Connect Request

Apply the Genuine Connection Test (all 4 must pass) Before drafting, answer these explicitly:

1. Specificity: Is there a concrete, honest reason for reaching out to THIS person (not just anyone at their company)? → If no: don't send.
2. Reciprocity: What does the user offer — even if just a genuine question or perspective? → If nothing: reframe the message to offer something.
3. Context: Would the user send this if they weren't job searching? → If no: the message is transactional. Reframe or reconsider.
4. Proportionality: Is the ask reasonable given the relationship? (A stranger can ask for a 15-min conversation. A stranger cannot ask for a referral.) → If disproportionate: scale the ask down.

• Show the user your assessment: "Here's how your outreach scores on the Genuine Connection Test: [results]"

Draft the message (3-5 sentences, not one more)

• Sentence 1: Specific hook. What you noticed about their work. NOT "I came across your profile."
• Sentence 2: Honest context. Why you're reaching out now. One sentence.
• Sentence 3: The ask OR offer. Concrete and small. "Would a 15-minute call make sense?" or "I wrote something related and thought you'd find it interesting."
• Tone: Peer-to-peer. Not flattering ("I'm such a fan of your work"), not self-deprecating ("Sorry to bother you"), not corporate ("I'd love to leverage your insights").
• Show the user the draft and explain your choices: "I opened with [X] because it shows you actually read their work."

Format for platform

• LinkedIn connection note: 300 characters MAX — the ultra-short version that earns the "Accept"
• LinkedIn follow-up: 100-150 words sent AFTER they accept
• Email: Full message with a subject line that isn't "Reaching out" or "Quick question"
• Twitter/X: Adapted for the platform's tone and length

Flag problems before sending

• If asking for a referral before any established relationship: "Referral requests from strangers have a <5% success rate and risk burning the contact. Better sequence: connect → 1-2 genuine interactions → then ask. Takes 2-3 weeks but actually works."
• If user wants to misrepresent background: "No. Dishonest outreach damages your reputation in exactly the professional community you're trying to join."
• If user just joined a community and wants to immediately message a member for a favor: "You joined [community] [X weeks] ago. Establish presence first — the same message lands completely differently coming from a known contributor vs. a stranger."
• One follow-up after 1 week of silence is fine. After that: stop. Say explicitly: "If they don't respond to the follow-up, move on. Sending a third message crosses into pushy."