A warm intro is an introduction to a person — a hiring manager, founder, or decision-maker — facilitated by someone who knows you both. Because a trusted mutual connection is vouching for you, a warm intro carries far more weight than a cold approach.
Warm intros lift your reply rate dramatically. The recipient is no longer evaluating a stranger; they're doing a favor for someone they trust. This is why activating your network — even loose connections like former colleagues, classmates, or LinkedIn mutuals — is one of the highest-leverage moves in a job search.
When you can't get a warm intro, a well-crafted cold email is the next best thing — and the two can be combined: identify a mutual connection on LinkedIn, request a quick intro, and if none is available, reach out cold while referencing any shared context you do have.