Best email to someone that you want to work for?

You know the name.
You know the company.
You can find the address.

Why not a good, printed cover letter (and resume) sent to them?

email is the least rich and impressive communications channel.

John

(PS. If you call the main switchboard and ask for them by name, you'll get transferred to their extension. )

Email is second only to instant messaging in terms of leaving a poor impression. Email is cheap and easy. Phone calls are nice. Written letters are best. This is true when writing your congressman (they give five times the value to a written letter as they do a phone call, and a phone call is with 10x an email). Email as a last resort - not as a convenience.

Think about your approach in terms of the benefits TO THEM. Saying "I'd like to learn about opportunities" is centered around [u]you[/u], not them.

I suggest do a little homework about their company (sorry, maybe you have already done it) - and use your knowledge to make a connection between their needs and your strengths.

"I see that you're expanding into digital communications, and I'm wondering if my experience leading a website development team might help you move quicker..."

"I read that you're moving more and more into the Asia-Pacific region, and I'd like to show how my two years of working with our China operation might be of benefit to you..."

Just examples - you can do better than these. But it's point is that you want to be clear about the [u]benefit [/u]of meeting with you.

Best wishes,
Hugh

Hugh is right, there should be a benefit for them.

I beleive John Lucht's book 'Rites of Passage ...' discusses this point. If you ask for a job, and they say no, the conversation can go nowhere from there.

Maybe someone can help me out as I can't remember what the book says, otherwise find it and read the first few chapters. Problem solved.

I've just have my first baby and time is a bit short for me at the moment.

Ken.

Luchte says (paraphrasing here):

You ask them if they would be willing to act as a reference. They will almost always say "yes" (if they know you) and if there is a job they can offer or point you to, they'll do that IN ADDITION. You don't need to ask.

The Luchte book is awesome stupendous smart. Get it.

John

This was a hard one for me to get over. You aren't going to write the perfect approach letter because this isn't about meeting someone. Its about the relationship that you have or can build with them.

Since you have no history to fall back on, you need to concentrate on WIIFM - what's in it for me. Look from their point of view and tell them why you want to establish a relationship with them...NOT how it will benefit you. A fish is never impressed with how delicious dinner will be.

Without knowing the specifics, I can't give more than general advice.

Brian

[quote="yahtzee"]

"I would like to chat with you about opportunities that you may have at XYZ company? Please let me know of a good number to reach you at?"[/quote]

Sorry to be a grammar Nazi, but a dangling participle is no way to introduce yourself.

Find someone you know who can introduce you. Unsolicited email has very little chance of getting a response.

yahtzee,

What's the company? Maybe someone on the forum knows someone at that company.

If you don't want to post publicly, PM me, and I'll do what I can . . .

Cheers,
Steve