Networking is the key to taking the next big steps in your career. Making valuable new connections starts by introducing yourself and asking for an informational interview- usually over email. These tips to write a stellar networking email (aka informational interview request) will show you how to make new, exciting connections- without awkwardness!
This guide covers everything you need to start sending out impressive networking emails, including:
- What a networking email is (& how they can supercharge your network’s growth)
- Why informational interviews are the key to growing your network
- Irresistible subject lines for networking emails
- The details of how to write a networking email- packed with tons of my insider secrets!
- How to write a desperation-free follow up networking email
Alright, let’s dive into writing networking emails!
What is a networking email?
A networking email is an introduction and an informational interview request.
Typically, you’re reaching out to a friend of a friend or friend of a family member. You could also use one of these online networking resources to find new connections.
Once you have someone’s contact info, the first email you send is your networking email, aka an informational interview email.
Your networking email needs to accomplish 2 main things:
- Introduce who you are, how you’re connected, and why you wanted to reach out
- Show your interest in their career journey and request a chance to learn more
To write a stellar networking email, it’s important to understand why you should ask for informational interviews.
Why schedule informational interviews?
Informational interviews are informal, short convos with a pro working in a field, company, or city you’re interested in.
You can use informational interviews to explore new careers, learn more about specific companies or positions, and more.
Before you start sending informational interview emails, think through what your goal is.
Note: The goal of your informational interview should NOT be to get a job. That can be your overall networking goal, but your first conversations with a new connection need to be about THEM, not you.
Once you’ve figured out who you’re reaching out to and what you’re hoping to get from your informational interview, it’s time to start writing!
How do you get the confidence to reach out to new connections? With these 10 awkward-proof strategies to network like a pro!
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Writing irresistible subject lines for networking emails
Before you can get an informational interview on your calendar, you need your new connection to actually open your email!
This starts with writing a can’t miss subject line for your networking email.
People usually get stuck on writing their networking email’s subject line, because they overthink it. However, it’s way easier than it seems, because there’s just one thing you need to do to make your subject line irresistible:
Show your connection
The person you’re emailing could get a ton of emails in one day. There’s no way of knowing how cluttered their inbox is, so it’s important to immediately show your connection in your networking email’s subject line.
Otherwise, since they won’t recognize your email address, they might just scan right past it.
For example, if I was emailing an alumni from my college (Ithaca College), the subject line for my networking email would be: “Question from an Ithaca Alum.”
As soon as they see it, they’ll know who’s emailing them and why they should open it.
Also, people love helping alumni! It’s an easy, fun way to give back to their colleges and support the next generation of their fields!
If you’re reaching out to a friend of a friend/family member, you can use, “[PERSON’S NAME’S] Niece.”
They’ll want to see how they can help you, so showing your connection in your subject line will also get them genuinely excited!
Remember, for your networking email’s subject line to stand out, you need to quickly show your connection. Now, let’s go over how to write the body of your networking email!
How to write a networking email
After you’ve written the subject line for your networking email, it’s time to write the body of it! To write a stellar outreach email, you need to do 4 things:
- Be professional and brief
- Introduce yourself
- Get to the point
- Be clear about your expectations
Let’s dive into what each of those looks like and why it’s important!
Be professional & brief
This is a big one: you have to be professional and keep your email short. You don’t know how busy this person is (chances are, they’re very busy!), so you want to make sure your email gets read.
Also, keeping it brief shows you respect their time and gives them more time to respond!
Along with making it quick, you should:
- Address your email formally
- Use professional language
- Keep your sentences short
By being quick and professional, they’re sure to read and respond to your networking email!
Introduce yourself
Again, you want to get straight to the point in an informational interview email. They’re busy, you’re busy, we’re all busy! Don’t keep them guessing about who you are and what you’re asking for.
Open your email with an immediate intro to yourself, your purpose in emailing them, and how you found them (so they know you’re not, like, stalking them).
Here’s an example of how I’d open a networking email:
Hello [NAME],
My name is Olivia Sod, I’m a small business owner who just moved to Philadelphia. I found your contact information in the Ithaca College Alumni Directory and saw the link to your website. When I read through your about section, I realized how much we have in common and wanted to reach out to learn more about you!
Like I said earlier, be professional and brief. Just introduce yourself and your purpose and move on!
How do you get the confidence to reach out to new connections? With these 10 awkward-proof strategies to network like a pro!
80% OF JOBS ARE ON THE HIDDEN MARKET—
LEARN HOW TO FIND THEM IN THIS FREE WORKSHOP
Are online job apps making your career sour? The key to candy coating your career is networking!
In this FREE workshop, I’ll teach you how to ditch your resume & grow the best resource you have as a job seeker: your network!
Get to the point
Once you’ve introduced yourself, it’s time to make the big ask- aka request an informational interview.
Not sure what to say in your informational interview? The advice in this video is PERFECT for them!
Again, be upfront and quick. People tend to overthink networking emails and over-explain themselves, but it’s not necessary.
You can give them your elevator pitch and expand on your goals once you’re on the phone for your informational interview. In your networking email, just keep it short and sweet!
Wondering if you can network from home? Here’s where I spill my secrets on how to network from home!
Be clear about the time
The biggest part of writing an informational interview email is showing you understand how busy they are (have you picked up on that theme yet?).
When you ask to have an interview over the phone or a cup of coffee, let them know you’ll keep it short.
Tell them directly the interview will be “less than 20 minutes,” so it’s easy for them to fit you in their schedule and get it on their calendar.
Showing them you understand their time is valuable is one of the best ways to actually land an informational interview, so make sure you follow through and stick to the time you said (unless they want to keep the interview going!)
Follow up networking email
If you don’t hear back from your first informational interview email, don’t worry. Most likely, it went to their spam folder or got lost in their inbox (so they’re prob not ignoring you!)
To write a follow up networking email, reply to your original email and add either “RE:” or “Follow Up:” to the beginning of your subject line of your networking email.
Then, write a quick sentence or 2 about following up on scheduling an informational interview, thank them, and sign it.
The key to your networking email follow up is waiting long enough. Give them time to get to your email- you don’t know what they’re schedule is like!
So, wait at least 2 weeks to follow up your networking email. That way, you give them plenty of time to read and respond!
I feel like I could’ve titled this post, “Everyone is Busy: How to Write an Informational Interview Email,” because, honestly, that’s the biggest message here: respect their time. Keep your email brief, show your connection in the subject line, get right to your introduction and reason for reaching out, and let them know the interview will be short. If you check those boxes, you’ll definitely land a few informational interviews!
Still afraid to press send? Grab my 10 awkward-proof strategies to network with confidence and push past fear!