Word-of-mouth leads in Kansas City - what worked for you?

A friend who works at a local manufacturer says there are openings not advertised online. Any experience at all would help. They prefer people who can start within a couple of weeks. What do you write in a cold email?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it last year, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.

Small employers often hire on recommendation. Ask neighbours, former co-workers and your library.