."

[!CAUTION] Don't Spam: Quality > Quantity. Research the person/company before emailing. A tailored email to 5 people is better than a generic email to 500.