A cold email for a job is a personal email to a recruiter or hiring manager at a company that has not advertised the role you want. Name the team, show one specific reason you fit, link one piece of proof such as a project or portfolio, ask for a 15-minute call, and attach your resume.
Updated
6 templates to copy
Kaabil AI builds and scores your resume, and its Career Agent emails recruiters for jobs you approve. 7 days free, no card.Start free trial
Cold email for job: the format at a glance
Subject line
Short and specific: the role or team and one fact about you. No "Job request" or "Urgent".
Opening line
Why this company or person: a product, post or project of theirs you actually know.
Proof
One result, project or link that shows you can do the work. One strong line beats a list.
The ask
Small and clear: a 15-minute call, or the name of the right person to write to.
Length
Under 120 words, readable on a phone without scrolling.
Sign-off
Your name, phone number and LinkedIn or portfolio link, with your resume as a PDF.
6 cold email samples for a job
Email
Cold email to a hiring manager (fresher)Email
Subject[Your degree] grad who [one relevant thing you did]
Hi [Name],
I have been following [Company name]’s work on [product or feature], and I would love to start my career on your [team name] team.
For my final-year project, I [one specific result, for example: built a React app that 300 students at my college use to share notes]. Here it is: [link].
Would you have 15 minutes in the next two weeks to tell me what you look for in freshers on your team? My resume is attached.
Thank you,
[Your name]
[Phone number] | [LinkedIn or portfolio URL]
Cold email to a recruiter (experienced)Email
Subject[Role] with [X] years in [field] – [Your name]
Hi [Name],
I am a [designation] with [X] years in [field], currently at [company]. I noticed [Company name] is [growing its team in city / launching product / expanding into market], and I think my experience fits.
In my current role, I [one result with a number, for example: grew renewals from 70% to 85% across 40 accounts].
If you are hiring for [role] now or soon, could we have a short call? My resume is attached, and my notice period is [30/60/90] days.
Regards,
[Your name]
[Phone number] | [LinkedIn profile URL]
Cold email to a startup founderEmail
SubjectIdea for [Company name]’s [area] + why I’d like to help
Hi [Founder’s name],
I use [product] and noticed [one specific observation, for example: new users drop off at the KYC step on Android]. I put together a short note with three ideas to fix it: [link].
I am a [your role or background], and I have [one line of proof]. If you are hiring for [role], or would take on someone to work on this, I would love to talk.
My resume is attached. Thank you for reading.
[Your name]
[Phone number] | [LinkedIn or portfolio URL]
Cold email for an internshipEmail
SubjectInternship in [team] – [Your name], [College] [Year]
Hi [Name],
I am a [year]-year [course] student at [college], and I would like to intern with [Company name]’s [team] team from [month] to [month].
I have [one proof, for example: written 20 SEO articles for a local business that now ranks on page one for its city]. Samples: [link].
If there is room for an intern on your team, could we have a quick call? I am happy to work on a short test task first. My resume is attached.
Thank you,
[Your name]
[Phone number] | [College email]
Follow-up to a cold email (one week later)Email
SubjectRe: [your original subject line]
Hi [Name],
Following up on my note below in case it got buried. Since then, I have [one new thing, for example: shipped a dark mode for the project I shared].
If now is not the right time, could you point me to the right person on the [team] team?
Thank you,
[Your name]
Short message
LinkedIn connection note to a hiring managerShort message
Hi [Name], I liked your post on [topic]. I am a [degree / X years in field] who [one line of proof]. I would love to connect and learn how your [team] team hires.
Cold email subject lines for a job
[Your degree] grad who [one relevant thing you did]
[Role] with [X] years in [field] – [Your name]
Question about [team] roles at [Company name]
Internship in [team] – [Your name], [College] [Year]
Idea for [Company name]’s [area]
Re: [your original subject line]
When should you send a cold email, and when should you follow up?
Send cold emails on weekday mornings, a few at a time, each written for its person. A few personal emails a week are worth more than a hundred copies of the same one.
Follow up once, about a week later, in the same thread, with one new thing about you. If there is still no reply a week after that, stop: two emails is polite, three is pressure.
How do you write a cold email for a job?
A cold email has three parts, and each is one or two lines:
Why them: a specific reason you are writing to this person at this company, such as their product, a post they wrote or a project their team shipped.
Why you: one result, project or link that shows you can do the work.
The ask: something small and easy to say yes to, such as a 15-minute call or the name of the right person.
Then attach your resume as a PDF, keep the whole email under 120 words and read it on your phone before you send it.
Who should you send a cold email to?
The person closest to the work: the hiring manager or team lead for the role you want, or a recruiter who hires for that team. At small companies and startups, the founder often reads these emails. Find them on the company's website, LinkedIn or through your college alumni. If you know someone who works there, ask for a referral instead: a warm introduction often beats a cold email.
Cold email or email to HR: what is the difference?
A cold email goes to a hiring manager or recruiter about work you could do, often before a role is advertised. An email to HR for a job asks the company's HR team about openings in general. Cold emails are more personal and work best when you can show proof. More formats are in job letters and emails.
Cold email do's and don'ts
Cold email for job: do and don't
Do
Don't
Write each email for one person, about their team.
Send the same email to a hundred people with only the name changed.
Lead with one proof: a result, project or link.
Open with "I am writing to introduce myself".
Ask for something small, such as a 15-minute call.
Ask for "any job" or write that you are desperate.
Follow up once, a week later, with something new.
Follow up more than twice.
Career Agent
Moving on? Let recruiters hear from you first.
The Career Agent in Kaabil AI picks jobs that fit and writes to the recruiters from your own email. It sends only what you approve.
Often, when they are personal and sent to the right person. Between 12 and 30 Oct 2026, recruiters opened 64% of the emails Kaabil AI’s Career Agent sent for job seekers, and 1 in 3 of those users heard back from a recruiter. Keep yours short, specific and addressed to a named person.
Short and specific, with one fact about you, for example "B.Tech grad who built a notes app 300 students use" or "Sales manager, 6 years in B2B SaaS". Avoid "Job request", "Urgent" or a subject line with only your name.
Yes, as a PDF named with your full name. The email body should still stand on its own: many people decide from the email whether to open the attachment.
Under 120 words: three short paragraphs that say why them, why you and what you are asking for. If it needs scrolling on a phone, cut it.
About a week later, in the same thread, with one new thing about you. If there is still no reply after another week, stop and try someone else.
