In this guide
Templates, checklists and worksheets
Networking messages that people actually answer
Short message templates for contacting someone in your field, reconnecting with a former colleague, asking for an introduction and saying thank you.
Make the request small and specific
Busy people answer requests they can complete quickly. 'Could I ask you two questions about moving from teaching into training roles?' is easy to say yes to; 'Can you help me with my career?' is not, because the reader cannot tell how much it will cost them.
Say why you chose them. A shared employer, a talk they gave or a post they wrote turns a cold message into a reasonable one.
Four templates
Hi [name], I read your post about [topic] and it matched what I am trying to understand. I am moving from [current field] towards [target field]. Would you be open to a 15-minute call in the next few weeks? I would like to ask how you made a similar move. No problem at all if not.
Hi [name], it has been a while since we worked together on [project] at [employer]. I have recently started looking for [type of role] and remembered you moved into [their area]. Could I ask you a couple of questions about it? Happy to catch up properly too.
Hi [name], I noticed you are connected to [person] at [organisation]. I am interested in their [team or role type] and would value a short conversation with them. If you know them well enough, would you be comfortable introducing us? I have written a two-line summary below you can forward or ignore. [Two lines about you and what you would ask]
Hi [name], thank you for your time last week. Your point about [specific advice] was useful: I have since [what you did]. I will let you know how it goes.
Messages that tend to go unanswered
| Message | Why it fails | Better |
|---|---|---|
| 'Are you hiring?' to a stranger | Asks for something they probably cannot give | Ask about their work or the field |
| A long life story | The reader cannot see the request | Two lines of context, one clear question |
| Copied text sent to dozens of people | It shows; nothing is specific to them | One line explaining why you chose them |
| An open-ended 'pick your brain' | No sense of the time involved | Name a duration or a single question |
Following up once
If there is no answer after a week or two, one short follow-up is reasonable: 'Just resurfacing this in case it got buried. No worries if now is not a good time.' After that, stop. Silence is usually about the other person's workload, not about you.
Illustrative example
A follow-up that keeps it light
- Hi Amira, resurfacing my note from last week in case it got lost. If a quick call is not possible, even one line on which qualification mattered most when you moved into compliance would help me a lot.
Offering an even smaller version of the request makes a reply easier.
Common questions
Should I attach my resume to a networking message?
Not in the first message. Offer it later if the conversation turns to a specific opportunity and the person asks for it.
How do I ask for a referral without being pushy?
Wait until you have spoken, then ask whether they would feel comfortable referring you for a specific advertised role, making it easy for them to say no.
Drafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards. Examples are illustrative, not real people’s results. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.