What is a cold email?

A cold email is an initial email sent without having prior contact with the person you're sending the email to. In getting that remote job you want, you can use cold emailing and a combination of other platforms like LinkedIn and similar tools to get in touch with founders, HR representatives, hiring reps, etc.

A cold email can be a powerful tool to help jumpstart your career in remote work.

There are several in-depth articles and checklists on cold emailing, which I have linked below. However, I’ll add a few main pointers that worked for me during my job search.

• Calibration: Engross yourself in the remote job world. Follow founders on Twitter, curate a list of remote job boards (I’ve added a few in this resource), and check out emerging startups or startups that were recently founded using Crunchbase and Angellist.
• Personalization: Make each cold email interaction personal to the person you send it to. Add details about the company, a recent post, an update about a project they are working on, etc. Personalizing your email makes it stand out from the rest as it shows that you have put in that extra bit of effort + research and are willing to work smart even if there is no guaranteed end reward.
• Value addition: Be conscious of the value of the time taken by the person on the receiving end of your email. Make it worth their while. Please keep the email short, show how you can add value to their lives, and aid them in their goals. Make it about them and make them feel valued.
• Maximization: Rome wasn't built in a day. In the same way, you may not get a reply in the first few days of cold emailing/applying. Cold email is always a numbers game. I recommend sending 4 to 5 well-crafted, personalized emails daily for at least a month or two. This would total about 200-300 emails for a couple of months.
• Persistence: Most people send just one email to a contact and then forget about it. Most of the opportunities are created when you follow up with people. Send them an additional mail or two (don't make it annoying), and try contacting them from a different channel (LinkedIn, etc.). By following up, you increase your chances of getting a reply significantly. You can use tools like **Streak** and **Woodpecker** (or any other cold email tool) to follow up on your replies and to view whether + when the receiver has viewed your email.

Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BstTDGExSgA

Reference articles:

A Guide to Cold Emailing