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out of curiosity, how do you feel about cold emails asking for a conversation?

I am currently looking for a new job (potentially in a new industry), so I'm doing cold outreach to people whose experience seems relevant and/or interesting, asking for advice, and usually a phone call in which I can pick their brain

would you also view my emails as spam? if not, would you bother replying?




If you’re genuinely interested in a conversation, I think that’s different. If you’re reaching out to someone who you admire/‘know’, that’s you making an effort at a genuine human connection.

What I get are emails that say ‘I would love to write articles for your audience, please respond if you would like to see a sample.’ My site clearly doesn’t publish 3rd party articles. And if you were that keen, just send me the damned sample.

You’re okay.


I get those exact same article spam emails. I always wonder what the angle is there, whether they are farming SEO juice or what the deal is.


I've always assumed that they charge you for publishing.


I always try to respond if I get an email in a personal capacity asking for advice and the person doesn't seem to be trying to sell me on something, scam me or otherwise ruin my day. Sometimes I'm a bit snowed under so it takes me a while to dig out my inbox and get to replying but I always try to.

In your specific example I wolud absolutely respond if someone needed a bit of help getting a job or whatever but I would be wary. I have had people pretend that is the case and then they are actually trying to sell me some offshore development team or whatever. So sadly I have to be a bit more guarded than I would normally like.




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