{"id":"ind-job-alumni-coffee-message","audience":"job-seekers","category":"writing-emails","technique":"constraints","title":"Message an alum for a short informational call","free":false,"task":"You want a 20-minute call with an alum who works where you'd like to work. Write a LinkedIn message under 70 words, plain text: one specific reason you're writing to her (from her profile), a clear ask for a 20-minute call with two time options, and no attachments or job requests. Don't open with \"I hope this finds you well.\" Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.","materialLabel":"Her profile notes and your notes (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"HER PROFILE (from LinkedIn): Imani Okafor\n- Supply Chain Planning Manager, Harlow Foods (fictional), since 2023\n- Westbrook State '15, B.S. Supply Chain Management\n- Posted last month: \"Proud of our team for cutting forecast error from 18% to 11% with a new demand planning process.\"\n- Mentors for the Westbrook alumni program\n\nMY NOTES (Zoe Patel)\n- Westbrook State senior, supply chain major, graduating May 2027\n- Want to ask how she moved from analyst to manager, and what Harlow's demand planning team looks like\n- Times I'm free: Tuesday Nov 18 after 2 PM, or Thursday Nov 20 before noon (Eastern)\n- Harlow has an open Supply Chain Analyst role (posted Nov 1)\n- My resume is ready (PDF)","rules":[{"type":"maxWords","max":70},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for \"under 70 words\" and it often lands well over.","fix":"Cap each part instead: \"4 sentences, each under 16 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]},{"title":"A generic opener","why":"The AI starts with \"I hope this message finds you well\" and a long intro.","fix":"Add: \"No pleasantries. Open with one specific reason from her profile.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"A vague ask","why":"\"Would love to connect sometime!\" gives her nothing to say yes to.","fix":"Add: \"Ask for 20 minutes and offer Tue Nov 18 after 2 or Thu Nov 20 before noon.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Asking for a job","why":"The AI mentions the open role or attaches a resume, which turns a chat into a favor.","fix":"Add: \"Don't mention the open role or my resume.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Ignoring where it will be pasted","why":"AI loves bold and headings, which show up as stray ** and # symbols in LinkedIn.","fix":"Name the place and the format: \"For LinkedIn. Plain text, no bold or headings.\"","checks":["plainText"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Gives a specific reason","patterns":["specific","her post","forecast","profile"]},{"label":"Offers two times","patterns":["two (time|option)","tue(sday)?","thu(rsday)?","nov(ember)? 18"]},{"label":"Rules out job asks","patterns":["don'?t (ask|mention).{0,20}(job|role|resume)","no resume","referral"]},{"label":"Bans pleasantries","patterns":["hope this finds","pleasantr","no (intro|small talk)"]},{"label":"Sets a word limit","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words","word (limit|count)"]}],"hint":"Busy people answer short, specific asks. Tell the AI why you picked her, the exact ask with times, and what not to ask for.","rubricLabels":["Gives one specific reason tied to her profile (her post about cutting forecast error from 18% to 11%, or the shared Westbrook State supply chain degree), and doesn't open with 'I hope this finds you well' or a similar pleasantry","Asks for a 20-minute call and offers both time options: Tuesday Nov 18 after 2 PM and Thursday Nov 20 before noon","Doesn't ask about the open job or a referral, and doesn't attach or mention a resume"]}