How to ask someone to chat about a climate career.

Sending a message to a stranger can be daunting - even if you know they’re open to talk. Often it feels like this:

You: 👋

Them: 😐

After reading through hundreds of messages asking for time to speak, here are some ways to make a great first impression and get a response, according to OpenDoorClimate professionals.

Give context

Be sure they can quickly understand why you’re reaching out (e.g. interested in circularity), why you want to speak with them specifically (e.g. they have a background in retail like you), and what is your ask (e.g. “15 min chat to learn about your career journey”). And if applicable, include how you found them. This helps people know that this message was sent with intent and not bulk messaged to dozens of people.

Example: “I’m interested in pursuing a role in circularity and similar to you, I have a background in retail. If you’re open to a 15-minute call, I’d love to hear how you made that transition and any tips you could share.”

Keep it short

There’s a difference between context and details. Be careful not to include too many details that turns the message into a memo or a cover letter. The point of this initial message is to make it as easy as possible for the person to respond. And one way to do that is to ensure the message is short enough for them to quickly read and understand what is being asked.

Tip: Research shows that “cold” messages that are around 75-100 words get the best response rates (that’s 5-15 lines of text).

Update your LinkedIn profile

Whenever receiving a message from someone new, it’s common to check their LinkedIn profile before responding. Make sure that your profile is up-to-date and telling the story that you want. Avoid attaching your resume to the message as it can come across as too transactional.

Resource: If you need help with optimizing your LinkedIn page and crafting your personal narrative, check out Climate People’s session from #ClimateCareerWeek on Building a Personal Brand.

Be respectful of time

In your message, be sure to ask for a reasonable amount of time for an initial conversation (15 or 30 minutes), instead of an hour. Half-hour or less is much easier for people to fit between other meetings or during a lunch break.

Once the call is scheduled, be sure to show up and if you can’t, notify them ahead of time that you’ll need to reschedule. There is no stronger way to ruin a potential connection than standing someone up after they’ve agreed to volunteer time to speak with you.

Tip: Never assume it’s okay to go over time during a meeting, no matter how casual or informal the chat. If they’d like to extend past the agreed time, that’s fine but be sure to ask before time expires.

Continue the conversation

Yay - you had the call! If it’s a connection that you’d like to continue and grow, be sure to follow up and continue the conversation. Let them know what insights resonated, tell them about a resource they shared that proved valuable, share an article about a topic discussed. People love to hear that they’ve been helpful. But don’t reach out only for new requests. That creates a feeling of a transactional one-way street and likely won’t go much further.

Example: “I had a chance to look into the Creatives for Climate community you mentioned and it’s been such a valuable resource. I’ve met some great people and planning to attend an event next week. Thanks again for mentioning it and hope to see you at an event soon!”

Don’t take it personal

Bummer - no response. There is a long list of reasons someone might not respond and almost none of them have to do with you. People get busy, they miss messages, they forget to respond, they spill coffee on their computer, all kinds of things. It’s important to remember that it’s rarely about you. Don’t let that stop you from sending future messages to other people or respectfully following-up with that person.

Below is a sample message that pulls all these tips together:

SAMPLE MESSAGE

Hi Deb,

My name is Ted, I’m currently a data analyst at a retail company and looking to transition into the climate field with a focus on circularity. I found you on the #OpenDoorClimate Directory and given your current role and retail focus, I would love the opportunity to hear about your career journey and any tips you can share. Would you be open to a 15-minute phone all in the coming weeks?

Thank you,

Ted