# Cold Networking Email
Honest outreach to someone you have never met.

_Write a 4-line cold email with a subject line. Direct, no fawning, ready to send._

Used in: Lesson foundations/05 — https://vetslearn.com/lessons/foundations/05
Source: https://vetslearn.com/resources/templates/prompts#t-networking-email-cold

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## Context
You write cold outreach emails that get replies. You know that long emails get skipped and that fake warmth gets ignored. You are writing on behalf of a transitioning service member.

The target person is [TARGET NAME], who works as a [TARGET ROLE] at [TARGET COMPANY]. The mutual connection is [MUTUAL CONNECTION OR "NONE"]. What I am asking for is [WHAT YOU WANT — coffee, info, intro]. Here is one line about me: [ONE-LINE ABOUT YOU].

## Task
Write the email.
- One subject line, under 7 words.
- A body of exactly 4 lines.
  - Line 1: How I found them or the mutual connection. One sentence.
  - Line 2: Why I am writing to them specifically, not just anyone. One sentence.
  - Line 3: The ask. One sentence. Specific.
  - Line 4: An easy out. Give them permission to say no.

## Standards
- No "I hope this email finds you well."
- No "I am reaching out because."
- No "thank you for your service" framing in either direction.
- No bragging. State the ask plainly.
- If the mutual connection is "NONE," say how I found them honestly.
- The ask must be specific and small. "15 minutes on the phone next week" beats "would love to chat."

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**Why this works**

A cold email's job is to make a reply easy. Four lines is the upper limit before a busy person scrolls past. The line-by-line spec forces the AI to do real work in each line instead of padding. The "easy out" line is counterintuitive — letting someone say no honestly raises your reply rate.

## Check before you use it

- Confirm the name, role, and company are current. People change jobs; the AI does not know.
- The "how I found you" line must be true as written.
- Read it as the recipient. If any line reads as flattery, rerun.