Relationship-first networking skill for identifying the right people to connect with and drafting value-add outreach — not sales, not referral asks. Use when building a network for a job search, career pivot, partnership, or industry access. Covers target identification by purpose, deep LinkedIn + web research on a specific person, brainstorming 10 value-add angles, and drafting three outreach formats: cold networking email (max 200 words), LinkedIn connection request (max 300 characters), and hiring manager follow-up email (120–160 words). Never drafts generic openers or referral asks — always leads with a specific observation and genuine value.
Relationship-first networking skill for identifying the right people to connect with and drafting value-add outreach — not sales, not referral asks. Use when building a network for a job search, career pivot, partnership, or industry access. Covers target identification by purpose, deep LinkedIn + web research on a specific person, brainstorming 10 value-add angles, and drafting three outreach formats: cold networking email (max 200 words), LinkedIn connection request (max 300 characters), and hiring manager follow-up email (120–160 words). Never drafts generic openers or referral asks — always leads with a specific observation and genuine value.
Networking Outreach
Workspace Context
Read bootstrap context before asking questions: strategy/brand.md for brand, audience, offer, channels, tools, constraints, and metrics; about/me.md for personal voice; content/ideas.md and content/calendar.md for content planning. Use legacy product-marketing context files only as fallback. Save generated drafts to content/<platform>/drafts/YYYY-MM-DD_short-topic-slug.md, and route durable learnings back to strategy/brand.md, about/me.md, or content/ideas.md.
Operating Contract
This skill is self-contained for its frontmatter scope: use its local instructions, references, scripts, and assets as the playbook; ask only for missing task-specific inputs; hand off to adjacent skills instead of expanding scope; and return an actionable artifact, decision, plan, draft, or diagnostic.
Relationship-first outreach built on research and value. The goal is to start a conversation by giving something, not asking for something.
Quick Start
Mode 1 — Identify targets:
Tell me your networking purpose (e.g. "break into AI safety", "find hiring managers at fintech startups")
I'll build a target persona matrix and suggest 5–10 specific people to reach
Mode 2 — Draft outreach for a specific person (cold networking):
Share their LinkedIn URL (or screenshot if profile is private)
Warm path — mutual connection, shared community, same alumni network
Content match — they've written or spoken about your exact interest
Accessibility — they respond publicly, actively post, have open DMs
Seniority fit — close enough to relate, senior enough to open doors
Output Format
For each target:
Name + LinkedIn URL
Why they're relevant
Best angle to approach
LinkedIn search query to find similar people
Mode 2: Research & Draft Cold Outreach
Step 1: Pull Their LinkedIn Profile
Use whatever browsing or screenshot tools are available in the host environment to read the full profile. If direct LinkedIn access is unavailable, ask the user for profile text or screenshots instead of inventing details.
Extraction steps:
Navigate to the LinkedIn URL
Screenshot or get_page_text the full profile
Note: headline, current role, recent posts, skills, education, shared connections
Step 2: Web Research
Search for additional context beyond LinkedIn:
[Name] [Company] interview OR podcast OR talk
[Company] goals challenges [current year]
[Name] article OR newsletter OR writing
[Company] funding hiring news
Capture:
What they've said publicly (opinions, priorities)
Their company's current focus (fundraise, launch, hiring push)
Anything they're building or working toward
Step 3: Brainstorm Value-Add Angles
Generate 5–10 ideas. Every angle must answer: "What's in it for them?"
#
Angle
Example
1
Share a resource they'd genuinely care about
Article on a problem they mentioned
2
React to something they published — specific insight
"Your take on X made me think of Y"
3
Extend or challenge their public work
"I tried your framework, here's what I found"
4
Offer a skill/perspective they don't have
Fresh context from a different industry
5
Introduce them to someone useful
Connector play
6
Flag an opportunity they might not know about
Event, grant, community, tool
7
Share a relevant win related to their challenge
"We solved X, happy to share what worked"
8
Give feedback on something they're building
Beta test, review, honest take
9
Ask a specific expert question that's flattering to their depth
Shows you've done the homework
10
Surface a shared interest or community
Common ground, not flattery
Step 4: Draft Two Formats
Cold Email (max 200 words)
Structure:
Subject: [2–4 words, lowercase, looks internal — not a pitch]
[Specific hook — one observation about them, their work, or their company]
[One sentence connecting it to why you're reaching out]
[Your value offer — what you're giving, not asking for]
[Soft CTA — "Worth a look?" / "Thought you'd find this useful" / "Happy to share more if helpful"]
[Name]
Rules:
No "hope this finds you well"
No "I'm reaching out because"
"You/your" outnumbers "I/me" 2:1
One ask max — low-friction (share, reply, yes/no)
Never ask for a referral or coffee chat in the first message
LinkedIn Connection Request (max 300 characters)
Structure:
[Specific observation about their work] + [one-line reason to connect] + [optional: soft opener]
Examples:
"Your post on [X] was the clearest take I've seen on [Y]. I work on [related thing] — would love to be connected."
"Loved the piece on [X]. I'm building [Y] and ran into the same problem — would value being in your network."
"You spoke at [event] about [topic]. I'm [context]. Your work on [specific thing] is exactly what I'm exploring."
Rules:
No "I came across your profile"
No "I'd love to pick your brain"
Must fit in 300 characters — count before sending
Specific > flattering
Mode 3: Hiring Manager Follow-Up
Use when you've applied for a role and want to reach out personally to the hiring manager. This is not a cold pitch — it's a human note that shows you did the homework and know why you specifically fit.
When to Use
You've already submitted an application
You have a name and some public context on the hiring manager
You want to stand out from the applicant pile without being pushy
Structure
Subject: [role name] — a specific note
[One concrete reference to something they've written, built, or said publicly —
connect it directly to the problem you'd solve in the role]
[One paragraph: who you are + your most relevant proof point + a link]
[Optional: honest acknowledgment of any prior attempt at this company —
honesty + persistence reads well]
[Soft CTA — 15 minutes / calendar link]
[Name]
Rules
Lead with THEIR work, not your credentials
One specific reference beats three generic ones
Include a concrete proof point (project, demo, portfolio, event with numbers)
If you've applied or interviewed before and didn't make it — say so
No "I'm excited about this opportunity" — show it instead
CTA: calendar link or "15 minutes" — never "let me know if you're interested"
Target length: 120–160 words
Key Principle
Admit the obvious about yourself — state the thing that's been true all along that makes you the right fit, as if you're finally saying it out loud. Don't hide behind credentials. Open with identity, not job title.
Example opening pattern:
"Your piece on [X] is exactly the problem I've been working on from [the other side / a different angle]."
Then: who you are in one line → one proof point with a link → honest context → soft ask.
Research Checklist
Before drafting any format, verify you have:
Current role + company + headline
2–3 recent posts, articles, or public content (themes, opinions)
Company's current priority (launch, hiring, raise, expansion)
Career trajectory (what they're moving toward)
Any external writing, interviews, or talks
Shared connections, communities, schools, or past companies
Something they're building or publicly excited about
Authenticity Rules
Sound like yourself, not a template
Lead with their world, not your pitch
Personalization must connect to a real point — not filler
No flattery without specifics ("Your work is impressive" = delete)
One CTA, low friction — share, reply, or yes/no
Tweak the draft to match your voice before sending
