“Just Do It.” is the Nike slogan and a golden rule in the realm of self-advertisement.
It represents the harmony in the co-existence of logic, steeled action and ambition. To just do things is a tough mentality to implement in reality, especially for teens looking to explore new experiences and growth opportunities.
So if you’re a student with any uneasiness or anxious jitters when even thinking about reaching out to professionals in your field of interest, keep on reading about our cold emailing webinar hosted by Ashley!
She landed a Harvard internship in the field of Connectomics (think brain mapping and the uncovering of an organism's neural pathways) and is apart of a STEM organization consulted by the UN (yep, the United Nations). She also possesses contacts in high places, like within the prestigious organization Open AI- run by Elon Musk. In her sparse free time, she likes to code! Ashley's webinar gave attendees tips on how to get the opportunity ball rolling through self promotion; topics covered included the basics of cold emailing, how to find individuals to contact, and how to structure emails.
Cold Emailing
Cold emailing is the art of selling yourself in a substantially restrictive medium to an entity that has no idea you exist. Of course, it’s truly not as bad as it sounds. One of the best things about cold emailing is that at most, you don’t receive a reply. No harm done to anyone! But in the process of writing and sending this email, you would have practiced your professional networking, writing and researching skills, and strengthened your self-confidence. All your recipient gets in return to their radio silence is one extra notification in their inbox.
Now, the motivation behind your email can stem from anywhere. It can be a job inquiry, a field related question or a medium through which to obtain resources. You can ask for advice, internships and possibly form lasting professional connections; the possibilities are staggering! Your email= your rules, you can reach out to anyone you’d like, researchers, educators or employees depending on your needs.
Alongside sending your inquiring email, Ashley draws out some helpful requirements that if included, will make you appear more enthusiastic and approachable to your potential recipients. You’re encouraged to include links that accurately portray you and your personal brand, always keeping in mind your recipient and the field of study in question. If you’ve got it, include:
Any of your written works in the field (articles, research papers, published work)
Any videos you’ve made, your YouTube channel (if applicable)
Your GitHub (applicable only to coders) and/or other platforms that showcase your projects
Any personal websites (common for photographers)
When your contact recognizes how wide-spread your passion and drive is, they're likelier to be accommodating towards you or even flattered that you've reached out to them.
Building Up Your Contacts List
The contact search is an essential step to cold outreach and completely unique to individual situations. For general purposes, use the following platforms as a fantastic way to bulk up your virtual (or physical) phonebook!
LinkedIn (has a reputation of fast responses)
Rocket Reach (where to find the best contact info for a certain person)
Twitter (an alternative outreach platform)
Discord servers
Google!!!
Other Social Medias (Facebook, Clubhouse)
School Website contact pages
Personal Websites
Your personal network (be mindful of not abusing boundaries with certain existing contacts or to indecorously exploit your existing contacts for the purpose of reaching out to others)
Keep in mind, it's not uncommon to send a volley of 20 emails at one institution/demographic in one day for one main goal. Ashley has done it, and suggests you cast a wide net to keep your chances as high and your options as varied as possible.
Email Structure
The simplicity starts off very nicely. Have an introduction, a body and conclusion.
Be intentional and introduce yourself clearly right at the beginning.
While the stakes of reaching out aren’t high, you must be mindful of the social and professional engagements of your prospective contact. Don’t waste words, explain why you are reaching out, specifically to this person, and what do you hope to receive from the interaction (a Q&A meeting, research papers, a job opportunity).
In your body, talk about your past achievements, initiatives or self directed projects. Make sure to include proof or trails to the information you speak of. Finally, in your conclusion, thank your recipient for their time. Include your socials or preferred contact information along with a scheduling tool such as Calendly.
Ashley points out that in instances where you're making the first move and requesting meeting times with your contact, it is best to avoid unorganized back and forth emailing. With a tool like Calendly, your recipient can easily view your availability and schedule a time that works best for them. You can also try sending emails with subject headings IN ALL CAPS if you’re ever feeling spicy, it grabs the attention, it’s like screaming.
Last Minute Thoughts
Most importantly, through your quiet foray into the world of career/interest exploration, know your worth. Don’t be afraid of intangible rejection and don’t feel pressured to fulfill engagements you aren’t comfortable with. As with all internet interactions, your potential contacts may see you as a tool for themselves and their best interest may infringe upon yours. It's your responsibility to stand your ground (which is luckily psychologically easier to do online), all the while being grateful for any golden opportunities that come your way. Artists, social scientists, STEM-lovers and all the rest, best of luck and get to it!