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name: recruiter-outreach description: "Write personalized candidate outreach that gets replies. Use when asked to write a recruiter InMail, a candidate outreach email, a sourcing message, or a follow-up sequence. Produces a short, personalized first message (hook tied to the candidate, the role's appeal, a low-friction ask) plus a 2–3 step follow-up sequence — honest and candidate-respectful, not spammy."

Recruiter Outreach Skill

Passive candidates ignore generic blasts. Replies come from messages that are short, clearly personalized, and about them — why this role fits their trajectory, not a copy-paste pitch. This skill writes that first message and a light follow-up sequence, with a low-friction ask that makes saying "tell me more" easy.

Working from a brief

Given "reach out to a senior designer at a competitor for our staff design role", write the message anyway — infer a credible personalization hook and the role's genuine appeal, marking specifics (insert real detail) so the recruiter swaps in something true. Never fabricate a personal detail as if verified; never write a wall of text.

Required Inputs

Ask for these only if they aren't already provided (else infer and label):

• The role — title, what makes it genuinely attractive (impact, team, stage, comp/remote if a selling point).
• The candidate — what you can personalize on (their work, background, a shared interest) — real specifics.
• Your company — the one-line why-it's-interesting and any standout.
• Channel & tone — LinkedIn InMail / email, and how formal; plus the ask (quick chat, a call, just gauging interest).

Output Format

Outreach: [role]

First message — short (think 4–6 sentences / under ~120 words):

• Hook — a specific, genuine reason you're reaching out to them ([insert real detail]).
• The role — one or two lines on why it might fit their path — benefit to them, not a job-spec dump.
• Why credible — a quick signal the company/role is worth a look.
• Low-friction ask — an easy next step ("open to a quick chat?" / "worth a 15-min call?"), no pressure.
• Out — respectful close (fine to say not now / not interested).

Subject line (if email) — 2–3 options, specific not clickbait.

Follow-up sequence — 2–3 spaced messages: a gentle bump, a value-add angle (something new about the role/team), and a polite final "I'll stop here, but the door's open" — each short and non-pushy.

Notes — mark every [insert real detail]; keep claims about comp/role honest.

Quality Checks

• The first message is short and genuinely personalized — not a template with a name slotted in
• It leads with what's in it for the candidate, not a job-description paste
• The ask is low-friction and pressure-free, with an easy "no"
• The follow-up sequence adds value each time, isn't nagging, and has a graceful end
• Personalization placeholders are flagged for the recruiter to fill with real detail
• Tone is honest and respectful — no hype, no fake urgency

Anti-Patterns

• Do not write a generic "I came across your profile and was impressed" blast — it reads as spam
• Do not dump the whole job description — sell the fit and the next step
• Do not fabricate a personal connection — flag placeholders for true details
• Do not over-follow-up or guilt-trip — respect a non-reply and end gracefully
• Do not over-promise comp, level, or scope to get a reply — it backfires later

Based On

Candidate-sourcing practice — concise, candidate-centric personalization, benefit-led framing, low-friction asks, and respectful multi-touch follow-up.

Example Trigger Phrases

• "Write a recruiter InMail."
• "Write candidate outreach for this role."
• "Write a sourcing message."
• "Write a follow-up sequence for candidates."