Outreach message templates¶

Copy-paste messages for every step of a big-tech search, from the first LinkedIn note to withdrawing an application. Each one has when to use it, the template, and a filled example with its length.

Before you copy anything¶

Fill every [Bracket]. Delete any bracket you cannot fill truthfully.
Change at least one line so it is about them. Jugal's rule: "change at least one line so it's about them, not you" (7 videos on networking).
Put one job ID in every message that is about a role. A job ID lets a recruiter find your application.
Keep LinkedIn connection notes under 200 characters. That is LinkedIn's limit for a personalized note (LinkedIn Help: personalize invitations).
Keep emails between 50 and 125 words. Boomerang's study of 40 million emails found that range got the most replies (Boomerang).
Send at most 3 touches per person: 1 first message and 2 follow-ups. Hunter's data on 31 million emails found three emails was the useful maximum (Hunter State of Email Outreach 2026).
Read the message out loud before sending. Cut any sentence you would not say to the person's face.

Limit or rule	Number	Source
LinkedIn personalized note	200 characters	LinkedIn Help a563153
Personalized notes on a free account	3 to 5 a month (LinkedIn's own help pages say 3 and 5)	a563153, a550555
Messages to 1st-degree connections	Free	LinkedIn Help a702683
Cold email length	50 to 125 words	Boomerang
Subject line	3 to 4 words did best	Boomerang
Touches per person	3 max	Hunter 2026
People per company per wave	1 to 2	Hunter 2026

Watch out: Filled examples use invented people (Priya, a Purdue CS junior applying for internships; Rahul, a Purdue M.S. CS student on F-1 graduating May 2027; Alex, a backend engineer with 2 years of experience), invented job IDs, and invented numbers. Put only true numbers in your own messages. You will be asked about every one.

Tip: Jugal's own templates appear verbatim with a link to the post. They are lightly edited for this site only where the style rules require it: long dashes, emojis, and exclamation marks removed, and ranges written as "15 to 20".

Template index¶

ID	Situation	Channel
C1 to C12	First LinkedIn connection note (under 200 characters)	LinkedIn
A1 to A7	First message after someone accepts	LinkedIn
M1 to M5	Cold message asking for a 15-minute chat	Email or LinkedIn
R1 to R10	Referral asks to a friend, alumnus, engineer, or stranger; the 3-line blurb; asking a mutual for an intro	Any
E1 to E6	Recruiter emails after you apply and before a role is posted; hiring team button; professors	Email or LinkedIn
H1 to H4	Cold email to a hiring manager	Email
F1 to F6	Follow-ups at day 3, day 5 to 7, and about day 14	Email or LinkedIn
P1 to P10	After the OA, scheduling, thank-you, timeline, deadlines, withdrawing, rejection, rescheduling, interview format, reapplying	Email
I1 to I5	Replies to a recruiter InMail or email	LinkedIn or email
V1 to V2	Career fair and event follow-ups	Email
K1 to K4	Thank-yous, referrer updates, check-ins	Any

LinkedIn connection notes¶

Use these only when a note adds a reason to accept. Free accounts get 3 to 5 personalized notes a month, so spend them on hiring managers, alumni, and engineers on your top teams. For everyone else, send the request without a note, then send an A-series message after they accept.

Tip: People can reply to your note without accepting the request (LinkedIn Help a563153). If a Premium member has Open Profile on, the Message button works without a connection or an InMail credit, so use that instead of a note (LinkedIn Help a545663).

Tip: Premium removes the note limit. Jugal's How I Got LinkedIn Premium for Free has a DM asking LinkedIn employees who took the Plus One Pledge whether they know of any Premium offers. He calls it a long shot: send a few personal messages, follow up once, then move on.

C1. Engineer whose work you read¶

When to use: they wrote a post, blog, talk, or PR you actually read, and they work on a team you want.

Hi [Name], your post on [topic] changed how I think about [X]. I'm a [year] CS student at [School] applying to [Company] [role]. Would love to connect.

Filled example (167 characters; blank template 151):

Hi Maya, your post on Kafka retries changed how I think about idempotency. I'm a junior CS student at Purdue applying to Stripe SWE internships. Would love to connect.

C2. University recruiter after you apply¶

When to use: interns and new grads, after you submit the application, to the recruiter who covers your school or region.

Hi [Name], I'm a [year] CS student at [School] and applied to [Company]'s [role] ([Job ID]). I'd like to connect and follow your campus events.

Filled example (161 characters; blank template 143):

Hi Daniel, I'm a junior CS student at Purdue and applied to Amazon's Summer 2027 SDE Intern role (ID 3012345). I'd like to connect and follow your campus events.

C3. Technical recruiter after you apply¶

When to use: 0 to 3 years of experience, to a technical recruiter who hires for the org you applied to.

Hi [Name], I'm a [role] with [N] years in [stack] and applied to [Company]'s [role] ([Job ID]). Would love to connect in case my profile fits.

Filled example (184 characters; blank template 142):

Hi Daniel, I'm a backend engineer with 2 years in Java and AWS and applied to Meta's Software Engineer, Infrastructure role (ID 1234567). Would love to connect in case my profile fits.

C4. Alumni¶

When to use: someone from your school at your target company, found with the LinkedIn Alumni tool.

Hi [Name], fellow [School] [major] here. I'm applying to [Company] for [role] and would love to hear how you went from [School] to [team]. Open to connecting?

Filled example (164 characters; blank template 158):

Hi Arjun, fellow Purdue CS here. I'm applying to Google for SWE new grad roles and would love to hear how you went from Purdue to Cloud Storage. Open to connecting?

C5. Hiring manager after you apply¶

When to use: the manager of the exact team, after you apply. Keep the project line short or you will pass 200 characters.

Hi [Name], I saw your team is hiring a [role]. I built [project + number] and applied today ([Job ID]). Would love to connect in case it's a fit.

Filled example (163 characters; blank template 145):

Hi Sarah, I saw your team is hiring a new grad SWE. I built a rate limiter that held 20k req/s in load tests and applied today (ID 3012345). Would love to connect.

C6. Someone who posted "we're hiring"¶

When to use: an engineer or manager posted that their team is hiring. Reply within a day or two of the post.

Hi [Name], saw your post that [team] is hiring [role]. I'm a [credential] and applied today ([Job ID]). Happy to send a 3-line summary if useful.

Filled example (175 characters; blank template 145):

Hi Sarah, saw your post that Payments is hiring new grads. I'm a Purdue CS senior with a Stripe-API side project (400 users) and applied today. Happy to send a 3-line summary.

C7. Speaker after a talk, webinar, or panel¶

When to use: same day as the talk. This is the message behind Jugal's first internship: a thank-you to a virtual career fair speaker led to a call, an intro, and an internship three months later (The One Skill post).

Hi [Name], thank you for your talk at [event] on [topic]. The part about [X] was the most useful thing I heard all week. Would love to connect.

Filled example (174 characters; blank template 143):

Hi Lena, thank you for your talk at the campus SRE meetup on on-call. The part about writing runbooks first was the most useful thing I heard all week. Would love to connect.

C8. Recruiter you met at a career fair booth¶

When to use: the evening of the fair, after you apply to the role they mentioned. Pair it with the V1 email.

Hi [Name], thanks for the chat at the [Company] booth at [Fair] about [topic]. I applied to [role] ([Job ID]) tonight. Would love to stay connected.

Filled example (174 characters; blank template 148):

Hi Daniel, thanks for the chat at the Amazon booth at the Purdue fall fair about AWS intern teams. I applied to SDE Intern (ID 3012345) tonight. Would love to stay connected.

C9. Mutual connection who suggested you reach out¶

When to use: only if the mutual connection actually suggested it. If not, use C1 or C4.

Hi [Name], [Mutual name] suggested I reach out. I'm a [year] [major] at [School] interested in [team or area] at [Company]. Would love to connect.

Filled example (141 characters; blank template 146):

Hi Kevin, Rohan Mehta suggested I reach out. I'm a senior CS major at Purdue interested in Azure Storage at Microsoft. Would love to connect.

C10. Maintainer of an open-source repo you contributed to¶

When to use: after your issue or PR is merged in a repo the company owns or the engineer maintains.

Hi [Name], I use [repo] and just had my first PR merged ([PR link or #]). I'm a [year] CS student applying to [Company]. Would love to connect.

Filled example (171 characters; blank template 143):

Hi Tom, I use the Cloudflare workers-sdk and just had my first docs PR merged last week. I'm a junior CS student applying to Cloudflare internships. Would love to connect.

C11. Jugal's connection note¶

When to use: anyone whose path you want to follow. Jugal says to keep it to 2 or 3 lines. Source: 7 videos on networking your way to offers.

Hi [Name], I'm a [role / student at school] targeting [role] roles. Your [post on X / move from A to B at Company] is exactly the path I'm trying to take. Would love to connect.

Filled example (167 characters; blank template 177):

Hi Arjun, I'm a CS student at Purdue targeting SWE new grad roles. Your move from Purdue to Google Cloud is exactly the path I'm trying to take. Would love to connect.

C12. Campus recruiter in India¶

When to use: Indian B.Tech or M.Tech students, to the campus or university hiring team for India roles.

Hi [Name], I'm a [year] B.Tech CSE student at [College] and applied to [Company]'s [role] ([Job ID]). Would love to connect and follow your campus drives.

Filled example (178 characters; blank template 154):

Hi Neha, I'm a final-year B.Tech CSE student at VIT and applied to Microsoft's Software Engineer, New Grad role in Hyderabad. Would love to connect and follow your campus drives.

First message after they accept¶

After they accept, you are 1st-degree connections and can message for free. No 200-character limit applies here, but keep it under 100 words.

A1. Chat request after they accept¶

When to use: the default first message to an engineer, alumnus, or manager.

Thanks for connecting, [Name].

Quick context: I'm a [year] [major] at [School] and I've applied to [role] ([Job ID]) on [team].

Would you have 15 minutes in the next two weeks to tell me what the team looks for in [interns / new grads]? Happy to work around your calendar.

If now is a busy stretch, no worries at all. Thanks for reading.
[Your name]

Filled example (70 words):

Thanks for connecting, Arjun.

Quick context: I'm an M.S. CS student at Purdue graduating May 2027 and I've applied to Software Engineer, Early Career (ID 8412233) on Google Cloud.

Would you have 15 minutes in the next two weeks to tell me what the team looks for in new grads? Happy to work around your calendar.

If now is a busy stretch, no worries at all. Thanks for reading.
Rahul

A2. Jugal's informational interview request¶

When to use: someone whose career move you want to understand. Source: Jugal's Holy Grail of Networking guide.

Hi [Name],

Thank you for connecting. I'm really interested in learning more about your journey from [previous role] to [current role] at [company].

Would you be open to a brief 15 to 20 minute virtual coffee chat? I'm particularly curious about [specific aspect of their work/industry].

I'm happy to work around your schedule.

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Filled example (61 words):

Hi Arjun,

Thank you for connecting. I'm really interested in learning more about your journey from SWE intern to Software Engineer at Google Cloud.

Would you be open to a brief 15 to 20 minute virtual coffee chat? I'm particularly curious about how your team picks which new grads to interview.

I'm happy to work around your schedule.

Best regards,
Rahul

A3. Jugal's job interest follow-up¶

When to use: you know the company has a matching open role and you want a conversation about it. Source: Holy Grail of Networking guide.

Hello [Name],

Thanks for connecting. I saw that [Company] is hiring for [Position] and I'm very interested in the opportunity.

I have [relevant experience/skills] and am particularly drawn to [specific company value/project/mission].

Would you be available for a brief conversation about the role and team? I'd love to learn more about what makes [Company] a great place to work.

I've attached my resume for your reference.

Best,
[Your Name]

Filled example (78 words):

Hello Sarah,

Thanks for connecting. I saw that Stripe is hiring for Software Engineer, New Grad and I'm very interested in the opportunity.

I have two internships building payment APIs in Java and am particularly drawn to Stripe's work on idempotent APIs.

Would you be available for a brief conversation about the role and team? I'd love to learn more about what makes Stripe a great place to work.

I've attached my resume for your reference.

Best,
Rahul

A4. Jugal's value-first message¶

When to use: someone senior you want a relationship with, not a favor from, yet. Source: Holy Grail of Networking guide.

Hi [Name],

I hope you're doing well. I recently read [article/news about their company/industry] and thought you might find this insight interesting: [share a brief, relevant insight or article].

As someone working in [their field], I'd love to hear your thoughts on [relevant industry trend/challenge].

Would you be open to a brief chat sometime?

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Filled example (72 words):

Hi Lena,

I hope you're doing well. I recently read your team's postmortem on the March outage and thought you might find this insight interesting: the same retry storm shows up in the Google SRE book's chapter on cascading failures.

As someone working in SRE, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how teams decide when to add circuit breakers.

Would you be open to a brief chat sometime?

Best regards,
Priya

A5. Jugal's alumni message (long version)¶

When to use: after an alumnus accepts. At 248 to 307 characters, Jugal's Notion connection templates do not fit the 200-character note, so send them as the first message instead. Source: Holy Grail of Networking guide.

Hi [Name],

I noticed we're both [University] alumni. I'm currently [your status/year] studying [major/field] and would love to connect with fellow [mascot/alumni].

I'm particularly interested in learning about your experience at [their company]. Would you be open to connecting?

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Filled example (44 words):

Hi Arjun,

I noticed we're both Purdue alumni. I'm currently a first-year M.S. student studying computer science and would love to connect with fellow Boilermakers.

I'm particularly interested in learning about your experience at Google. Would you be open to connecting?

Best regards,
Rahul

A6. Jugal's mutual connection message (long version)¶

When to use: you share a real mutual connection. Source: Holy Grail of Networking guide.

Hi [Name],

I see we're both connected with [Mutual Connection's Name]. I'm a [your background] interested in [industry/role] and would appreciate the opportunity to connect and learn from your insights.

Looking forward to connecting.

[Your Name]

Filled example (43 words):

Hi Kevin,

I see we're both connected with Rohan Mehta. I'm a Purdue CS senior who interned on a storage team interested in distributed storage roles and would appreciate the opportunity to connect and learn from your insights.

Looking forward to connecting.

Priya

A7. Jugal's industry interest message (long version)¶

When to use: someone whose work you admire, with no school or mutual link. Source: Holy Grail of Networking guide.

Hello [Name],

I came across your profile and was impressed by your work in [specific area/project]. As someone exploring opportunities in [industry/field], I'd love to connect and learn from your experience.

Thank you for considering.

Best,
[Your Name]

Filled example (40 words):

Hello Maya,

I came across your profile and was impressed by your work in Stripe's webhook delivery system. As someone exploring opportunities in payments infrastructure, I'd love to connect and learn from your experience.

Thank you for considering.

Best,
Priya

Cold messages asking for a 15-minute chat¶

Ask for a conversation, not a job. A chat is a small yes. The referral comes after.

M1. Jugal's 15-minute chat email¶

When to use: the default cold email to an engineer or alumnus you have not met. Source: 7 videos on networking your way to offers.

Subject: Quick question about [team] at [Company]
Hi [Name],
I'm [Name], [one line credential]. I read your [specific post, project, or talk] and [one line on what stuck with you].
I'm applying to [role] at [Company] and would love 15 minutes to hear what the team actually looks for. Happy to work around your calendar.
Thanks either way, [Name]

Filled example (67 words):

Subject: Quick question about Payments at Stripe
Hi Maya,
I'm Priya, a Purdue CS junior who has shipped two Stripe-API side projects. I read your post on Kafka retries and the idempotency-key section fixed a double-charge bug in my own app.
I'm applying to the Summer 2027 SWE internship at Stripe and would love 15 minutes to hear what the team actually looks for. Happy to work around your calendar.
Thanks either way, Priya

M2. Jugal's favorite cold message¶

When to use: email or LinkedIn message to someone on a team you admire. Source: I Used AI to Apply for 100+ Jobs Without Burning Out. His tip in that post: send it at 8:00 AM.

Hi [Name],
I came across your work on [Project or Team], and it really resonated with me because [Reason].
I'm currently exploring opportunities in [Field/Role] and admire [Specific quality about company/work culture].
Would you be open to a quick 15-minute chat to share your experience?
Thanks so much,
[Your Name]

Filled example (62 words):

Hi Lena,
I came across your work on Cloudflare's rate limiting docs, and it really resonated with me because I built a token-bucket limiter for my distributed systems class.
I'm currently exploring opportunities in edge infrastructure and admire how your team publishes postmortems in public.
Would you be open to a quick 15-minute chat to share your experience?
Thanks so much,
Priya

M3. Jugal's "admiring your work" email¶

When to use: there is an open role and the person's work connects to it. Source: The One Skill That Can Unlock Every Opportunity. Jugal reuses it in The New Grad and Internship prep for 2026 and in his AI job application tools post, where he finds the address with Apollo or Hunter first (finding people).

Subject: Admiring Your Work at [Company Name]
Hello [Name],
I've been following your work on [specific project/achievement], and I found it inspiring because [specific reason].
I'm a [Your Occupation & Specialization], and I'm interested in the [Job Position] at [Company Name]. I admire [one aspect of their company culture/work that resonates with you].
In my recent [project/internship], I [specific achievement]. My strengths in [relevant skills] make me confident that I'd be a strong fit for [Company Name].
Would you be open to a 15-minute chat to discuss your experience at [Company Name]?
Role link: [Insert link]
Resume attached
Thank you for your time,
[Your Name]

Filled example (111 words):

Subject: Admiring Your Work at Stripe
Hello Maya,
I've been following your work on webhook delivery, and I found it inspiring because you explained retries with real failure numbers.
I'm a backend engineer focused on Java and AWS, and I'm interested in the Software Engineer, Payments role at Stripe. I admire how Stripe writes API docs first.
In my recent role, I cut duplicate payment events by 30% with idempotency keys. My strengths in API design and testing make me confident that I'd be a strong fit for Stripe.
Would you be open to a 15-minute chat to discuss your experience at Stripe?
Role link: [link to the posting]
Resume attached
Thank you for your time,
Alex

M4. Jugal's "common ground" email¶

When to use: you share something real with the person (school, project, path). Jugal labeled this "Cold Email Template that gave me 5 interviews last month" in The One Skill post. His 2026 post says most cold emails die because they open with "I hope this email finds you well" and a life story (7 videos on networking), so the filled example drops the greeting line and leads with the common ground.

Subject: Love the work that you do on [their work/common ground] at [Company]
Hello [Name],
Hope you are doing well.
[Find common ground between you and that person to get replies]
I'm a [Your Occupation & Specialization]
I believe my background in [your skills/experience] is very similar to yours, with [their goals and experiences].
I'd love to explore an opportunity to talk to you and connect.
Looking forward to your response.
Thank you for your time,
[Your Name]

Filled example (76 words):

Subject: Love the work that you do on search ranking at Pinterest
Hello Arjun,
We both did the Purdue data mining course with Prof. Lee, and your talk on ranking experiments is why I took it.
I'm an M.S. CS student specializing in recommender systems.
I believe my background in learning-to-rank projects is very similar to yours, with your move from research into ranking infrastructure.
I'd love to explore an opportunity to talk to you and connect.
Looking forward to your response.
Thank you for your time,
Rahul

M5. Quant or HFT guidance ask¶

When to use: engineers at trading firms (Jane Street, Hudson River Trading, Citadel). Transcribed from the image in Jugal's How to break into $300K+ HFT roles. See the Jane Street, Hudson River Trading, and Citadel pages.

Hi [Name],

I'm a [Year] CS/Math student at [University], and I'm fascinated by the intersection of low-latency systems and quantitative research. I'm preparing for roles in firms like [Company] and would be grateful for any guidance or a quick 15-minute chat on how to best position myself.

Thanks in advance,
[Your Name]

Filled example (53 words):

Hi Tom,

I'm a third-year CS/Math student at Purdue, and I'm fascinated by the intersection of low-latency systems and quantitative research. I'm preparing for roles in firms like Hudson River Trading and would be grateful for any guidance or a quick 15-minute chat on how to best position myself.

Thanks in advance,
Priya

Referral asks¶

Ask for a referral only after a real conversation, unless the person already knows your work. Cold referrals from strangers were net negative for FAANG in interviewing.io's survey (interviewing.io part 1). How company referral systems work is on the referrals page.

Every referral ask includes the packet: job ID and link, tailored resume PDF, the 3-line blurb (R8), how you know each other, and the email you will apply with. Jugal: "Make the referral take them 60 seconds, not 10 minutes."

R1. Friend or ex-colleague¶

When to use: someone who knows you or your work. This is the strongest referral you can get.

It runs past 125 words because it carries the whole packet, which is fine for someone who knows you. Over text or WhatsApp, send the first two lines and the rest as a second message.

Hey [Name], hope [personal line].

I'm applying to [role] at [Company] (Job ID [ID]: [link]). Would you be up for referring me?

To make it quick, here's everything the form usually asks:
- Resume: attached (tailored to this role)
- Email I'm applying with: [email]
- How we know each other: [we worked together at X / classmates in Y]
- 3-line summary you can paste:
  [Name] is a [degree, School, graduating Month Year]. [He/She/They] [best result with a number]. Applying to [role] because [one specific reason tied to the team].

Totally fine to say no if it's awkward. Thanks either way.
[Your name]

Filled example (135 words):

Hey Kevin, hope the new team at Azure is treating you well.

I'm applying to Software Engineer, New Grad at Microsoft (Job ID 1970393556: [link]). Would you be up for referring me?

To make it quick, here's everything the form usually asks:
- Resume: attached (tailored to this role)
- Email I'm applying with: rahul.k@example.com
- How we know each other: we were TAs together for CS 252 in Fall 2025
- 3-line summary you can paste:
  Rahul is an M.S. CS student at Purdue, graduating May 2027. He built a log-search service that cut query time from 9s to 1.2s for 300 lab users. Applying to Azure Storage because he wants to work on the durability problems from his distributed systems thesis.

Totally fine to say no if it's awkward. Thanks either way.
Rahul

R2. Alumnus you have not met¶

When to use: alumni at the company. Ask for the chat first; offer the referral packet only if the chat goes well.

Subject: [School] [major] student, question about [team] at [Company]

Hi [Name],

I'm [Name], a [year] in [major] at [School] (we were both in [club / lab / course]). I'm applying to [role] at [Company] (Job ID [ID]).

Could I get 15 minutes in the next two weeks to hear how you went from [School] to [team]? I'm free [two windows with time zone].

If after that you'd feel comfortable referring me, I'll send a ready-to-paste summary so it takes you a minute.

Thanks either way,
[Name]
[LinkedIn URL] | [GitHub or site]

Filled example (88 words):

Subject: Purdue CS student, question about Cloud Storage at Google

Hi Arjun,

I'm Rahul, a first-year M.S. student in CS at Purdue (we were both in the Purdue Systems Lab). I'm applying to Software Engineer, Early Career at Google (Job ID 8412233).

Could I get 15 minutes in the next two weeks to hear how you went from Purdue to Cloud Storage? I'm free Tue or Thu, 5 to 7 PM Eastern.

If after that you'd feel comfortable referring me, I'll send a ready-to-paste summary so it takes you a minute.

Thanks either way,
Rahul
linkedin.com/in/[your-handle] | github.com/[your-handle]

R3. Jugal's referral ask after a call¶

When to use: same day or next day after a good conversation. Source: 7 videos on networking your way to offers.

Thanks again for the time on [day]. What you said about [specific thing] changed how I'm approaching the role. I've applied to [job title, job ID]. If you're comfortable referring me, here's my resume and a 3 line summary you can paste straight into the form: [summary].

Filled example (96 words):

Thanks again for the time on Tuesday. What you said about Google caring more about how I test than how fast I code changed how I'm approaching the role. I've applied to Software Engineer, Early Career, ID 8412233. If you're comfortable referring me, here's my resume and a 3 line summary you can paste straight into the form: Rahul is an M.S. CS student at Purdue, graduating May 2027. He built a log-search service that cut query time from 9s to 1.2s for 300 lab users. Applying to Cloud Storage because his thesis is on replication.

R4. Stranger with real common ground¶

When to use: sparingly. Only when you have something specific (their post fixed your bug, you used their library). Give an easy no.

Subject: Your [talk / post / PR] on [topic]

Hi [Name],

Your [post on X] helped me fix [specific problem] in [my project], which now [result with a number].

I'm applying to [role] ([Job ID]) on [team or org]. I know you don't know me, so no pressure. If a 2-minute look at my profile ([LinkedIn URL]) makes you think I'm a fit, would you be open to a 15-minute chat, or comfortable referring me? A quick "not a fit" helps me too.

Thanks,
[Name]

Filled example (86 words):

Subject: Your post on webhook retries

Hi Maya,

Your post on webhook retries helped me fix duplicate events in my campus-store payments app, which now handles 400 orders a week with zero double charges.

I'm applying to the Summer 2027 SWE Intern role (ID 7712345) on Payments. I know you don't know me, so no pressure. If a 2-minute look at my profile (linkedin.com/in/[your-handle]) makes you think I'm a fit, would you be open to a 15-minute chat, or comfortable referring me? A quick "not a fit" helps me too.

Thanks,
Priya

R5. Jugal's direct referral email¶

When to use: hiring managers or senior engineers when you have a strong one-line proof and the role is live. Source: The Job Hunt I Didn't Burn Out Doing.

Subject: Interest in [Job Position] at [Company Name]
Hi [Name],
Hope you're doing well. I'm a [Your Role], and I'm interested in the [Job Position] at [Company].
I've worked on [One-liner about your best project/impact].
My background in [Relevant Skills] aligns with [Company Initiative or Product].
Would love to connect or be considered for a referral.
Here's the role: [Insert link]
Resume attached.
Thanks,
[Your Name]

Filled example (72 words):

Subject: Interest in SDE I at Amazon
Hi Kevin,
Hope you're doing well. I'm a backend engineer, and I'm interested in the SDE I, Amazon Fresh role at Amazon.
I've worked on an order-routing service that cut late deliveries by 12% across 40 stores.
My background in Java, DynamoDB, and event-driven systems aligns with Fresh's same-day delivery push.
Would love to connect or be considered for a referral.
Here's the role: [link to the posting]
Resume attached.
Thanks,
Alex

R6. Jugal's internship cold message¶

When to use: internship roles at smaller teams or startups where one person can move you to an interview. Jugal's timing: follow up in 7 to 10 days.

Source: How I Landed My Internship (Before My Year Ends). The published post lost some of its fill-in markers when it rendered, so they are restored here in brackets.

Subject: Internship Opportunity at [Company]
Hello [Name],
Hope you are doing well.
I'm a [skills and experience in 1 to 2 lines]. I feel I will be a great fit at [Company], which focuses on [what the company focuses on]. Please let me know if you'd be open to giving me an opportunity to interview or provide a referral. I appreciate your support.
Link to the role: [link]
Resume attached
Thank you for your time,
[Your Name]

Filled example (83 words):

Subject: Internship Opportunity at Ramp
Hello Sarah,
Hope you are doing well.
I'm a Purdue CS junior who built a receipt-parsing app in Python used by 3 student orgs for reimbursements. I feel I will be a great fit at Ramp, which focuses on automating finance work for companies. Please let me know if you'd be open to giving me an opportunity to interview or provide a referral. I appreciate your support.
Link to the role: [link to the posting]
Resume attached
Thank you for your time,
Priya

R7. Jugal's Referral Engine closing line¶

When to use: as the last two lines of any cold referral email, including the AI-drafted ones from Jugal's n8n workflow. Source: The Referral Engine. Setup steps are on the n8n automation page.

If it seems like a fit, would you be open to referring me for {{Position}}? Here's the link: {{URL}}. I'm attaching my resume and my LinkedIn for a quick skim.

Filled example (36 words):

If it seems like a fit, would you be open to referring me for Software Engineer, New Grad? Here's the link: [link to the posting]. I'm attaching my resume and my LinkedIn for a quick skim.

R8. The 3-line referral blurb¶

When to use: inside every referral ask. Many referral forms have a free-text box; this is what your referrer pastes there. Reuse your best resume bullet (see writing bullets).

[Full name] is a [B.S./M.S.] [major] student at [School], graduating [Month Year].
[He/She/They] [built/shipped X] that [result: number, users, latency, accuracy], and [second proof: internship, open source, award].
Applying to [role, Job ID] because [specific reason tied to the team's product or tech].

Filled example (59 words):

Priya Shah is a B.S. Computer Science student at Purdue, graduating May 2028.
She built a payments app for the campus store that processes 400 orders a week, and interned on the backend team at a fintech startup in Summer 2026.
Applying to SWE Intern, ID 7712345, because she wants to work on Stripe's payment retry and idempotency systems.

R9. When the referrer says yes¶

When to use: they replied "sure, send me your stuff". Send everything in one message so they never have to ask twice.

Thank you, [Name], really appreciate it.

Everything in one place:
- Role: [title], Job ID [ID], [link]
- Resume: attached as [Firstname_Lastname_Resume.pdf]
- Email I'll apply with: [email]
- How we know each other: [one honest line]
- Summary to paste: [3-line blurb]
- Graduation: [Month Year]. Work authorization: [line, if relevant]

[Company-specific line, e.g. "I'll wait for the referral email and apply through that link."]

I'll let you know how it goes at each step.
[Your name]

Filled example (128 words):

Thank you, Kevin, really appreciate it.

Everything in one place:
- Role: Software Engineer, New Grad, Job ID 1970393556, [link]
- Resume: attached as Rahul_Kumar_Resume.pdf
- Email I'll apply with: rahul.k@example.com
- How we know each other: we were TAs together for CS 252 in Fall 2025
- Summary to paste: Rahul is an M.S. CS student at Purdue, graduating May 2027. He built a log-search service that cut query time from 9s to 1.2s for 300 lab users. Applying to Azure Storage because his thesis is on replication.
- Graduation: May 2027. Work authorization: F-1, eligible for OPT and the STEM OPT extension.

I'll wait for the referral email from Microsoft and apply through that link.

I'll let you know how it goes at each step.
Rahul

R10. Ask a mutual contact for an intro¶

When to use: a friend, professor, TA, or ex-colleague knows someone on your target team. Ask for a double opt-in intro: they check with the person first and connect you only on a yes. Give them a note they can forward unchanged.

Hi [Mutual's name],

Quick favor, and an easy no is fine. I saw you know [Target name], who works on [team] at [Company]. I'm applying to [role] (Job ID [ID]) and would value 15 minutes with them about the team.

If you're comfortable, could you forward the note below and ask if they're open to it? Please only connect us if they say yes.

[Your name] is a [year] [major] at [School], graduating [Month Year]. [One proof with a number]. [He/She/They] applied to [role] (Job ID [ID]) and would like 15 minutes to hear what [team] looks for. LinkedIn: [URL]

Thanks either way,
[Your name]

Filled example (125 words):

Hi Professor Lee,

Quick favor, and an easy no is fine. I saw you know Arjun Rao, who works on Cloud Storage at Google. I'm applying to Software Engineer, Early Career (Job ID 8412233) and would value 15 minutes with him about the team.

If you're comfortable, could you forward the note below and ask if he's open to it? Please only connect us if he says yes.

Rahul Kumar is an M.S. CS student at Purdue, graduating May 2027. He built a log-search service that cut query time from 9s to 1.2s for 300 lab users. He applied to Software Engineer, Early Career (Job ID 8412233) and would like 15 minutes to hear what Cloud Storage looks for. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/[your-handle]

Thanks either way,
Rahul

Recruiter and professor emails¶

Apply first, then write, so the recruiter can find your application by its job ID. interviewing.io's survey found cold outreach to recruiters net negative at FAANG unless you already match what they source for, so keep these short and specific (interviewing.io part 1).

E1. University recruiter after you apply¶

When to use: interns and new grads, 1 to 3 days after applying.

Subject: [Summer 2027 SWE Intern] applicant, Job ID [ID]

Hi [Name],

I'm [Full Name], a [year] in [major] at [School], graduating [Month Year]. I applied to [role] (Job ID [ID]) on [date].

Two things that match the role:
- [Project or internship]: [result with a number]
- [Skill from the job description]: [where you used it, with a number]

Is there anything else you need from me to be considered this cycle?

Thanks,
[Name]
[LinkedIn URL] | [Resume link] | [Work authorization line, if relevant]

Filled example (77 words):

Subject: Summer 2027 SDE Intern applicant, Job ID 3012345

Hi Daniel,

I'm Priya Shah, a junior in Computer Science at Purdue, graduating May 2028. I applied to SDE Intern (Job ID 3012345) on October 2.

Two things that match the role:
- Campus-store payments app: 400 orders a week, zero double charges
- Distributed systems: built a Raft-based key-value store in Go that survived 50 fault-injection runs

Is there anything else you need from me to be considered this cycle?

Thanks,
Priya
linkedin.com/in/[your-handle] | [resume link]

E2. Technical recruiter after you apply¶

When to use: 0 to 3 years of experience, to the recruiter for that org or location.

Subject: [Role], Job ID [ID], [N] years in [stack]

Hi [Name],

I applied to [role] (Job ID [ID]) on [date]. I'm a [title] at [Company] with [N] years in [stack].

Most relevant:
- [Result with a number that maps to the job description]
- [Second result with a number]

I'm open to [location / remote] and can interview [availability]. Happy to send anything else that helps.

Thanks,
[Name]
[LinkedIn URL]

Filled example (86 words):

Subject: SWE Infrastructure, Job ID 1234567, 2 years in Java

Hi Daniel,

I applied to Software Engineer, Infrastructure (Job ID 1234567) on October 1. I'm a backend engineer at a Series B fintech with 2 years in Java, Kafka, and AWS.

Most relevant:
- Cut p99 latency on our payments API from 800 ms to 240 ms
- Led the migration of 14 services to Kubernetes with zero customer-facing downtime

I'm open to Menlo Park or Seattle and can interview any weekday after 3 PM Pacific. Happy to send anything else that helps.

Thanks,
Alex
linkedin.com/in/[your-handle]

E3. Jugal's message for the LinkedIn hiring team button¶

When to use: a LinkedIn job post shows a "Meet the hiring team" section. LinkedIn lets you message everyone listed there, including the job poster (LinkedIn Help: jobs through social hiring). Source: The One Skill post.

Hello [Recipient's Name],
I hope you're doing well.
I recently applied for the [Role] position at [Company], and I wanted to take a moment to express my enthusiasm.
Over the past [X years/months], I've [briefly mention one or two relevant achievements, skills, or experiences, e.g., led a project that improved X by Y% or interned at Z where I gained experience in A].
What excites me most about this opportunity is [one or two lines about what draws you to the company or role, e.g., the company's mission, growth opportunities, team culture, or specific project].
If there's anything I can clarify or expand on, I'd be happy to provide more details.
I'd also love the opportunity to connect and learn more about your work at [Company].

Filled example (106 words):

Hello Sarah,
I hope you're doing well.
I recently applied for the Software Engineer, New Grad position at Stripe, and I wanted to take a moment to express my enthusiasm.
Over the past 2 years, I've interned on two payments teams, where I cut failed card retries by 18% with smarter backoff.
What excites me most about this opportunity is Stripe's work on payment reliability, which is the problem I chose for my master's project.
If there's anything I can clarify or expand on, I'd be happy to provide more details.
I'd also love the opportunity to connect and learn more about your work at Stripe.

E4. Short LinkedIn message to a recruiter you are connected to¶

When to use: the recruiter accepted your C2 or C3 note. Keep it to 3 lines.

Thanks for connecting, [Name]. I applied to [role] ([Job ID]) on [date]. [One proof with a number]. If my profile fits another open role better, I'd be glad to hear it.

Filled example (39 words):

Thanks for connecting, Daniel. I applied to SDE Intern (ID 3012345) on October 2. I built a payments app that handles 400 orders a week. If my profile fits another open role better, I'd be glad to hear it.

E5. Professor or lab (research, TA, or intro to industry)¶

When to use: research internships, TA roles, or asking a professor for an intro. Follow up after 7 to 10 days.

This is Jugal's TA email, the one that got him a TA role with a 100% tuition waiver (The $0 Masters in the US: Just One Email). His tip: grad students and lab managers often do the shortlisting, so email them too.

Subject: TA Opportunity for [Course Name], [Semester]

Dear Professor [Last Name],
I'm [Your Name], a [Year, Major] student, and I wanted to express interest in a TA position for [Course Name] this upcoming [Fall/Spring]. I earned an A in the course and have experience tutoring [Subject/Topic].
I'd be grateful for any opportunity to support your course and contribute meaningfully. Please let me know if there's a formal process I should follow.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best,
[Your Name]
[University, Contact Info]

Filled example (79 words):

Subject: TA Opportunity for CS 252, Spring 2027

Dear Professor Lee,
I'm Rahul Kumar, a first-year M.S. Computer Science student, and I wanted to express interest in a TA position for CS 252 this upcoming Spring. I earned an A in the course and have experience tutoring systems programming.
I'd be grateful for any opportunity to support your course and contribute meaningfully. Please let me know if there's a formal process I should follow.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best,
Rahul Kumar
Purdue University, rahul.k@example.com

E6. University recruiter before the role is posted¶

When to use: the role you want has not been posted yet this cycle. Ask one question and give the recruiter a reason to remember you, not a referral or interview request.

When the role opens, apply within the first week and send E1.

Subject: [School] [year], [Company] [role type] for [season]

Hi [Name],

I'm [Full Name], a [year] in [major] at [School], graduating [Month Year]. I plan to apply to [Company]'s [role type] for [season] as soon as it opens.

[One proof with a number.]

Is there a campus event, info session, or talent community I should join so I don't miss the posting?

Thanks,
[Name]
[LinkedIn URL]

Filled example (71 words):

Subject: Purdue junior, Meta SWE internship for Summer 2027

Hi Lena,

I'm Priya Shah, a junior in Computer Science at Purdue, graduating May 2028. I plan to apply to Meta's Software Engineer Intern role for Summer 2027 as soon as it opens.

I built a campus-store payments app that handles 400 orders a week with zero double charges.

Is there a campus event, info session, or talent community I should join so I don't miss the posting?

Thanks,
Priya
linkedin.com/in/[your-handle]

Hiring manager cold emails¶

Hiring managers were the one cold channel that came out net positive for FAANG in interviewing.io's survey. Their advice: email (managers "live in their emails"), no attachment on the first email, 1 to 2 links, and ask for a chat "this week or next" (interviewing.io part 2).

H1 and H2 follow the structure of their two templates; read the originals at that link. Finding the manager and the email: finding people.

H1. You read their work¶

When to use: the manager has a blog post, talk, paper, or repo. interviewing.io estimated 25 to 50% replies for their version of this one (author estimate, not measured).

Subject: Your [talk / post] on [topic]

Hi [First name],

I [watched / read] your [talk / post] on [topic]. [One sentence on what you took from it, specific enough that it could not be about anyone else's work.]

[If your work connects: one sentence on a similar thing you built, with a number. If not: one specific question about their approach.]

[One sentence of proof about you: internship, result, award.]

Would you be up for a quick chat this week or next?

Best,
[Your name]
[Personal site or GitHub] | [LinkedIn URL]

Filled example (76 words):

Subject: Your talk on shard rebalancing

Hi Sarah,

I watched your QCon talk on shard rebalancing. The idea of moving load before moving data changed how I designed the rebalancer in my thesis project.

My version moves hot keys first and cut p99 read latency by 35% in a 12-node test cluster.

I interned on Amazon's DynamoDB team last summer and graduate in May 2027.

Would you be up for a quick chat this week or next?

Best,
Rahul
github.com/[your-handle] | linkedin.com/in/[your-handle]

H2. No public work: lead with two proof points¶

When to use: the manager has nothing public to reference. interviewing.io estimated 5 to 25% replies for their version.

Subject: [Team] new grad, [your strongest proof in 3 to 4 words]

Hi [First name],

Two quick things about me:
- [Proof 1 with a number]
- [Proof 2 with a number]

I'm interested in the work your team does on [team area, as specific as you can from the job post or engineering blog].

Would you be up for a quick chat this week or next?

Best,
[Your name]
[Personal site or GitHub] | [LinkedIn URL]

Filled example (74 words):

Subject: Payments new grad, cut retries 18%

Hi Sarah,

Two quick things about me:
- Cut failed card retries by 18% with adaptive backoff during my Summer 2026 internship
- Won 1st place of 60 teams at Purdue's fintech hackathon with a fraud-flagging API

I'm interested in the work your team does on payment reliability, especially the retry scheduler described in your job post.

Would you be up for a quick chat this week or next?

Best,
Rahul
github.com/[your-handle] | linkedin.com/in/[your-handle]

H3. Applied, short and specific¶

When to use: you already applied and want the manager to look.

Subject: Question on [team]'s [system or feature]

Hi [Name],

I [watched your talk / read your post] on [topic]. The part about [detail] matched what I hit building [project], where [what you did] cut [metric] by [number].

I applied to [role] ([Job ID]) on your team. Would you be open to a 15-minute call this week or next? I'm free [two windows, their time zone].

Thanks,
[Name]
[LinkedIn URL] | [GitHub]

Filled example (77 words):

Subject: Question on Fresh's routing service

Hi Kevin,

I read your post on batching delivery routes. The part about re-planning every 5 minutes matched what I hit building our order router, where switching to incremental re-planning cut late deliveries by 12%.

I applied to SDE I (Job ID 2987654) on your team. Would you be open to a 15-minute call this week or next? I'm free Wed 10 to 11 AM or Thu 2 to 3 PM Pacific.

Thanks,
Alex
linkedin.com/in/[your-handle] | github.com/[your-handle]

H4. Jugal's message to a team lead about a fresh post¶

When to use: a team lead posted about their team in the last few days. Jugal pairs this with filtering LinkedIn jobs to roles posted in the last 3 days. Source: The Job Hunt I Didn't Burn Out Doing.

Hey, I saw your recent post. Curious if your team is hiring for XYZ?

Filled example (22 words):

Hey Sarah, I saw your recent post about the new payouts team. Curious if your team is hiring new grad backend engineers?

Follow-ups¶

Cadence: if no reply in 3 business days, contact a second person at the company; at 5 to 7 business days, follow up with the first person once; about 2 weeks after the first message, send the final note and stop.

This mixes Steve Dalton's 3B7 routine (Duke Career Hub) with Jugal's rule to wait 5 to 7 business days, follow up once, and "maybe twice max" (The One Skill post). Full cadence and tracker: follow-up and tracking.

Day (business days)	Send	Template
0	First message	C, M, R, E, or H series
3	First message to a second person at the same company	F4
5 to 7	Follow-up 1 to the first person	F1 or F2
About 10 to 14	Follow-up 2, final	F5
After that	Stop. Re-approach only with something new, 2 to 3 months later

F1. Jugal's bump at day 5 to 7¶

When to use: reply in the same thread so they see your first message. Source: 7 videos on networking your way to offers.

Hi [Name], bumping this in case it got buried. Totally understand if the timing isn't right.

Filled example (16 words):

Hi Maya, bumping this in case it got buried. Totally understand if the timing isn't right.

F2. Bump with one new fact¶

When to use: something changed since your first message. A new fact gives them a reason to reply now.

Hi [Name], bumping this in case it got buried. Since I wrote, I [finished X / got the OA for [role] / shipped Y]. Still keen on [role, Job ID]. Totally understand if the timing isn't right.

Filled example (36 words):

Hi Maya, bumping this in case it got buried. Since I wrote, I got the online assessment for the SWE Intern role. Still keen on the role, ID 7712345. Totally understand if the timing isn't right.

F3. Jugal's follow-up email¶

When to use: a more formal follow-up to an email about a specific role. Source: Holy Grail of Networking guide.

Subject: Following up on my interest in [Job Position]
Hello [Name],
I hope you're having a great week. I wanted to follow up on my previous email regarding [Job Position] at [Company Name]. I'm still very interested in the opportunity, particularly in [specific aspect of role/work culture].
I understand you're busy, but even a quick 15-minute chat would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
[Your Name]

Filled example (58 words):

Subject: Following up on my interest in Software Engineer, New Grad
Hello Sarah,
I hope you're having a great week. I wanted to follow up on my previous email regarding Software Engineer, New Grad at Stripe. I'm still very interested in the opportunity, particularly in the payment reliability work your team described.
I understand you're busy, but even a quick 15-minute chat would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
Rahul

F4. Second person at the same company¶

When to use: day 3 with no reply. Write to a different engineer or manager on the same team. Do not mention the first person.

Subject: Quick question about [team] at [Company]

Hi [Name],

I'm [Name], [one line credential]. [One specific line about their work.]

I've applied to [role] ([Job ID]) on [team] and would value 15 minutes on what the team looks for. Happy to work around your calendar.

Thanks either way,
[Name]

Filled example (60 words):

Subject: Quick question about Payments at Stripe

Hi Tom,

I'm Priya, a Purdue CS junior who has shipped two Stripe-API side projects. Your PR adding retry jitter to stripe-node is the reason my webhook handler stopped stampeding.

I've applied to SWE Intern (ID 7712345) on Payments and would value 15 minutes on what the team looks for. Happy to work around your calendar.

Thanks either way,
Priya

F5. Final follow-up¶

When to use: about 2 weeks after the first message, still no reply. Ask for a name instead of a favor, then stop.

Hi [Name], last note from me on this. If someone else on the team is a better person to ask about [role], a name would help a lot. Either way, thanks for reading.
[Name]

Filled example (38 words):

Hi Sarah, last note from me on this. If someone else on the team is a better person to ask about the new grad backend role, a name would help a lot. Either way, thanks for reading.
Rahul

F6. Recruiter follow-up after applying¶

When to use: 7 business days after E1 or E2 with no reply. One follow-up only, then wait for the posted timeline.

Subject: Re: [original subject]

Hi [Name], following up on my application for [role] (Job ID [ID]). Since applying I [new fact, if any]. Is there a timeline I should plan around for this cycle?

Thanks,
[Name]

Filled example (36 words):

Subject: Re: Summer 2027 SDE Intern applicant, Job ID 3012345

Hi Daniel, following up on my application for SDE Intern (Job ID 3012345). Since applying I finished a Raft-based key-value store in Go. Is there a timeline I should plan around for this cycle?

Thanks,
Priya

During the interview process¶

Reply to recruiters within 24 hours. Keep every message to the facts they need to act. For offer-stage emails (asking for more, competing offers, extensions), use the negotiation scripts.

P1. After the online assessment¶

When to use: the day you finish an OA, if you have the recruiter's email. What OAs look like: online assessments.

Subject: OA completed, [role] (Job ID [ID])

Hi [Name],

I completed the [HackerRank / CodeSignal] assessment for [role] on [date]. I'm excited about [team or product] and wanted to check whether you need anything else from me.

For planning: I'm available for interviews [windows, time zone], and [I have no deadlines / I have an offer deadline on [date]].

Thanks,
[Name]

Filled example (54 words):

Subject: OA completed, SDE Intern (Job ID 3012345)

Hi Daniel,

I completed the HackerRank assessment for SDE Intern on October 9. I'm excited about the AWS teams you described at the fair and wanted to check whether you need anything else from me.

For planning: I'm available for interviews any weekday after 1 PM Eastern, and I have no deadlines.

Thanks,
Priya

P2. Scheduling reply¶

When to use: a recruiter asks for availability. Give 3 or more windows across different days, in their time zone.

Hi [Name],

Thanks, I'm glad to move forward with [round] for [role]. I'm available (all times [time zone]):
- [Day, date]: [time] to [time]
- [Day, date]: [time] to [time]
- [Day, date]: [time] to [time]

[If relevant: I'll use [language] for coding. Please let me know if any accommodations or materials would help me prepare.]

Best,
[Name]
[Phone]

Filled example (56 words):

Hi Daniel,

Thanks, I'm glad to move forward with the final interviews for SDE Intern. I'm available (all times Pacific):
- Tue, Oct 20: 9 AM to 1 PM
- Wed, Oct 21: 10 AM to 4 PM
- Fri, Oct 23: 9 AM to 12 PM

I'll use Python for coding.

Best,
Priya
[phone number]

P3. Thank-you after an interview¶

When to use: within 24 hours, to the recruiter (and to interviewers if you have their emails). Treat it as a courtesy, not a lever: we found no data showing thank-you notes change big-tech outcomes. Keep it to 3 lines and do not re-argue your answers.

Subject: Thank you, [role] interview on [date]

Hi [Name],

Thank you for the time today. I enjoyed working through [problem or topic], especially [specific detail]. Our conversation about [team thing] made me more excited about [role].

If anything else would help, I'm happy to send it.

Best,
[Name]

Filled example (51 words):

Subject: Thank you, SDE I interview on October 22

Hi Kevin,

Thank you for the time today. I enjoyed working through the delivery-window design problem, especially the trade-off between re-planning cost and freshness. Our conversation about the Fresh team's on-call rotation made me more excited about the role.

If anything else would help, I'm happy to send it.

Best,
Alex

P4. Timeline update request¶

When to use: the recruiter's stated decision window has passed, or about a week after your final round if no window was given.

Subject: Checking in, [role] (Job ID [ID])

Hi [Name],

I hope your week is going well. I interviewed for [role] on [date] and wanted to check on the timeline for next steps. I'm still very interested.

[Only if true: I have another process moving and expect a decision by [date], so any visibility helps me plan.]

Thanks,
[Name]

Filled example (35 words):

Subject: Checking in, Software Engineer, Early Career (Job ID 8412233)

Hi Daniel,

I hope your week is going well. I interviewed for Software Engineer, Early Career on November 3 and wanted to check on the timeline for next steps. I'm still very interested.

Thanks,
Rahul

P5. Expedite request when you have a deadline¶

When to use: you hold a written offer with a deadline and want another company to move faster. Never invent a deadline. Another version is S8 on the negotiation scripts page.

Some teams cannot expedite: Microsoft's internship FAQ says "We unfortunately cannot expedite your application review for competing offer deadlines" (Microsoft university internships).

Subject: Timeline question, [role] (Job ID [ID])

Hi [Name],

I received an offer from another company with a deadline of [date]. [Company] is my first choice, so I wanted to ask whether there is any way to [complete interviews / reach a decision] before then.

If not, I understand, and I'm glad to keep going on your normal timeline.

Thanks,
[Name]

Filled example (52 words):

Subject: Timeline question, Software Engineer, Early Career (Job ID 8412233)

Hi Daniel,

I received an offer from another company with a deadline of November 20. Google is my first choice, so I wanted to ask whether there is any way to complete team matching before then.

If not, I understand, and I'm glad to keep going on your normal timeline.

Thanks,
Rahul

P6. Withdrawing an application¶

When to use: you accepted another offer or no longer want the role. Withdraw promptly so the slot goes to someone else, and to keep the door open.

Subject: Withdrawing my application, [role] (Job ID [ID])

Hi [Name],

Thank you for your time and for the process so far. I've [accepted another offer / decided to focus on a different path], so I'd like to withdraw my application for [role].

I enjoyed meeting the team and hope our paths cross again.

Best,
[Name]

Filled example (41 words):

Subject: Withdrawing my application, SWE Intern (Job ID 7712345)

Hi Sarah,

Thank you for your time and for the process so far. I've accepted another internship offer, so I'd like to withdraw my application for SWE Intern.

I enjoyed meeting the team and hope our paths cross again.

Best,
Priya

P7. Responding to a rejection¶

When to use: within a day of a rejection. Ask once for feedback; many companies will not share it, and that is normal.

Hi [Name],

Thank you for letting me know, and for your help through the process. If there is any feedback you can share, I'd value it as I prepare for next time.

I'd like to reapply when the timing makes sense. Please keep me in mind for [role type] roles.

Best,
[Name]

Filled example (53 words):

Hi Daniel,

Thank you for letting me know, and for your help through the process. If there is any feedback you can share, I'd value it as I prepare for next time.

I'd like to reapply when the timing makes sense. Please keep me in mind for new grad SDE roles.

Best,
Priya

P8. Reschedule request¶

When to use: you are sick, an exam moved into the slot, or there is a real emergency. Write the moment you know, offer new times, and avoid a second reschedule.

Subject: Reschedule request, [round] for [role] (Job ID [ID])

Hi [Name],

I'm scheduled for [round] on [date, time, time zone]. [One honest line on why.] Could we move it? I'm available (all times [time zone]):
- [Day, date]: [time] to [time]
- [Day, date]: [time] to [time]

Sorry for the change, and thank you for the flexibility.

Best,
[Name]

Filled example (67 words):

Subject: Reschedule request, final interviews for SDE Intern (Job ID 3012345)

Hi Daniel,

I'm scheduled for the final interviews on Tuesday, Oct 20 at 10 AM Pacific. My university moved my operating systems midterm into that slot this morning. Could we move it? I'm available (all times Pacific):
- Thu, Oct 22: 9 AM to 1 PM
- Mon, Oct 26: 10 AM to 4 PM

Sorry for the change, and thank you for the flexibility.

Best,
Priya

P9. Ask about the interview format¶

When to use: after interviews are confirmed. Read any prep material the recruiter already sent, then ask only what it does not answer. Use the answers to plan prep (coding interview framework, behavioral).

Hi [Name],

Thanks for setting this up. To prepare well, could you share:
- How many rounds, and how long each one is
- Which rounds are coding, design, or behavioral
- The coding environment (shared editor, IDE, or whiteboard) and whether I can choose my language
- Any prep guide you recommend

Thanks,
[Name]

Filled example (54 words):

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for setting this up. To prepare well, could you share:
- How many rounds, and how long each one is
- Which rounds are coding, design, or behavioral
- The coding environment (shared editor, IDE, or whiteboard) and whether I can choose Python
- Any prep guide you recommend

Thanks,
Priya

P10. Reapplying after a rejection¶

When to use: after the company's waiting period ends. Google, for example, asks you to wait 90 days before re-applying to the same job (Google Careers Help); other companies vary, so ask in P7. Lead with what changed.

Subject: Reapplying for [role], Job ID [ID]

Hi [Name],

We spoke in [month] about [old role], and I didn't move forward then. Since then I [new proof with a number] and [second change: course, internship, project].

I've applied to [new role] (Job ID [ID]). If you're not the right recruiter for it now, could you point me to who is?

Thanks,
[Name]

Filled example (64 words):

Subject: Reapplying for SDE Intern, Job ID 3098765

Hi Daniel,

We spoke in October about the SDE Intern role, and I didn't move forward then. Since then I solved 90 more pattern-based practice problems, did 6 mock interviews, and shipped a Raft-based key-value store in Go.

I've applied to SDE Intern (Job ID 3098765). If you're not the right recruiter for it now, could you point me to who is?

Thanks,
Priya

Replies to recruiters who contact you¶

Answer inbound recruiter messages within 24 hours. If you have Open to Work on and stop answering recruiter InMails, LinkedIn emails you to confirm you are still looking and removes Open to Work if you don't confirm (LinkedIn Help: Open to Work).

If a recruiter asks for your expected salary before an offer, do not give a number in your first reply. Use S1 and S2 on the negotiation scripts page.

Watch out: Before you share anything, find the same role on the company's official careers site and check that the recruiter's email domain matches the company. Never pay, never deposit a check for them, and never send ID or bank details before a written offer through the company's own system. The FTC: "Honest employers, including the federal government, will never ask you to pay to get a job" (FTC: job scams).

I1. Interested¶

When to use: you want the call.

Hi [Name], thanks for reaching out. Yes, I'm interested in [role]. Quick context: [one line]. I'm free [2 to 3 windows with time zone], or send a calendar link. Best email: [email]. [Work authorization line, if relevant.]

Filled example (49 words):

Hi Daniel, thanks for reaching out. Yes, I'm interested in the Software Engineer, Infrastructure role. Quick context: 2 years in Java and Kafka on payments infrastructure. I'm free Tue 2 to 4 PM or Thu 10 AM to 12 PM Pacific, or send a calendar link. Best email: alex.r@example.com.

I2. Interested, need details first¶

When to use: you need level, location, or sponsorship answers before you spend time on a call.

Hi [Name], thanks for reaching out. Before we schedule, could you share the level, location, and whether the role supports [visa sponsorship / OPT and STEM OPT]? Then I can confirm quickly.

Filled example (31 words):

Hi Daniel, thanks for reaching out. Before we schedule, could you share the level, location, and whether the role supports candidates on OPT and STEM OPT? Then I can confirm quickly.

I3. Work authorization line for international students¶

When to use: add this to I1, E1, or E2 when you are on F-1. Say it once, plainly, early. Details on CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, and H-1B: international students.

Work authorization: I'm on an F-1 visa and eligible for [CPT for internships / 12 months of OPT plus the 24-month STEM OPT extension]. I [will / will not] need H-1B sponsorship later.

Filled example (26 words):

Work authorization: I'm on an F-1 visa and eligible for 12 months of OPT plus the 24-month STEM OPT extension. I will need H-1B sponsorship later.

I4. Not now, stay in touch¶

When to use: you just accepted an offer or you are not looking this cycle.

Hi [Name], thanks for thinking of me. I'm not looking right now [or: I just accepted an offer], but I'd like to stay in touch for [type of role] around [timeframe]. Happy to stay connected here.

Filled example (30 words):

Hi Daniel, thanks for thinking of me. I just accepted an offer, but I'd like to stay in touch for senior backend roles around mid-2028. Happy to stay connected here.

I5. Not a fit, refer a friend¶

When to use: the role is wrong for you but right for someone you know. Ask your friend before sharing their name.

Hi [Name], thanks for reaching out. This one isn't a fit for me because [reason], but a friend of mine, [Friend's name], is a strong match: [one line]. With their OK, I can introduce you by email.

Filled example (47 words):

Hi Daniel, thanks for reaching out. This one isn't a fit for me because it's a frontend role, but a friend of mine, Mei Lin, is a strong match: she built React dashboards at her last two internships. With her OK, I can introduce you by email.

Career fairs and events¶

Pitch, booth plan, and conference calendar: career fairs.

V1. Career fair follow-up email¶

When to use: within 24 hours of the fair, after you apply to the role they mentioned. Reference one thing they said.

Subject: Great meeting you at [Fair], [Your Name], [School]

Hi [Name],

Thanks for talking with me at the [Company] booth at [Fair] [yesterday]. I enjoyed hearing about [specific thing they said].

As you suggested, I applied to [role] (Job ID [ID]). My resume is attached. [One line linking your project to what they said.]

Thanks again,
[Name]
[LinkedIn URL]

Filled example (66 words):

Subject: Great meeting you at the Purdue fair, Priya Shah, Purdue

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for talking with me at the Amazon booth at the Purdue fall career fair yesterday. I enjoyed hearing about how AWS interns own a feature end to end.

As you suggested, I applied to SDE Intern (Job ID 3012345). My resume is attached. My campus-store payments app is the closest thing I've built to the end-to-end ownership you described.

Thanks again,
Priya
linkedin.com/in/[your-handle]

V2. After a virtual info session or webinar¶

When to use: same day, to the presenter or the recruiter who hosted.

Subject: Thank you for [session name]

Hi [Name],

Thank you for hosting [session name] today. Your point about [specific point] answered a question I've had about [topic].

I'm a [year] [major] at [School] and plan to apply to [role] this cycle. If there is anything you suggest I do before applying, I'd value it.

Best,
[Name]
[LinkedIn URL]

Filled example (63 words):

Subject: Thank you for the Meta University Recruiting info session

Hi Lena,

Thank you for hosting the info session today. Your point about writing tests before optimizing answered a question I've had about how coding rounds are graded.

I'm a junior CS major at Purdue and plan to apply to the Software Engineer Intern role this cycle. If there is anything you suggest I do before applying, I'd value it.

Best,
Priya
linkedin.com/in/[your-handle]

Keeping in touch¶

Jugal's long-game rule from The One Skill post:

Check in every few months.
Send helpful resources.
Celebrate their wins.
Offer value without always asking for something.

K1. Thank-you after an informational chat¶

When to use: the same day as the call. Name the advice and what you will do with it.

Hi [Name], thank you for the time today. Your point about [specific advice] was the most useful thing I've heard this month, and I'm going to [action you'll take]. I'll keep you posted on how [role] goes.

Filled example (46 words):

Hi Arjun, thank you for the time today. Your point about testing out loud before coding was the most useful thing I've heard this month, and I'm going to do my next 3 mocks that way. I'll keep you posted on how the Google application goes.

K2. Update to your referrer¶

When to use: after each stage (OA, interviews, outcome), whatever the result. It takes one minute.

Hi [Name], quick update: thanks to your referral I [got the OA / have interviews on [date] / received an offer / didn't get it this time]. Really appreciate you putting my name in. [If rejected: I'm going to reapply in [cycle] and keep improving [area].]

Filled example (23 words):

Hi Kevin, quick update: thanks to your referral I have the final round on November 12. Really appreciate you putting my name in.

K3. Final outcome note to everyone who helped¶

When to use: when you accept an offer. Send it to each person who took a call or referred you.

Hi [Name], wanted you to hear it from me: I accepted an offer from [Company] for [role], starting [month]. Our conversation about [topic] helped me [specific effect]. Thank you. If I can ever return the favor, [how: review resumes, intro to my team, answer questions for your students], just ask.

Filled example (53 words):

Hi Arjun, wanted you to hear it from me: I accepted an offer from Google for Software Engineer, Early Career, starting July. Our conversation about testing out loud helped me in every coding round. Thank you. If I can ever return the favor, like answering questions from Purdue students you mentor, just ask.

K4. Check-in every 2 to 3 months¶

When to use: people who helped you, with no ask attached. Share a win, a resource, or congratulate theirs.

Hi [Name], saw [their news / post / launch], congrats. [One line on why it's impressive or useful to you.] On my side, [one short update]. Hope the [team / quarter] is going well.

Filled example (45 words):

Hi Maya, saw your team shipped the new retry dashboard, congrats. The latency breakdown chart is exactly what I wished I had in my last project. On my side, I started my internship at a fintech startup this summer. Hope the quarter is going well.

Subject line bank¶

Short and specific beats clever. Boomerang found 3 to 4 word subjects did best (Boomerang). MIT's international student office suggests "Question from an [School] student" style subjects for cold emails (MIT ISO: cold emailing).

Situation	Subject line
Chat request	`Quick question about [team] at [Company]`
Chat request, student	`Question from a [School] student`
Alumni	`[School] [major] student, question about [team]`
Read their work	`Your [talk / post] on [topic]`
Recruiter after applying	`[Role] applicant, Job ID [ID]`
Referral ask	`Referral for [role], Job ID [ID]?`
After OA	`OA completed, [role] (Job ID [ID])`
Thank-you	`Thank you, [role] interview on [date]`
Timeline	`Checking in, [role] (Job ID [ID])`
Career fair	`Great meeting you at [Fair]`

Weak vs strong:

Weak	Strong	Why
`Job inquiry`	`SDE Intern applicant, Job ID 3012345`	Searchable, specific
`Hello!`	`Your talk on shard rebalancing`	About them, not you
`Seeking an opportunity at your esteemed organization`	`Quick question about Payments at Stripe`	Short, plain

Checklist before you hit send¶

Next: How big-tech referrals work