A step-by-step guide to reaching out to companies directly — even when they're not hiring.
Cold emailing — reaching out to companies or hiring managers who haven't advertised a role — is one of the most underused job search strategies. Done well, it can get you in front of decision-makers before a job is even posted.
Most jobs are never advertised. Companies often hire through referrals, word of mouth, or proactive candidates who reached out at the right moment. A well-timed cold email can position you perfectly.
Don't email HR — email the hiring manager for the type of role you want. Use LinkedIn to find the relevant person. Their email can often be guessed using formats like firstname.lastname@company.com or confirmed using tools like Hunter.io.
Subject line: Keep it specific and professional.
"Senior Designer interested in [Company] — portfolio attached"
Opening: One sentence about why you're contacting them specifically.
"I've been following [Company]'s growth in the B2B design space and was particularly impressed by your recent rebrand."
The pitch: 2–3 sentences on who you are and what value you bring.
"I'm a product designer with 5 years experience in SaaS, most recently at [Company] where I redesigned the onboarding flow and reduced drop-off by 40%."
The ask: Keep it low-commitment.
"I'd love to find out whether there might be a fit — would you be open to a 15-minute call?"
Sign-off: Professional and brief. Include your LinkedIn and portfolio link.
If you don't hear back in 5–7 days, send one follow-up. After that, move on.
Stay ahead
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