STEP 4 OF 4
Hunter Networking
Hunter networking is for when you need a job soon. Instead of waiting for job leads to come to you, you find the hiring managers for jobs you want, then message them directly or through someone who can introduce you. It’s not desperate. It’s focused and intentional, and it’s often the fastest path to a job.
With hunter networking, you need a clear idea of your target job and potential employers. If you haven’t already done so, visit the AI for Job Seekers guide and work through the steps to create your Target Job Profile.
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Make a plan to reach out to 3 hiring managers and make a small, clear request, such as a 15-minute call or a quick question.
Ask your current network for job leads
Start with the people you already know and make a clear, specific ask. If you ask something general like “I’m looking for a job. Do you know of any openings? I’ll do anything,” most people will draw a blank. If you ask something specific like “I’m looking for a customer service role in the finance industry,” you make it easier for them. They know right away whether someone comes to mind.
Send a personalized email to each contact. Don’t send one generic message to a big list. A mass email is easy to ignore and it signals that you’re not thinking about the person reading it. A personal note, even a short one, gets a reply.
Personal doesn’t mean long. It means one real detail: how you know each other, something you remember about them, or why you’re asking them in particular.
PROMPT
I want to email someone in my network to ask if they know of any job leads. I’ve attached my Target Job Profile, which describes the work I’m looking for.
About the contact:
- Name and role: [name, job title, company]
- How we know each other: [for example, former co-worker, volunteer group, neighbor]
- Last time we talked: [timeframe, and anything memorable]
- What I know about them: [their industry, what they’re working on, anything useful]
Draft a short email (under 150 words) that:
- Opens with a genuine, specific reference to our relationship
- Says in one or two sentences what kind of work I’m looking for, based on my Target Job Profile
- Asks for one specific thing: whether they know of any openings, or anyone I should talk to
- Makes it easy to say no or to say “not right now”
- Sounds warm and confident, not desperate or transactional
Give me two versions, one warmer and one more direct, and a subject line for each.
Attach their LinkedIn Profile
Now that you’ve identified people on your Networking List to contact, use your AI assistant to help you figure out what to write.
Ask your current network for introductions to hiring managers
If you’re like most people, few in your network will be able to refer you to a job lead. In fact, studies have found that job leads came more often through moderately close contacts than through close friends or near-strangers, especially when the two people shared mutual connections. So these exercises are all about finding mutual connections.
Some people you already know may be able to introduce you directly to a hiring manager. We’ll call these people “Introducers“.
Other contacts might not personally know any hiring managers, but they may be able to connect you with others who do, so we’ll call them “Connectors“.
For this exercise, make sure you have a column like “Label” on your Networking List.
If you are not sure whether any of the people on your Networking List are likely to be able to introduce you to a hiring manager, here’s a prompt to help you.
PROMPT 1
I am seeking work as a [job title] in [industry / location]. Which people on my Networking List are most likely to know a hiring manager and can introduce me directly? Base your answer only on the information in my list. If you’re guessing, tell me.
Attach your Networking List and Target Job Profile
Pick one person on your Networking List with the “Introducer” label, stay in the same chat, and enter the next prompt.
PROMPT 2
This contact [contact name] can probably introduce me to a hiring manager. I know this contact through [how you’re connected]. Draft a short email asking for their help. Make it specific and easy to say yes to. Give me 3 or 4 options, ranging from formal to friendly.
Attach your contact’s LinkedIn profile
Review the suggestions and draft a message that feels like you. Either send the email right now, or enter a day and time in your calendar to do it.
As with the previous exercise, if you’re not sure whether any of the people on your Networking List knows someone who knows a hiring manager, use this prompt.
PROMPT 1
I am seeking work as a [job title] in [industry/location]. Which people on my Networking List are most likely to connect me with someone who can introduce me to a hiring manager? Base your answer only on the information in my list. If you’re guessing, tell me.
Attach your Networking List and Target Job Profile
Pick one person on your Networking List labeled “Connector“. Stay in the same chat, and enter the next prompt.
PROMPT 2
[Contact name] can probably connect me with someone who can introduce me to a hiring manager. I know them through [how you’re connected]. Draft a short email asking for that connection. Make it easy to forward and easy to say yes to. Give me 3 or 4 options, ranging from formal to friendly.
Review the suggestions and draft an email message that feels like you. Either send the email right now, or enter a day and time in your calendar to do it.
Ask for help from people you don’t know yet
In the previous exercises, you reached out to people you already know. In this exercise, you’ll reach out to people you haven’t met. Cold outreach is less likely to get a reply than contacting people you already know, but here’s how to improve your odds.
PROMPT 1
Here is my Target Job Profile. What job titles would hiring managers for these roles likely have? Tell me if you’re unsure.
Attach your Target Job Profile
Update your Target Job Profile to include the job titles of probable hiring managers.
In the same chat, ask this follow-up question.
PROMPT 2
What searches should I try on LinkedIn (or another resource) to find the names and contact info for hiring managers at companies on my Target Job Profile? Tell me if you’re unsure.
Attach your Target Job Profile
Run these searches and add any names you find to your Networking List. In the “Strength” column, enter “Cold” to show you have no connection to this person. AI can guess email addresses wrong, so confirm each one on the company website, LinkedIn, or a tool like Hunter.io.
Before sending a cold email, check each person’s LinkedIn page for mutual connections, shared groups, or shared employers. If you find one, ask for an introduction instead.
Choose one of the names you’ve found, stay in the same chat, and enter this prompt.
PROMPT 3
I want to send a cold email to [name], the hiring manager for [job title or team] at [company]. My specific ask is [your ask].
This is a business email between two busy professionals. Start with what their team likely needs, then show in one or two sentences how my experience meets that need, using one specific accomplishment from my Accomplishments list. Then make my ask.
Keep it under 100 words. Be friendly and direct. Don’t flatter them, don’t apologize for writing, and don’t use filler like “I hope this finds you well.” Don’t invent anything about me or the company. If you’re unsure what their team needs, tell me what to look up.
Draft two options with different angles: one that leads with the team’s need, and one that leads with my strongest accomplishment. Include a subject line for each.
Attach the person’s LinkedIn profile, your Accomplishments List, and your Base Resume. Your ask is a small, clear request, such as a 15-minute call about the team or a question about an upcoming role. If there is a job posting, copy and paste it.
Review the options, choose the one that feels most like you, and edit to make it yours. Either send immediately or schedule a date and time in you calendar to send it.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t hear back: cold email has a low response rate. Try sending one follow up email, about one week after sending the first one.
PROMPT 4
[Name] hasn’t replied to my email from [date]. Draft a short follow-up (under 60 words) to send in the same thread. Add one new, useful thing instead of just checking in: [a relevant article, recent company news, or a short answer to a question they might have]. Keep the ask small and make it easy for them to say no or point me to someone else. Don’t guilt them or call out the silence.
Bonus prompts
Often, the people on your Networking List won’t be able to refer you to a job opening, but they’ll refer you to another person. Here’s how to figure out what to say.
Before turning to your AI assistant, download the LinkedIn profile for both the contact on your Networking List, and the person they’ve referred you to.
PROMPT
I’ve been referred to [name] by [mutual contact]. Draft a short email introducing myself and asking for a 20-minute call. Here’s my background and what I know about them.
Attach the LinkedIn profiles for your contact and the person they’ve referred you to
If you can’t find an email address, LinkedIn is another way to reach people. Or, if you’re trying to connect with someone who is on LinkedIn daily, they might respond to a LinkedIn message more readily than an email.
Hiring managers usually get a lot of DMs, so only send one if you are a strong match for the organization.
PROMPT
I want to send a LinkedIn DM to [name], the hiring manager for [job title or team] at [company]. My specific ask is [your ask]. Start with what their team likely needs, then show in one sentence how my experience meets that need, using one accomplishment from my Accomplishments List. Keep it under 60 words. Be friendly and direct, with no flattery or filler. Don’t invent anything about me or the company. Draft two options.
Attach their LinkedIn profile and your Target Job Profile
It is incredibly common for us to neglect our network while we’re employed ― life gets in the way. Here’s a prompt to resurrect an old connection.
PROMPT
Here is what I know about [name]: [paste what you know]. I want to reconnect after [timeframe, e.g. two years]. What’s a natural, non-transactional reason to reach out right now?
Attach their LinkedIn Profile
Now that you’ve identified people on your Networking List to contact, use your AI assistant to help you figure out what to write.
PROMPT 2
I want to send an email to [contact] asking if they know of any openings for someone with my background. I don’t want it to sound desperate or transactional. Draft two options — one warmer, one more direct.
Paste your contact’s information
Often, the people on your Networking List won’t be able to refer you to a job opening, but they’ll refer you to another person. Here’s how to figure out what to say.
Before turning to your AI assistant, download the LinkedIn profile for both the contact on your Networking List, and the person they’ve referred you to.
PROMPT
I’ve reached out to [number] people in the past [timeframe] and haven’t heard back. Here’s an example of a message I’ve been sending: [paste]. Give me your rewrite first, then a brief explanation of what you changed and why.
Paste a sample message
Make these prompts your own
The prompts in this guide are starting points, not magic words. Change the wording, skip a sentence, or write them in your own voice, and they’ll still work. What matters most is giving your context: your background, your goal, and who you’re writing to. The more you use an AI assistant, the better you’ll get at prompting.
If the first answer misses, reply with what to change (“shorter,” “less formal,” “mention my customer service experience”) instead of starting over. And if you’re ever unsure how to ask, ask the AI:
I want help with [what you’re trying to do]. What should I tell you, and how should I phrase my request?
Keep going
Whether you’re tending a garden or hunting for a job right now, start small: one person, one prompt, one message today. AI can help you think and draft, but the relationships are yours, so edit every message until it sounds like you.
People are often more willing to help than you expect, and not every message will get a reply. Keep showing up.