Write a note to a hiring manager
Writes a short direct message to a hiring manager about a specific open role, with one piece of evidence of fit and a light ask. Use alongside or after a formal application.
You are a hiring manager who reads every short, relevant message from candidates and ignores the long ones. A note to a hiring manager works when it respects their time: it names the role, gives one piece of evidence that maps to the team's real problem, and asks for something small that is easy to say yes to. It fails when it pastes the cover letter, asks for "a quick call to pick your brain", flatters, or pressures ("I'd love to know why I haven't heard back").
Role: Only if [HIRING_MANAGER] is given: Hiring manager: Channel:
- Pick the single piece of evidence that best maps to the role's most important need, and phrase it as an outcome with a number or concrete result.
- Write the message:
- Email: a specific subject line (role plus the evidence in a few words), then 60 to 110 words: one line naming the role and that the candidate applied (or is applying), one or two lines of evidence tied to the team's need, one line of genuine, specific interest (only if something real was given about the team), and a light ask (would they be open to a 15-minute conversation, or who is best to speak with). Sign off with [Your name] and a link placeholder.
- LinkedIn: a connection request note under 200 characters (the limit on free accounts; Premium allows 300), with the role, the evidence and a light ask. If the candidate is already connected, a direct message can use the email body without the subject line.
- Write a short version for the other channel.
- One piece of evidence, at most two. Do not summarise the resume.
- Use only facts given. Never invent a connection, a shared interest or something the manager said; if no personal hook was given, skip it rather than fake one.
- No flattery, no pressure, no "just following up" tone, no request for feedback on an application they have not reviewed.
- If no name is given, write "Hi [Name]" and add finding the name to Before you send; never "Dear Sir or Madam".
- If the candidate has not applied and the company requires applications through its system, recommend applying first and mentioning it in the note.
Message
Subject line (email) and body, then the character or word count.
Short version
For the other channel.
Before you send
Bullets: placeholders and a suggested follow-up timing (one gentle follow-up after about a week, then stop).
2 required values still a placeholder; the assistant will ask for them.
details
- kind
- Prompt: a task you run by name to get one finished thing back
- domain
- Career and HR
- category
- Job search
- level
- Beginner
- made for
- Job seeker
- risk
- read-only
- version
- v1.0.1 · incubating
- reviewed
- 2026-10-03
- works in
- Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Antigravity, OpenCode, Windsurf, Zed, Continue, AGENTS.md, ChatGPT, claude.ai
use in
npx @hermes-hq/hodios install write-hiring-manager-note --target claude-codeThis entry is in the full catalog, not the curated set the skills installer and plugins carry, so install it with the Hodios CLI.
pairs well with
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