It’s not easy to hire passive candidates compared to active ones. In its latest Talent Solutions report, LinkedIn noted that 70% of the global workforce consists of passive candidates. Since these passive candidates are generally well employed, they are not looking for a better career opportunity or a job change. In this scenario, cold email is one of the best ways to connect with them. however, according to a study of recruiters, more than 40% of recruiters say that candidates avoid answering emails and calls. therefore, devising a well-crafted email strategy to strike a chord with the target talent pool is essential.
best cold recruiting email templates for passive candidates
here are some great ways to design your cold recruiting emails in the form of 21 different templates:
use an appreciative tone
everyone likes to be cheered on and congratulated on their work and accomplishments. Here are the top 5 ways you can praise your passive candidates through cold emails:
- hello [candidate_first name],
I make sure I’ve done my homework before contacting each candidate.
Having spent the last 25 minutes going through your github and linkedin profiles, I have to say your coding skills and experience are commendable! really impressed by his side projects mentioned on linkedin and curious to explore more of his knowledge.
I’m looking for a new front-end developer to push our team to another level. I’d love to tell you why you seem like a perfect fit for the role!
Can you make some time this Friday for a quick call?
[your name]- excellent results on [recent project]
hello [candidate_first name],
every one of us at [company] is in awe of the way you handled [recent project]. our recruitment team insisted that I connect with you!
We are looking for a new Sales Manager at [company]. Whether you’re thinking of changing jobs or not, I’d be happy to tell you about the cool things we’re doing at [company]!
let me know if you want to have a quick chat.
[your name]- amazing speech at the [last conference]
hello [candidate_first name],
I was impressed by your speech on [speech topic] last Thursday! really stimulating!
We’re planning to implement most of what you talked about at [company], and also, we’re looking for a new lead designer to execute the same thing.
I think this would be a valuable opportunity to inspire and lead a team. let me know if you want to know more about it.
[your name]- Now I know why everyone admires you so much…
hello [candidate_first name],
I must admit I’m really impressed! Having talked to my relevant contacts at [city] marketing space and seeing how every single one of them is full of praise for you, I did some research and came to know why.
I think you would be the right person for our marketing team at [company]. our team is a diligent group of people who breathe text, content and coffee.
Let me know if you can find time for a quick chat on Tuesday at 4pm. m.
[your name]- hello [candidate_first name],
my name is [name] and I’m the [job title] at [company].
I came across your latest article on [post name] and was very impressed with your writing style.
We are currently looking for a [role] of similar insight and experience. I think you can really boost the creativity level of our team.
Let me know if you want to know more about the role!
[your name]build relationships with new candidates
Sometimes you want to develop a relationship with potential candidates so you can hire them in the future. To do this, your emails should be directed at seeking their opinion or help on an important professional matter. Check out 3 awesome ways to engage with new candidates:
- hello [candidate_first name],
Loved your blog post about strengthening marketing teams! it seems that you have approached the process several times.
I would really love to take advantage of your experience.
Are you free for a quick coffee next Monday? I’ll be paying…
[your name]- how did you actually do it?
hello [candidate_first name],
I’m really amazed at your result on [last project]! our team has been striving for that kind of success for a long time!
If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you something:
what did you do differently to make the project so incredibly successful? I’d love to pick your brain here…
[your name]- quick tips…
hello [candidate_first name],
Our entire group was blown away by your recent video on managing product teams, especially [specific point/detail].
is there any chance you could come in and provide some ideas on best practices for the team?
would really appreciate it…
[your name]personalize your emails
It’s not that easy to write personalized emails. however, sometimes it is necessary to use certain personalization tactics to find passive candidates. Usually, you will have to start by studying their profiles and social networks to create emails that are especially suitable for them. Here are 5 custom cold email templates to connect with passive job candidates:
- looking for node.js developers…can we have a quick chat?
hello [candidate_first name],
I was looking for the best node.js developers in the [city] area and came across your linkedin profile. I landed digging into your github profile! As you seem like an ideal candidate for our company, I feel strongly compelled to contact you.
If you’re interested, feel free to reach out when it’s most convenient for you.
[your name]- 10 things to watch in 2019
hello [candidate_first name],
I found your last post on twitter, it made me stop and reflect if I had achieved any of those top 10 things in 2019.
job change is not on the list, but I see it as a suitable option for the position we are hiring…
can you find some time tomorrow between 2-4pm? I’d be happy to tell you more.
[your name]- stanford university to [company]!
hello [candidate_first name],
absolutely blown away by all he has accomplished since leaving stanford – what school did he attend? I studied management at stanford a few years ago…
At [company], we’re looking for people who are proficient in skills like [particular skill example] for [role].
after reviewing your linkedin profile, I think you would be a perfect fit for the position. how about a quick call tomorrow at 3 p.m. m.?
[your name]- Do you still play the piano? we have a company band…
hello [candidate_first name],
[your name] here from [company], I manage our recruiting team.I noticed you’re kind of a superstar on the piano. do you still love playing it?
We have our own band at [company] that likes to play a few times each week.
Interested in our next audition?
[your name]- Looking for a golf player sales rep. interested?
hello [candidate_first name],
I realized that you are not only good at achieving sales goals, but you are also amazing at golf.
We really applaud brilliant sales reps who stay on track with their health goals!
If you feel inclined to work in a place that puts health first, click ‘reply’ and we can set up a suitable time to discuss further details.
[your name]take advantage of a mutual connection
If it’s more difficult to connect directly, you can always use a referral to gain the trust of your potential candidates. Below are 3 different ways to make use of mutual connection in cold email sending:
- hello [candidate_first name],
We’re looking for a team leader and I think you’d be a perfect fit. can you find some time tomorrow morning to discuss the role in detail?
[your name]- Coffee with [connection] and me?
hello [candidate_first name],
I’m [your name], a recruiting manager at [company]. we are hiring for [role], and while asking my connections about the most capable candidates in the [city] area, [connection] suggested that I contact you; he/she told me you would be a great fit for [role].
If you’re interested in learning more about the opportunity, let me know and I’ll make sure your friend, [connection], comes along too…
[your name]- hello [candidate_first name],
I am contacting you as [connection] mentioned your extraordinary skills and qualifications for the position of [appointment].
We are an emerging team of tech-driven people who place a high value on quality work. We are currently hiring for [role] at [company].
can you make some time tomorrow to learn more about the role?
[your name]templates for difficult to fill positions
Regardless of the size and type of company, it is difficult to find competent candidates for certain jobs. these profiles are generally related to technical, design and marketing roles. Take a look at the following 5 templates to cold email candidates for hard-to-fill jobs:
- your fan…
hello [candidate_first name],
I have been following your work on dribble for some time and I must say that you are quite consistent in sharing high quality material. in fact, it has become our design team’s favorite font. they really get valuable inspiration from your work!
I guess you’d be a good fit for the [role] we’re looking for…
I’d love to divulge more details about [role]! can you find some time in the next week?
[your name]- hello [candidate_first name],
I’ve been looking for the best developers in [city] since last week. however, I couldn’t find anyone with skills as good as yours!
Your experience and skills, especially [specific skill example], are totally off the charts! I think you’d be a great fit for the [role] we’re currently looking for…
I’d like to tell you why you’d love the opportunity!
Can we have a short call on Tuesday at 3 p.m. m.?
[your name]- we aspire to grow…
hello [candidate_first name],
truly in awe of his ability to advance every business he got into!
I’m the hiring manager for [company]. We are looking for a Marketing Star who can take our team to the next level. You can learn more about the position on our website, but I’d also like to speak with you in person…
Coffee next Wednesday?
[your name]- hello [candidate_first name],
I’m [your name] at [company]. I saw your profile on github and was really impressed with your expertise in [specific field].
We are currently looking for a [role] to increase the innovative potential of our team. I would love to give a little more detail about the position and also learn from your experience.
Would it be available next week? if so, I’d be happy to set up a call for discussion.
[your name]- hello [candidate_first name],
my name is [name]. I’m [your position] at [company]. I just came across your linkedin profile and was immediately struck by your excellent skills and vast experience in [specific field].
We’ve been looking for a [role] to join our team of amazing experts, and I think you’d be a perfect fit for the role.
I’ll be happy to tell you about some cool projects we’re working on!
Can we have a little discussion next week?
[your name]The importance of emails cannot be undermined whether you are communicating with active or passive candidates. For obvious reasons, it’s usually hard to get responses from the passive talent pool. therefore, you need to keep your email short and to the point while intriguing the candidate with your unique offer. Cold emails for passive candidates are required to be less professional and more personalized to pique their interest in a way that persuades them to learn more about your company and the job offered. Lastly, every professional wants to be valued for the value they deliver to the company.