Update gabbys-guide-to-cold-emailing-when-we-werent-even-hiring.mdx

Author: sonnynomnom

blogs/2026/gabbys-guide-to-cold-emailing-when-we-werent-even-hiring.mdx

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ Startups seemed like a good fit: wear lots of different hats, create visible imp
 
 ### How I Found Codédex (March 2024 - March 2025)
 
-In March 2024, Codédex was hosting their first in-person meetup in NYC: a [Gen Z women in tech meetup](https://partiful.com/e/wTmS0muHPG6Mj1rGRif9)! I just so happened to be in Brooklyn for a few weeks, cat sitting. I found the link in a Slack I was in, RSVPed, and was on a waitlist of 20 people, so I didn’t even expect to go. I got off the day of and went spontaneously.
+In March 2024, Codédex hosted their first in-person NYC meetup: a [Gen Z women in tech meetup](https://partiful.com/e/wTmS0muHPG6Mj1rGRif9)! I happened to be in Brooklyn cat-sitting, found the link in a Slack I was in, RSVPed, and was on a 20-person waitlist. I didn’t expect to go, but got off the list day-of and went spontaneously.
 
 ![Partiful RSVP](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/codedex-io/blog/refs/heads/main/blog-images/the-art-of-cold-emailing-how-i-landed-a-job-at-codedex-when-they-werent-even-hiring/partiful-rsvp.png)
 <Caption text="Can't believe it was almost 2 years ago..." />
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ I also highlighted that I’m flexible, since startups like to place people in n
 If you want to say more, links to your achievements and involvement are a nice add on.
 
 ![notion](https://i.imgur.com/0TDzUjJ.png)
-<Caption text="One ask. One sentence. Make replying easy." />
+<Caption text="Going above and beyond." />
 
 It signals that the read is optional, but that it provides more info about yourself if the company wants to know more about you. It’s a nice little “*juuust in case you were extra interested~”* Julien and I’s first convo happened to be about things I did that he read in my portfolio! 
 
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ To further hone in on my interest, I made a list of sample tasks I could do for
 ### Closing
 
 ![closing](https://i.imgur.com/5grPBZI.png)
+<Caption text="Professional." />
 
 Optional, but adding an email signature feels extra professional! There are lots of templates online to build one, but you can just make one with fonts you like in Google Docs and paste them in your email app. 
 
@@ -187,18 +188,19 @@ Now, press "Send"! 📧
 People are most active on their emails first thing in the morning and around after lunch, so I sent mine around then so it would be at the top of Sonny’s inbox. Then I proceeded to panic. I really wanted to work here!
 
 ![2 hours later](https://i.imgur.com/ZjhsOub.png)
+<Caption text="But felt like 6 hours." />
 
 Well, that was fast!
 
 ![sonny email](https://i.imgur.com/KmnebDB.png)
+<Caption text="This means they are at least interested!" />
 
 ### Bump if they don't answer
 
 Don’t forget to follow up once or twice, 3-5 days apart! Sometimes, hiring managers do like you but get buried in their work and forget to answer. Next steps often land in the follow up emails.
 
 ![bump](https://i.imgur.com/gDKsd8u.png)
-
-Don’t be pushy!
+<Caption text="Don't be pushy!" />
 
 Unfortunately for me, Sonny said the team wouldn’t be able to at the moment for budget reasons, but that they’d have more clarity when they finished fundraising. 
 
@@ -209,6 +211,7 @@ Unfortunately for Sonny, I don’t take no for an answer. 🤪
 I spent the next month building things for Codédex, even if they didn’t ask it. I didn’t want to spam emails, but I was going to do everything in my power to get a yes. I kept an eye on any news about fundraising, so that once the budget expanded, I was ready to jump. 
 
 ![the sequel](https://i.imgur.com/gSHEIFu.png)
+<Caption text="This is where I took things to a 12/10." />
 
 ### Adding MORE Value
 
@@ -230,6 +233,7 @@ I’ve heard some people say that saying that you have options will make compani
 Whew! And the rest is history:
 
 ![yesss](https://i.imgur.com/szWnN6L.png)
+<Caption text="Boom." />
 
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