How to establish common ground in an e-mail?

Hi guys,

I have been having trouble getting responses during cold e-mails to non-alumni.

What is the best way to establish common ground during a cold e-mail? For example, I am a non-target student and I try send e-mails to other non-targets. What is the best way to seamlessly put it in the e-mail?

7 Comments
 

How are you finding them?

Linkedin?

"It is better to have a friendship based on business, than a business based on friendship." - Rockefeller. "Live fast, die hard. Leave a good looking body." - Navy SEAL
 
Best Response

Exactly above is what I'd do.

Allude to how you and them share the common non-target (but I suggest not saying non-target) something like (school with less prominent placement in IB) or something like that. Maybe try to find something about them on Linkedin. You'll see associations, interests, awards, etc. You can normally find something which you can connect on (for me it's golf, rugby or gambling). Harder to put into an email but you'll figure it out man.

"It is better to have a friendship based on business, than a business based on friendship." - Rockefeller. "Live fast, die hard. Leave a good looking body." - Navy SEAL
 

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