MightyRecruiterWhen you’ve done your due diligence and come to a consensus as a hiring team regarding that all-star candidate, the next step is to make a formal offer that clearly outlines what’s on the table.
In a current market where more than two-thirds of candidates are passive candidates (those employed but open to new opportunities), hiring professionals can use these informal conversations to establish relationships with people who, in other circumstances, might not be open to connecting.
To make this tactic an effective part of your hiring strategy, however, you need to start with a strong and convincing outreach message. And to do that, you can begin by customizing the informational interview request letter template below.
Keep in mind a few best practices as you put together your own letter:
• Personalize your message from top to bottom, starting with the subject line (if it’s digital) and moving through to the actual meat of the text.
• Keep it brief. It goes without saying that candidates who you might not have a previous relationship with are not going to take the time to read a long, intimidating column of text.
• Focus on starting a conversation rather than pushing a particular job opportunity or issuing a demand. You want to warm people to the idea of leaving their jobs to join your company, and that takes time.
• Project a warm, genuine tone. In the same vein as personalization, you want the candidate to feel as if a human being is behind this message and that they are genuinely excited to have a conversation and begin a relationship.
Informational Interview Request Letter Template
Hi {Candidate First Name},
My name is {Your First and Last Name}, and I’m {Your Position} at {Company Name}. I came across your {Profile, Resume, etc.} via {Channel Name} and was super impressed to see that you’re not only an experienced {Skill 1} and {Skill 2}, but also that you’re interested in {Interest 1} and {Interest 2}.
Here at {Company Name}, we’re always on the lookout for talented {Job Title}, and we also highly value {Interest 1} and {Interest 2}, so I’d love to have a quick 15-minute conversation to learn more about you and to get some insight into what motivates you.
Are you available this {Date, Time} or on {Date, Time}? If not, feel free to suggest an alternative date and time that better suits your schedule.
I’m looking forward to our conversation – and thanks again for your time.
Best,
{Your Name}
{Your Email}
{Your Contact Number}
Want to use this letter?
One of the most striking points about the above informational interview request letter template is that it implies that the writer has gone to some effort to learn about the candidate’s skills, experiences, and interests, and then given some thought to how these attributes align with the values and purpose of the company.
This is in effect a more holistic personalization effort, and it implicitly communicates to candidates a sense of value. Similarly, the above letter includes space to work in a few of the candidate’s interests. This is particularly important because it sheds some light on what motivates the candidate, and if you ultimately want this person to join your own company, you’ll need to understand their wants and needs and how this plays into their decision to team up with your organization.
A simple Google search can often reveal this information via social profiles, of if you’re lucky enough to have a mutual contact, then you can ask that person for these type of details. If neither of these options is available, you may want to consult with someone in a similar position/department to get some insight into their skills, achievements, and motivating forces.
Finally, the informational interview request letter template draws to a close with a succinct and clear call to action. You want to keep the momentum moving forward and leave nothing up to chance without coming off as overbearing. Next steps here are apparent, and the letter signs off with warm and enthusiastic sentence.