Cold email for a job: how to write to a hiring manager you don't know.
A cold email works when it is clearly written for one person, about a problem they care about, with a small and easy ask. It fails when it reads like a mass message. Here is the structure and the templates.
To cold email for a job, find the manager of the team you want to join, then write under 120 words: one line on why them, one or two lines on a relevant result, and one easy ask, such as a 15-minute call or whether they are hiring. Send it to one person at a time, follow up once after a week, and stop.
4 copy-ready templates
Illustrative: names, companies, dates and numbers in these templates and examples are fictional. Replace every bracket with your own true details before you send anything.
Role is posted: write to the hiring manager
When to use: After you apply, to add a human note.
Subject: [Role] application, [relevant skill or result] Hi [Name], I applied for the [Role] role on your team this week. I noticed [specific thing: a launch, a hiring post, a talk]. In my current role I [result relevant to that]. If it would help, I'd be glad to share how I'd approach [their problem] in a short call. Best, [Your name]
No role posted
When to use: When you want to be on their radar before a role opens.
Subject: [Your role] interested in [team] Hi [Name], I've been following [Company]'s work on [area], especially [specific detail]. I'm a [role] who has [one result]. Are you expecting to grow the team this year? If so, I'd love 15 minutes to learn what you look for. Thanks, [Your name]
Short version for LinkedIn
When to use: When you can only message on LinkedIn; keep it within a few lines.
Hi [Name], I applied for the [Role] role on your team. I've [one result relevant to the role]. Would you be open to a quick chat about what the team needs? Thanks, [Your name]
One follow-up
When to use: About a week later, in the same thread.
Hi [Name], bringing this back to the top of your inbox in case it got buried. Happy to keep it to 15 minutes. [Your name]
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Every template on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Who to email
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Small company or startup | The founder or team lead. |
| Mid-size company | The manager of the team you would join. |
| Large company | The team manager, plus the recruiter for that function. |
| Unsure who the manager is | Write to the recruiter rather than guessing. |
The same message, rewritten
Illustrative example with fictional details.
| Version | Example |
|---|---|
| Weak | Dear Sir or Madam, I am looking for a job in your company. Please find my CV attached. I am hardworking and a fast learner. |
| Strong | I noticed your team just launched self-serve billing. In my last role I reduced billing support tickets by redesigning the invoice emails; I'd be glad to share what worked in a 15-minute call. |
Why it matters: The weak version could be sent to any company and asks the reader to do all the work. The strong version is clearly for this person and offers something useful.
Mistakes to avoid
- Mass-sending the same email.
- Writing more than about 150 words.
- Asking for a job in the first line.
- Following up more than once.
- Guessing someone's email address format and spamming variants.
Write yours faster
Questions people ask
Is it OK to cold email a hiring manager?
How do I find a hiring manager's email?
What's the best subject line for a cold email?
How is this different from cold outreach to recruiters?
How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. The templates and timing guides are practical advice, labelled as advice. We do not publish response rates or success rates, and every example uses fictional details.
- How a specific employer or recruiter will respond: practices vary by company, industry and person.
- Legal advice: for contracts, severance releases or disputes, talk to an employment attorney or the relevant agency.
- Outcomes: no message, template or program can promise an interview or a job.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 2, 2026.