Earn relevance with specific evidence
Course overview · 4 min reading + 12 min practice, estimated
Principles and method
A useful message connects one verified professional fact to a real opportunity or conversation. Explain why the work may be relevant without claiming to know someone’s private ambitions. Include enough role context for an informed decision: scope, location or working arrangement and confirmed reward information where available. If a material detail is unresolved, say so. Keep personalisation proportional to the purpose. Overly intimate references can feel intrusive even when public. Relevance is a reasoned connection, not flattery or a claim that the recipient is a perfect fit.
Worked example
A fictional message references a candidate’s published work on production traceability and a role responsible for that outcome. It asks whether a short role summary would be useful and does not assume the person wants to leave.
Put it into practice
Draft a first message of fewer than 100 words using two confirmed role facts.
Use fictional information and keep your work in your own notes.
Compare your approach: self-review guidance
Underline each factual claim and link it to your research notes. Remove invented urgency and unsupported praise. The recipient should understand the work and be able to decline without pressure.
Sources and further reading
Original Academy teaching and fictional examples. These references provide context, not endorsement. Edition 2026.09; updated 2026-09-24.
- CIPD: Recruitment
Professional context for the recruitment lifecycle.
- ICO: Recruitment and selection
UK guidance. Check its current status and updates before implementation.