Last Updated on 19 September 2023 by Willie Sy
For many, searching for a job and contacting recruiters is exhausting like running a marathon. We’ll show you how to message a recruiter, the right way.
In this blog post, I will show you how to message a recruiter on Linkedin, and how to do it successfully.
Linkedin provides amazing opportunities to set yourself apart from thousands of applicants.
To take advantage of that, though, you’ll need to know how to do it right.
For many, searching for a job and contacting hiring managers is exhausting like running a marathon.
Many individuals find it strange to reach out to people they don’t know.
It’s important to understand that Linkedin’s primary goal is to connect professionals. So, it’s in your best interest to learn how to use it masterfully.
Let’s begin!
How to Connect With Recruiters on LinkedIn
Follow these simple steps:
Find the Right Person
Think: Is this person in charge of hiring??
The best way to look for headhunters is to search for them.
It can be as easy as using Linkedin search to set the target industry and write the job title. In our case, that’s “recruiter.”
Another way is to search by location or company you want to work for. In case there is an active job post, look for the person who created it. If the job post creator is invisible, we got some tips on how to find them.
Also, I suggest joining different professional LinkedIn groups. This creates a shared space for future conversations with active hiring managers.
Do Your Research
If you’re reaching out to a recruiter for a job, be sure to research before getting in touch.
Why?
It helps you stand out and boosts the chances of recruiters noticing well-prepared candidates who’ve done their homework. It will also show you what the requirements for that position are and if they fit your profile.
See if You’re Allowed to Contact Them
In the free LinkedIn version, you can message your connections or 2nd-degree connections. To message someone outside your network, connect with them first.
If you haven’t tried it, you can get a free one-month trial of LinkedIn Premium. This could give you time to connect with those you’re interested in.
How to Approach a Recruiter on LinkedIn
Imagine you’re a recruiter. What is something you’re likely experiencing daily when interacting with new people?
You’re likely receiving tons of messages and emails from people having an “ I want something, give it to me” attitude.
Well, this is a great way to ruin your chances of getting hired. But if you want to increase your chances, here’s what you can do:
- Always offer something first – Think about how you can provide some sort of value to them. Even if that value is an honest comment on something they have previously done (shared an article, an opinion, etc.), it can be enough to start communication.
- Ask them for advice – They’ll be glad to share their opinion, especially if you tell them that you see them as someone who can give you the best advice.
- Ask your connection to introduce you – In case the recruiter has someone of your connections as their connection, ask them to introduce you. It can be an excellent way to meet them and get on point about why you’re there.
How to Contact Recruiters on LinkedIn
If you’re considering how to contact recruiters for a job post, see if there’s info about the job post’s poster. For example:
If you have a general inquiry or can’t find a name in the job post, you can search the company’s employee list. Look for these roles in the People segment.
And then search for some of the following terms, including the location for better results:
- Recruiter
- Director of People & Talent
- Human Resources / HR Manager
- Hiring Manager
- Recruitment Manager
Including some extra filters will give you the person you’re looking for.
Now’s the time to connect with them.
Remember to add a message in your connection request. If you’re already connected, you can send a LinkedIn message. InMail messages are powerful as you can contact nearly anyone on LinkedIn without connecting first.
What Should My Subject Line Be?
The hiring managers you’re reaching out to will likely decide whether to read your message primarily based on the subject line. Make sure your message to the hiring manager is well-written and that it is apparent what your message is about.
Here are a few examples that you can modify to fit your needs and use as your subject lines:
- Hey {{firstName}}, query about {{CompanyName}}
- Hey {{FirstName}} I love your new article
- {{FirstName}}, a query from a prospective Marketing Manager
- Speculative Application: Junior HR Manager
How Long Should Your Message Be
Using LinkedIn Inmail, you can use 200 characters in the subject line and 1900 characters for your message body. Just because you have this many characters available doesn’t mean you should write a novel.
What To Include In Your Message for Recruiter
Here are a few tips for composing a LinkedIn message that brings the desired results:
- Grab their attention with the subject line
- Introduce yourself first – You should write something about yourself. Still, you don’t have to introduce yourself at length. If interested, hiring managers can quickly review your LinkedIn for detailed achievements, skills, and experience.
- Keep it personal – don’t make your message look generic and boring. Personalize your messaging to make it more personal and less likely to be ignored.
- Know your goal – Knowing your goal and what you want will help you make it a reality. Be specific and tell them what job you’re looking for.
- Be short and to the point – respect the recruiter’s time, don’t waste it. And my friendly advice is to stay up to 600 characters with your message.
- Include CTA – always include a call-to-action to make them respond back. The trick is not to make them wonder what you want them to do next and what your goal is.
Sample Message to a Recruiter on LinkedIn
Here are some InMail templates for recruiters that can help boost your outreach and connection acceptance rate.
Example #1 – How to Reach Out to a Recruiter on LinkedIn
Hi {{Recruiter}},
Although we have never met or had the chance to work together, I’ve heard great things about {{TheirCompanyName}}. I’m sure you are extremely busy, but if there are any job openings around {{JobRole}}, I would love the chance to talk about why I might be a good fit.
Thank you in advance, and have a nice day!
{{YourName}}
Example #2
Hi {{FirstName}},
I’m {{YourName}} and I’m a {{JobTitle}}. I’m looking to connect with others in the {{Industry}} at this time.
I wish you a great day!
Thanks!
Example #2 – How to Message A Recruiter on LinkedIn – Follow Up
Hi {{FirstName}},
Thanks for connecting. I see that you work as a recruiter at {{CompanyName}} which is great. I’m sure you are extremely busy, but if you have time, I’d love to talk about whether my background would make me a fit for {{JobRole}} in any of your offices.
Thanks!
Example #3 – How to Message a Recruiter on LinkedIn After Applying
Hi {{FirstName}},
My name is {{YourName}} and I’m a {{YourProfession}}. If you have a second, I would love the chance to discuss how my {{SpecificSkill}}, and experiences might match the {{JobRole}} I’ve applied for in {{CompanyName}}.
Thanks for connecting and I hope to hear back from you soon!
Wish you a great day!
Example #3 – How to Respond to a Recruiter on LinkedIn – Positively
Hi {{FirstName}},
Thank you for reaching out about this great opportunity. I’m interested in hearing more about the {{JobRole}} role in {{CompanyName}}. If you’re free any day to take a call and answer a few questions, that would be great! Have a nice day and I look forward to hearing back from you.
Thanks in advance,
{{YourName}}
Example #4 – How to Respond to a Recruiter on LinkedIn – Negatively
Hi {{FirstName}},
Thank you for your note about the {{JobRole}} role opening. Even though the company seems great and the position is interesting, I’m happy to be where I’m at this moment. With that said, if I am looking to make a change in the future, I’ll make sure to reach out.
Thanks again and good luck with filling the position!
{{YourName}}
These guides might seem a bit simple but make results. Make sure to adapt them for yourself accordingly.
How to Attract a Recruiter to Your Profile
By creating a content for your industry, and mentioning the desired company in some of your posts, you can attract recruiters to consider you as a great candidate.
I advise you to share your knowledge and value with your connections. It will cause your network to grow by getting engagements on your content and views to your profile.
This proactive mindset strategy attracts recruiters and interests them to you.
Awesome, right!?
Sometimes, it can be a little hard to attract connections and other users to engage with your content!
For that reason, we created lempod!
Lempod is a LinkedIn automation tool that helps you increase your LinkedIn post views to reach an audience up to 10 times bigger than before.
This largest LinkedIn Engagement Pods marketplace helps content creators and businesses automatically support each other’s posts with mutual engagement.
This tool can be a great boost for your content visibility, so you can automate the whole process of getting great social media engagement on LinkedIn.
To start getting huge engagement with your posts, all you have to do is:
1. Install the lempod chrome extension
2. Join pods according to your niche, or create your pod
3. Start adding your LinkedIn posts to get likes and comments from other lempoders
Once you find the relevant LinkedIn pod for yourself, enter the Secret Code and wait until you get accepted.
You just need to post on LinkedIn, add your post to a specific lempod group, and other pod members automatically start engaging with it.
When your post starts getting shown to other pod members, as a result, you can get a 10 times bigger reach than the number of your connections.
Just as I did many times using Lempod:
Pricing
The pricing plan is simple – you pay $9.99 per month per pod. In case you’re creating your pod to get automatic engagement from your team, it costs $3.99 per month for each member who joins your pod.

Here are a few awesome pods that we’ve recently created for our newcomers:
SaaS Haven – All things SaaS – The secret code is: 6129
Growth Hackers – Worldwide – The secret code is: 6031
High-level Marketing Club – The secret code is: 1042
Startup Factory – Achieve Fast Startup Growth – The secret code is: 3348
The HR Mastermind – Everything about Human Resources – The secret code is: 4763
If you’re ready to start getting a huge engagement and bring the hiring managers to connect with you personally, then download the lempod extension, create an account, use the secret codes above and put your content on fire
Some Questions You Might Have …
How to follow up with a recruiter?
When you follow up after the interview, make sure to explain the purpose of your message clearly. Include information about the particular job position you’re seeking, such as the job title, and also mention the date of the interview. Express your interest for the position and inquire about any progress updates.
When to follow up with a recruiter?
Following a conversation with a recruiter, it’s advisable to send them a thank-you message within 24 hours. It’s a good idea to thank them for their time, show your enthusiasm about the job, and indicate that you’re ready for the next stages.
Typically, if you haven’t heard back from the recruiter, wait about five business days before sending a second follow-up. If the recruiter mentioned a longer response time, wait for that period to pass before reaching out again.
How should I reply when a recruiter contacts me?
Begin by expressing gratitude for their outreach. Followed by conveying your interest in the position and in joining the company.
Should I message a recruiter on LinkedIn?
It may sound weird but these days, connecting with a recruiter on LinkedIn is totally socially acceptable. So, feel free to send a message to recruiters, keeping in mind the tips we shared in this blog post.
How to find independent recruiters?
Independent recruiters or external recruiters serve their client companies by vetting and introducing potential and qualified talents to the hiring manager.
To find independent recruiters in LinkedIn:
- Use the search bar and enter terms like “Recruiter,” “Recruitment,” or “Headhunter” in combination with your industry or location.
- Select the “People” tab to ensure you find relevant profiles.
- Refine your search by adding specific keywords like “Executive”, “Engineering” or “Software Development.”
For further precision, utilize filters like location, company, and connection degree by clicking “All Filters.”
How to find an internal recruiter at a specific company?
Medium to large-sized companies often maintain their in-house recruiting teams or talent departments. These teams are responsible for finding, assessing, and introducing potential candidates to hiring managers for internal positions, rather than outsourcing this process to external agencies.
If you have preferred companies to work for then connecting with their internal recruiter is a good way to get noticed.
To find an internal LinkedIn recruiter,
-
- Use the search bar and switch to “Companies” mode to find the desired company.
- Once on the company’s profile, click “see all employees” in the lower right-hand corner to focus on individuals within that organization.