Cold emails are a great way to land a job. Here's what I've learned: ∙ Email the CEO directly. ∙ Show that you're unique. ∙ Be specific. ∙ Make a bold request. ∙ Have a clear call-to-action. ∙ Don't be humble. This isn't the time to be modest. Now... make magic happen.

I sent an email recently that I wouldn’t have dared try a few years ago, something along the lines of “I’m planning to start an organization similar to yours; would you consider letting me run yours instead?” The response? Crickets. Maybe that person thinks I overstepped. But it doesn’t matter, because a similar pitch delivered to someone else put ... See more