{"id":"career-alumni-outreach-message","audience":"college","category":"career","technique":"tone","track":"writing","title":"Write a short alumni outreach note that asks for one call","free":false,"task":"You want to message a Lewis State alum on LinkedIn about her path into aerospace. Keep it under 70 words, plain text, mention the club you both were in, and refer to where she works now. Ask only for a 15-minute call in the next two weeks, not for a job or referral. Don't open with \"I hope this message finds you well\", and sign it \"Thanks, Jonah\".","materialLabel":"Her profile and your notes (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"ALUM PROFILE (from LinkedIn)\nRenata Silva, Propulsion Test Engineer\nKestrel Aerospace, June 2026 - present\nNorthwind Air, Systems Engineer, 2021 - 2026\nLewis State University, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2021\nActivities: Robotics Club (vice president), Society of Women Engineers\nRecent post: \"Our team just finished the first full-duration engine test at the new Mojave site. Proud of this crew.\"\n\nMY NOTES (Jonah Feld, sophomore, mechanical engineering)\n- I'm in Robotics Club now, I do the drivetrain for our competition bot\n- curious how she moved from airline systems work into propulsion testing\n- not applying anywhere yet, just trying to figure out if test engineering fits me\n- my advisor said alumni say yes more when the ask is small and specific\n- I could also ask if Kestrel is hiring interns?? -> no, too soon","rules":[{"type":"maxWords","max":70},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Asking for too much","why":"The AI often slips in 'and if Kestrel has any openings' because you're a student, which makes a cold note feel like a job request.","fix":"Add: \"Ask only for a 15-minute call in the next two weeks. Don't ask about jobs or referrals.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Missing the shared detail","why":"Without a nudge, the AI writes a generic note that could go to anyone.","fix":"Add: \"Mention we were both in Robotics Club and her engine testing at Kestrel.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Getting the stock opener","why":"AI messages start with 'I hope this message finds you well' and end with a long sign-off.","fix":"Add: \"Don't open with 'I hope this finds you well'. Sign it: Thanks, Jonah\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total and it often lands 20% over.","fix":"Cap each part: \"4 sentences, each under 14 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]},{"title":"Forgetting where it's going","why":"AI adds bold and headings that show up as stray symbols in a LinkedIn message box.","fix":"Add: \"Plain text, no bold, no headings.\"","checks":["plainText"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Names the shared club","patterns":["robotics","club"]},{"label":"Keeps the ask small","patterns":["15.?min","one call","short call","(not|no|don't|do not).{0,20}(job|referral|intern|hiring)"]},{"label":"Bans the stock opener","patterns":["finds you well","opener","open with"]},{"label":"Gives the sign-off","patterns":["thanks, jonah","sign"]},{"label":"Sets a length limit","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words","word (limit|count)","under \\d+"]}],"hint":"Busy alumni say yes to small, specific asks from people with something in common. Tell the AI the shared detail, the exact ask, what not to ask for, and how to start and end.","rubricLabels":["Mentions Robotics Club and refers to her current work at Kestrel Aerospace or its engine testing (not only Northwind Air)","Asks for one 15-minute call in the next two weeks and does not ask about jobs, internships, hiring or a referral","Doesn't open with 'I hope this message finds you well' (or a close variant) and ends with 'Thanks, Jonah'"]}