Reconnecting Through Email

You’ve now identified people to reach out to, and have set goals for your outreach, but how do you actually connect?

You will likely start through email, because email is the best and most efficient way to begin a new interaction.

But writing a great networking email is harder than you might think and it’s especially tricky when you haven’t spoken to someone in a long time or barely know each other.

The next section will examine the elements that will make your networking emails more effective and provide tips on how to tailor your message for different audiences.

Let’s get started with three tips that are sure to upgrade your emails and make them more personal.

These tips are followed by sample emails and you can find additional reflection questions in the workbook to help you envision real-life examples of how to use email to reconnect and bond, ask for help or introduce yourself.

1. Keep it short and personal

If there is only one thing you take away from these tips, let it be this: never copy and paste in a networking email.

You might think it will go unnoticed as long as you add one unique line in at the beginning or the end of the email, but this simply isn’t true. Rarely can you send the same message to multiple people without assuming a more general tone that will be detectable by recipients.

Copy and paste emails must be generic to appeal to a broad audience, but this is the exact opposite of what you want your networking emails to be. Email networking only works when the exchange is authentic and affirms the relationship.

Instead, focus on making your emails short—one to two paragraphs—and personal. Before pressing send, read your message one final time and consider if it would still be appropriate if you sent it to someone else. If so, it’s not as strong as it could be.

To personalize your emails, try to make multiple references to things that only apply to your recipient— comments about their family, pets, hobbies and personal and professional aspirations are always great touch points to bring up.

This tip is still relevant to messages to recruiters and to those connections you don’t know very well yet.

It is certainly harder to personalize your emails when you know little about someone, but there is often enough on LinkedIn or the company website to help you get started. You can reference their former employers or things you might have in common, like previously living in the same city or shared community service passions listed on their profile.

You may know less about them than your closer connections, but that should help you keep your messages sharp and concise. Don’t write long emails packed with details about you simply to fill the space.

Keep the focus mainly on your recipient, especially in the first exchange, and let the connection build naturally. If you begin these initial emails in an authentic and sincere way, you increase the possibility of converting this connection into a relationship.

2. Set the tone early

Often, the best way to begin a networking email is with a reference to your last meeting, a shared memory or a comment about the reason they came to your mind.

However you choose to start, make sure it reinforces the feeling you want to express in your overall message.

If you select a funny story, it will establish a light and humorous tone. If you select wording that is heartwarming, you will likely have a deeper, more sentimental dialogue. Either way, decide what feeling you’re going for at the very beginning of your email and continue to weave it throughout.

3. Show that you care

“How are you doing?” “Just wanted to check in.” “Hope all is well.”

How many times have you seen these phrases in your inbox? Chances are, it’s a lot. There’s good reason for that: people do need to be checked in on and you genuinely hope that everyone will remain healthy and well.

It is not a problem to use these phrases when they are true, but know that your message will be better received and get more attention if you don’t use these common opening lines. People become numb to phrases they hear over and over again and often well-meaning words can start to lose a bit of their power.

By relying on well-known phrases, you miss the opportunity to express your true sentiments. The phrase will then come off as just another filler expression before you transition to your real reason for reaching out, and will take away from the impact of your message.

The purpose of avoiding common phrases is so it’s clear that you aren’t simply looking to have a transactional exchange. Remember, your message is that you actually care to know how the recipient is doing.

With these three tips in mind, review the sample emails on the next page and consider how you might change or update these messages to craft your own networking emails.

Sample Emails

Re-establishing contact with former colleagues you haven’t spoken with in years

If you haven’t spoken to someone in a long time, avoid sending your résumé or launching into details about your job search during your first attempt to reconnect.

Instead, be honest that you are trying to be more intentional about connecting with people from the past and keep your focus on catching up.

In later exchanges you can schedule a call or meeting to discuss your career aspirations, or send over your résumé though email asking them to keep you in mind if they hear about possible opportunities or think an introduction to someone in their network would be appropriate.

Example

Hi Jen,

You came to mind today when I was teaching my nephew how to scramble an egg. It’s been quite a long time since you told me that funny story about your son learning to cook. I can only imagine how his skills must have grown since then. What grade is he in now? Or is he in college?

One of my goals this year is to do a better job of staying in touch with friends from the past. You reach a point in your career when you realize you’ve had your head down for too long. Anyway, it inspired me to check in with you. I know you always have a hot project going. What new product idea is firing you up these days? How is Greg?

Asking for job search support from someone you speak to somewhat regularly

If you speak to someone at least once or twice a year, it’s fine to ask to set up a call or meeting to touch base about your job search in your first email.

Just remember that people are busy and they appreciate flexibility. Showing your understanding of this also indicates that you genuinely want to connect rather than needing something urgently.

Make sure you still send an email that isn’t centered solely on you, but make your request clear and suggest times for a call a few weeks out.

Example

Hi Brian,

I drove by one of your stores today and it reminded me to reach out again. How is the new job going? Are there any realizations (good or bad) that you weren’t expecting?

Similar to where you were last year, I’m starting to think about launching a job search myself and would welcome your thoughts on my approach. I have a few specific companies in mind and wanted to pick your brain on fit. I will never forget the advice you gave me when I started here and you were spot on. No rush, but hoping we might find time for a call or meeting in the coming weeks. Are there any windows that work best for you? I really appreciate your support, as always, and look forward to catching up.

Introducing yourself to a new contact

If you haven’t spoken with a contact previously, it’s going to be harder to personalize your emails.

Don’t let that deter you; as mentioned before, there is often enough on LinkedIn or the company website to help you get started. Remember, while you may not know too much about them, this will aid you in writing a targeted message.

Do not write long emails filled with details about your experience to fill the space. Explain your reason for reaching out, attach your résumé to fill in the details on your background, and keep the focus on your recipient as much as possible.

Example

Hi Sarah,

I’m glad Tim connected us. He spoke highly of your expertise and I also saw on LinkedIn that you previously worked at ABC Company. I’ve done business with them many times over the years and wonder if we crossed paths at any point.

I hope we can find time in the coming weeks to connect for a call. As Tim mentioned, I’m launching a job search and am planning to apply to XYZ’s Finance Director role posted online. While I know you don’t work in that area of the business, I’d appreciate any insight you might have into the mission and culture at XYZ. I realize you are fairly new there, so I’d love to understand your early impressions on joining the team. I’ve attached my résumé to give you a little more information on my background and look forward to talking soon. Please let me know a few dates/times that would work well on your end and I’ll look to match availability.

*See Job Search Workbook: Part 3 for additional worksheets and exercises on this topic.

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