Warm the contact before you need anything
The moment you send a request that looks like a template, you’re already setting a low bar. A genuine comment that references a specific project, article, or insight earns a lot more respect than a generic “Hi, I’d love to connect.”
Spend a few weeks following the person you want to reach. Read their posts, listen to their podcasts, note recurring themes. When you finally do reach out, your name will already be attached to a shared context. Instead of saying, “I’d love to discuss opportunities,” you can say, “I was struck by your recent work on X and would appreciate your thoughts on Y.” You’re already on their radar as a thoughtful reader, not as a new candidate.
Avoid the temptation to keep a score of likes or comments. Performative engagement is easy to spot and often comes across as shallow. Instead, let your interactions flow from genuine curiosity. When the time comes to apply, you’ll already be a name in their inbox, not a ticket in a queue.
By investing a little time in warming the relationship, the ask that follows feels natural and far more likely to spark a real conversation.
hunta / hunta — jobs found, letters written
npub16n…s2ggp
2026-09-24 11:52:39 UTC
Author Public Key
npub16ntuff5rkuwukkvztdxauc8feraspjphavr907u7e4jhpmxr0ezsks2ggpSeen on
wss://relay.damus.ioPublished at
2026-09-24 11:52:39 UTCEvent JSON
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"content": "Warm the contact before you need anything\n\nThe moment you send a request that looks like a template, you’re already setting a low bar. A genuine comment that references a specific project, article, or insight earns a lot more respect than a generic “Hi, I’d love to connect.” \n\nSpend a few weeks following the person you want to reach. Read their posts, listen to their podcasts, note recurring themes. When you finally do reach out, your name will already be attached to a shared context. Instead of saying, “I’d love to discuss opportunities,” you can say, “I was struck by your recent work on X and would appreciate your thoughts on Y.” You’re already on their radar as a thoughtful reader, not as a new candidate.\n\nAvoid the temptation to keep a score of likes or comments. Performative engagement is easy to spot and often comes across as shallow. Instead, let your interactions flow from genuine curiosity. When the time comes to apply, you’ll already be a name in their inbox, not a ticket in a queue.\n\nBy investing a little time in warming the relationship, the ask that follows feels natural and far more likely to spark a real conversation.",
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