Make a Good First Impression The Introduction Email - Your Career Intel

Make a Good First Impression The Introduction Email - Your Career IntelAs an Executive Senior Partner with Lucas Group, I have both received and sent hundreds of introduction schmelzglasles. There are two main purposes of an introduction email to introduce yourself and to explain why you would add value to the recipients organization or career. In todays digital age, an email introduction allows you to make non-invasive, initial contact with a potential candidate or employer while giving them the opportunity to respond at their convenience.So, how do you craft an introductory email? The first thing that the recipient will see is the subject line. Consider something attention-grabbing or catchy to immediately attract the reader. If I see email subject lines that include who referred the individual to me, Im likely to read those emails first. If you cant include a referral or mutual friends name, write a creative headline such as, Public Company CFO with Turnaround Experience. Definite ly do not leave the subject line blank.Next, introduce yourself, immediately explaining why you would be an asset to the reader. Include various professional skills and experience to provide a frame of reference for your career history. For example, My name is Elaine Beagle, and for more than eight years, I have driven results and surpassed goals, recruiting top talent for clients and providing rewarding career opportunities for my candidates. I understand that your company is expanding and I believe my skill set and experience can assist your organization in achieving its financial objectives.If you are searching for a new career opportunity, be sure to attach your resume to the email. Before attaching it, review it for any grammatical and spelling errors and make sure it is tailored to the company or position that youre interested in. Also, if you can find common ground with the recipient, include that in the email body as well. Check out his or her LinkedIn profile and see if you went to the same high school, share a mutual hobby or have any connections in common. One way to weave this into the email is by saying, I saw your LinkedIn profile and noticed you went to the University of Texas I graduated from there as well.Lastly, ask questions to attempt to entice a response. If youre emailing a potential employer, ask about the position for which youre interested. You can also ask the recipient to meet to further discuss the opportunity or to have a call at his or her convenience. By asking questions, you are more likely to get a response to your email.Have you recently sent or received a good or poor introduction email? Share your experience with us.