10 Cold Email Templates for Effective Recruiting

Got your eye on a candidate to fill that urgent role?

Chances are your tool of choice is email. In spite of claims that “cold email is dead”, cold emails are still effective at connecting with potential candidates.

However, the quality of your email is important.

A great recruiting email could prove to be the difference between securing the person at the top of your shortlist and letting them slip through your fingers.

First-class hiring managers have an arsenal of effective email templates they can turn to for any situation.

To help you start building your own email arsenal, we’ve created a list of 10 different recruiting email templates you can repurpose for your own situation.

Cold email as a recruitment strategy

Email marketing for hiring is an effective tactic for recruiters who want to cast the widest net in the shortest amount of time. 

Compared to traditional recruitment strategies, there are several advantages to cold email recruitment:

• Cost-effectiveness – Email candidate outreach is free, unlike job boards where you have to pay per post and/or successful hire.
• Targeting – With no control over who responds to your job ad, you might end up wasting a lot of time on candidates who have no real shot at getting the position. Cold outreach allows you to target only those who can potentially add to your team.
• Scalability – You can send as many offers as you like using the same cold email template. However, for best results, you should make sure to personalize the email.
• Global reach – Job boards often limit visibility by location, requiring you to pay more for a wider reach. Email recruitment lets you contact candidates anywhere in the world.

When cold email is effective 

Cold emails as a candidate outreach method can be particularly effective for a variety of situations: 

• For startups competing for talent against established companies 
• For hard-to-fill roles in highly competitive fields 
• For senior-level positions and niche roles 
• For new markets where you have yet to establish a brand presence

AI email writers like AiSDR can even allow you to run outreach in a different language, helping you expand your reach to areas you wouldn’t have considered otherwise.

With the help of cold email recruiting, you can:

• Generate interest – Cold emails get your job opportunity in front of dream candidates who wouldn’t have learned about it otherwise.
• Qualify prospects – By responding, a candidate will show clear interest in your position. 
• Book interviews – You can streamline the booking process by including a Calendly or HubSpot calendar link at the end of your email.
• Build relationships – Even if your position isn’t quite right for a candidate at the moment, you can make a lasting positive impression.
• Expand talent networks – The more high-level pros you add to your network, the easier it will be to fill future positions in your company.

You’ll need to invest a bit of time and effort into fine-tuning email templates if you want to unlock these benefits.

What should a cold recruitment email include?

Your cold recruitment email should include these elements:

• Target audience – Only send your offer to those with relevant backgrounds and skills. A QA specialist probably won’t be thrilled to receive an offer for a front-end engineering role.
• Target job role – Make sure to outline the responsibilities, qualifications, and requirements in full detail. Some locations even require you to provide a salary range.
• Personalization – Personalizing your message can help your email stand out from the dozens in the recipient’s inbox. Let your prospect know how you discovered them, mention specific details about their experience or work that impressed you, and explain why you think they could be a fit for the role. 
• Call to action – Clarify the next step you’d like the candidate to take, such as booking an interview slot or responding with their availability for a call.
• Readability – From the subject line to the CTA, your message should be clear, consistent, and to the point. Bullets can help break down information to make it more readable. Lengthwise, it’s best to keep a cold outreach email under 200 words.

This is a lot of ground you have to cover in under 200 words. That’s why we’ve created this list of templates cold recruitment.

10 cold email templates

The templates below highlight different aspects of your offer that might win the candidate over, such as opportunities for career advancement, company culture, or the connections you share.

To avoid adding a placeholder and jeopardizing readability even further, we used AiSDR as the hiring company. Naturally, feel free to modify and re-purpose the emails to suit your own needs (and don’t forget to use your company’s name! 😁).

Email #1: Introduction to your company and opportunity

Subject: Join the future of AI with AiSDR

Hi [Candidate Name],

I’m [Your Name] from AiSDR, where we pioneer new advancements in sales AI every day. We’ve just opened a vacancy for [Role], and your expertise in [Specific Skill] caught our eye. 

Interested in building the future of sales AI together? Book a slot and let’s have a talk: [Link]

Best,

[Your Name]

Email #2: Highlighting career opportunities

Subject: Explore new career paths at AiSDR

Hi [Candidate Name],

At AiSDR, we’re defining the future of sales optimization. I came across your profile on LinkedIn while researching candidates for our new [Role] position. I was impressed by your track record in [Specific Skill/Area], and I think you’d be an excellent addition to AiSDR.

If you’re interested, how about we set up a time to chat? [Link]

Best wishes,

[Your Name]

Email #3: Referral from a shared acquaintance

Subject: [Referrer’s Name] recommended we connect

Hi [Candidate Name],

[Referrer’s Name] mentioned your incredible work in [Field/Skill] and thought you’d be a good fit for us. As it happens, AiSDR is currently looking for a [Role], and I’d like to see if we could be a great match. 

If this interests you, you can book a time to chat here: [Link]

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Email #4: Company culture 

Subject: Experience the people-first culture at AiSDR

Hi [Candidate Name],

AiSDR is a community where innovation meets people. As we search for our next [Role], we’re looking for someone highly skilled in [Specific Skill/Area] who’s ready to help build the next great sales AI. 

With regular team retreats, open forums for innovation, and a commitment to work-life balance, AiSDR is where you can grow both professionally and personally. 

Curious to hear more about how we can achieve great things together? Let’s have a chat: [Link]

Warm regards,

[Your Name]

Email #5: Networking event follow-up

Subject: Great connecting at [Event Name]

Hi [Candidate Name],

It was a pleasure meeting you at [Event Name]. Your ideas about [Topic] were thought-provoking. Would you be interested in joining AiSDR? We’ve just created a new position for [Role].

Looking forward to your thoughts,

[Your Name]

Email #6: Personalized follow-up

Subject: Your talents & AiSDR – let’s reconnect

Hi [Candidate Name],

Thinking about our last conversation, I couldn’t help but reflect on how I believe your skills in [Specific Skill/Area] could make a difference at AiSDR, especially with our recent venture into [New Project/Field]. 

Would you like to set up a chat? [Link]

Warm regards,

[Your Name]

Email #7: Exclusive opportunity

Subject: Join AiSDR and build the next great sales AI

Hi [Candidate Name],

We’re impressed with your exceptional work in [Field/Skill], and we believe you could be the key player in our next groundbreaking project. We’ve created a unique position at AiSDR solely for you if you’re interested.

Want to see where this goes?

Best,

[Your Name]

Email #8: Highlighting recent company achievements 

Subject: AiSDR’s advancement & your future role

Hi [Candidate Name],

AiSDR has recently won [Specific Achievement], marking a significant milestone for AI for sales. Your expertise in [Specific Skill/Area] is what we need to hit our next ambitious target. Join us to be part of a winning team making a real impact. 

Interested in learning more? Then let’s have a chat: [Link]

Regards,

[Your Name]

Email #9: Invitation to webinar or event

Subject: Exclusive invitation: Discover the future of AI with AiSDR

Hi [Candidate Name],

You’re invited to [Webinar/Event Name] where AiSDR will be sharing a sneak peak into our upcoming projects for [Role]. We’d love for you to join us and check out what we could achieve together.

Please use this link to join for free: [Link]

Cheers,

[Your Name]

Email #10: Direct application

Subject: Your next career move: Apply to AiSDR

Hi [Candidate Name],

Your expertise in [Specific Skill/Area] stands out, and AiSDR is looking for someone with your talents to take on the role of [Role]. [Reason why the prospect’s skill/expertise is a good fit].

Ready to leap forward in your career with us? Apply here: [Link]

Looking forward to your application,

[Your Name]

Maximizing cold email effectiveness

There is more to effective email outreach than just the right message. If you want to acquire top talent, you’ll have to consider these points:

• Timing – Email open rates peak on Mondays and Tuesdays between 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Follow-up tactics – According to research by Boomerang, sending follow-ups can increase response rates by up to 48%. It’s best to send your first follow-up within 24 hours and limit yourself to one or two follow-ups.
• Relationship – Make sure that each message you send provides value relevant to the person you address. For example, you can grant them exclusive access to your upcoming report covering the area of their professional interest.

Step up your talent acquisition with AiSDR

Developed to assist sales teams with cold outreach, AiSDR can be just as effective for recruitment. In particular, it can lend you a hand with:

• Prospecting – AiSDR can identify ideal candidates by analyzing vast amounts of data from professional networks, online portfolios, and CVs.
• Follow-ups – AiSDR sends follow-ups to every prospect that was engaged, ensuring that no one slips through the cracks. As it recruits, the AI will learn what works and what doesn’t.
• Personalization – Every cold email is tailored according to a prospect’s recent LinkedIn activity, maximizing the chances of open and conversion.

Don’t wait for top talent to come knocking at your door. Take the first step by reaching out to them before they’re hired away.

Book a demo to see AiSDR in action.