Table of Contents
- Introduction
- A. Explanation of the importance of networking on LinkedIn
- B. Overview of how to effectively reach out to recruiters on the platform
- II. Why reaching out to a recruiter on LinkedIn is important
- Statistics on the power of LinkedIn for job seekers
- How recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates
- Using paid tools
- Relying on keywords
- They use InMail
- Networking
- Using "people also viewed"
- Job title hashtags
- III. Tips for reaching out to a recruiter on LinkedIn
- Do your research on the recruiter and their company
- B. Personalize your message
- Highlight your relevant experience and skills
- Keep it professional and concise
- IV. 7 message templates for reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn
- Template for introducing yourself and expressing interest in a specific job opening
- Template for inquiring about potential job opportunities with the recruiter's company
- Template for requesting an informational interview or coffee chat
- Template for asking for feedback on your resume or LinkedIn profile
- Template for following up after meeting the recruiter at a networking event
- Template for expressing gratitude and keeping in touch after a successful job placement
- Template for reconnecting with a recruiter after a period of inactivity
- Things you want to avoid when contacting a recruiter
- V. Conclusion
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Introduction
According to the Recruiter National Survey, around 72% of hiring managers go to LinkedIn whenever they are looking for talent. It's easy to see why, LinkedIn is the best place where you can have a professional presence while also highlighting your expertise and network. While you can wait for recruiters to get in touch, you can also choose to connect with them yourself. That's why you want to know how to message a recruiter on LinkedIn and which steps are ideal for this process.
It's very important to ensure that you capture the attention of recruiters. The problem is that they receive tons of messages, and if your headline and content are very similar to others, they might ignore it. The best thing you can do is to know what kind of LinkedIn message to recruiter makes you stand out. Ideally, you want to keep it short, while also highlighting your expertise.
That’s why it makes sense to learn how to create a good message, or you can use tools like Never Jobless to generate appealing, engaging and unique messages for that entire process. It’s important to know how to stand out, since every niche has a plethora of potential competitors!
A. Explanation of the importance of networking on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the most important social platform made with professionals in mind. That means it's the ideal place for you to not only connect with others, but also enhance your network's size. The question is, why does networking matter on LinkedIn? Here are some benefits:
- Networking allows you to find new job opportunities, while also showcasing your knowledge and expertise to new companies
- It's the ideal way to interact with a group of diverse professionals. That can guide you towards new perspectives and skillsets, which leads to more abilities in the long run.
- You can find lots of people who provide support or mentoring via LinkedIn. It will make the process of advancing within your industry a lot quicker. Plus, you get to learn what mistakes you must avoid, something that's extremely important to keep in mind.
- Whenever you are networking, you're slowly increasing your online visibility. Start posting content, connect with others, and you will soon start generating more buzz in the long term.
- Networking offers a great starting point when it comes to new partnerships and collaborations. You might find great people for your new projects or entrepreneurial endeavors. Or, if you already work within a company, you can start collaborating with others and find new partners.
- As you network and meet more people, that will lead to powerful career development down the line. It's also opening new ways for you to update/enhance your knowledge, which is crucial for any business.
- Once you start networking on LinkedIn, it becomes the best place to market yourself. Having more connections gives you access to all kinds of platforms, businesses, and opportunities you would not have otherwise. That's why, for a lot of people, networking on LinkedIn can prove to be a gamechanger.
B. Overview of how to effectively reach out to recruiters on the platform
Reaching a recruiter on LinkedIn might seem overwhelming, but it's a seamless process. Ideally, you want to be fully prepared and ready for any questions whenever you send a message to recruiter on LinkedIn. In addition, you should also take these things into account:
- Search LinkedIn for recruiters within your area. Once you find them, create a list and start contacting them individually. Before you do that, however, you want to understand their company, the role that company is hiring for, and their overall background. That way, you will know what role to target, and it will increase your chances.
- You can try to find recruiters on other platforms, too. This can be a great way to identify recruiters, and then you can search them on LinkedIn. However, even if you try to use other platforms to identify recruiters, ideally, you only want to talk with them via LinkedIn. That way, they also get to see who you are, and they might even visit your profile for more info.
- You want to introduce yourself, talk about where you found them, what role you are interested in, and how you can help that company. You can also highlight some relevant experience for that particular position. That way, the recruiter will be interested and check your profile. You should avoid sharing all relevant data/info in your message. Instead, make them check your profile.
In case someone gives you a link to a recruiter's LinkedIn profile, let the recruiter know about the introduction. That connection might increase your chances of at least arranging a meeting. From there, it's all up to you and your skill set.
One of the crucial things to keep in mind is that you always want to optimize your profile. A lot of job seekers see LinkedIn as regular social media, so they don't always optimize it correctly. You also need to keep in mind this is where you showcase your professional presence. What we recommend is to upload a professional headshot, so recruiters can see who you are dealing with.
Additionally, you want to write a very appealing, compelling headline. Here, you want to include things like your language fluency, industry expertise, but also the type of job opportunities you are interested in. Doing that is an ideal way to showcase your knowledge without being too intrusive.
Aside from these ideas, you want to prepare your profile with recommendations. Ask previous employers or even colleagues to share a recommendation. That will help you stand out in the eyes of a recruiter. Adding relevant keywords to your profile will also make you easier to find. Yet even if you're the one contacting a recruiter, they will see you have plenty of knowledge and know-how to create a personal brand. All of these can be a helpful factor as you try to stand out among hundreds of messages.
II. Why reaching out to a recruiter on LinkedIn is important
Recruiters gravitate towards LinkedIn for a variety of reasons. According to Finances Online, 67% of recruiters who hire from LinkedIn say that they worked with high-quality professionals. The platform also makes it easier for recruiters to find talent, hence the reason why there are 58 million companies listed on the platform. It's great for branding but also an excellent way for them to find talent.
Statistics on the power of LinkedIn for job seekers
- Every minute, six people get hired via LinkedIn. That delivers great opportunities to job seekers, since there are a plethora of businesses from any niche with a LinkedIn presence. Get in touch with the right people, and you might be able to set up a meeting very fast.
- There are over 40000 skills listed on the platform. That means you won't have a problem finding and highlighting skills you have. Plus, include those as a keyword in your application, and you will be much easier to find when recruiters search the platform.
- According to a study, 92% of recruiters are using social media as a part of the recruiting process. That becomes a major advantage because you have access to a massive talent pool and thus have the ability to find the right people for the job at hand.
- Companies receive around 210 million applications every month via LinkedIn. That shows recruiters are very active on the platform. It becomes a great idea to send a LinkedIn message to recruiters so you can grab their attention and show what makes you different.
- Also, even a simple, casual chat with a recruiter can lead to job opportunities, at least according to 35% of professionals.
- The InMail service can also be a solid way to connect with recruiters, one that can be advantageous. Salesflow statistics show that LinkedIn InMail messages with 400 characters or shorter tend to have a 22% higher response rate when compared to the average. Shorter messages are always better, which is a crucial aspect to take into account. Only 10% of the InMail messages are under 400 characters, while 46% are longer than 800.
How recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates
Every company's recruiter will have their strategy in regards to finding candidates. Here are some of the most common strategies:
Using paid tools
Using a paid tool like the LinkedIn recruiter can be a way to help find candidates quicker and with more efficiency. It allows recruiters to narrow down candidates based on specific criteria while not having to sift through hundreds of applications manually.
Relying on keywords
Lots of recruiters choose to manually search for talent using the platform's tools. They choose the desired area, and then target certain keywords to identify qualified talent for their own knowledge and expertise. Some recruiters go the extra mile to combine Boolean search operators and keywords. That helps narrow down specific requirements even further.
They use InMail
InMail is a great tool for recruiters to get in direct contact with talent. Since recruiters actively search for qualified professionals, they might get in touch with people that show the most promise/interest. So it's possible to sometimes receive an InMail message from recruiters.
Networking
Obviously, networking is still one of the top-tier methods recruiters are using to connect with professionals. Recruiters connect with one another, and they will share contact details for talent that's relevant. That's why it makes sense to send messages to a LinkedIn recruiter. Even if they might not have a specific position ready for you, they can still share your details with other people. And that alone can become a major advantage.
Using "people also viewed"
The "people also viewed" feature is great because it allows you to see who checked the company profile. Recruiters use that to find talent that heard about their business. Some candidates are passive, but they still check the market. They can be the ideal target for a recruiter, too.
Job title hashtags
In some cases, you will find recruiters that rely on various hashtags. Finding and using job title hashtags can help narrow down potential candidates too. Also, "open for hire" hashtags can be a great idea.
III. Tips for reaching out to a recruiter on LinkedIn
Now that you know how important LinkedIn is when it comes to finding a job, it's a good idea to learn how to approach a recruiter. The thing is, you don't want to have a blatant, random approach. The truth is that you must learn how to connect with the recruiter. Here, you have a few steps that might help make that process easier and more convenient.
Do your research on the recruiter and their company
It's imperative to know the company and their culture, but also the type of work they do. Instead of randomly contacting a recruiter asking for an interview, perform your due diligence. Focus on understanding the type of work they do, the talent they have, etc. Also, learn about the recruiter as well.
That will help you craft a great message that targets the company's needs while also maintaining a high level of professionalism. It always helps if you focus on showing the true value you can provide. It can be confusing when you try to learn what to message a recruiter on LinkedIn. But it always comes down to showing yourself as a solution for their needs. Once you do that, you have a high chance of recruiters reaching back to you and getting in touch.
B. Personalize your message
Make sure that your message is always personalized. Not having a personalized message is an issue, because it makes your message feel like a generic one, without a clear purpose. It feels rushed, and recruiters will notice that.
You have to see things from a recruiter's perspective. They receive dozens or hundreds of messages a day. That means you need to stand out, and sending a generic message is not the way to achieve that. Instead, when you're asking what to message a recruiter on LinkedIn, try to focus on meaningfulness. Show what value you can provide to their company, highlight your experience, and provide solutions to their pain points.
If you’re not sure how to personalize or create unique messages for LinkedIn, you can try to use the Never Jobless tool. The app is made specifically to help you stand out and generate astonishing, engaging and eye-catching messages. That way, any hiring managers won’t ignore your messages, instead they will gravitate towards it. With Never Jobless, you can start building rapport with hiring managers, show your true value and fully personalize all your LinkedIn messages!
Highlight your relevant experience and skills
If you're looking to stand out when talking with a recruiter on LinkedIn, then you have to show what makes you different. That's where you have to highlight your skills and experience. Since LinkedIn messages shouldn't be very long, always try to focus on showing your knowledge and what you can offer. Highlighting your relevant skills and experience is what will set you apart. However, this can also be a double-edged sword. You can run into a problem where you showcase too many skills, some of which might not have relevance. That's why you want to create a list beforehand.
Some recruiters will skim through messages trying to find keywords or specific experience. You can take advantage of that by showcasing your expertise in that particular kind of workplace. For example, if you are reaching out to a recruiter from a tech company, show your certifications and programming languages you know. If you talk with a marketing recruiter, showcase your previous projects and how you helped businesses. Relevant experience is what every recruiter is looking for, so use that to your advantage.
Keep it professional and concise
Your message should be sent with the idea of generating interest and requesting a meeting/call. Also, ensure that your message has a professional tone, as it will highlight your attention to detail. It's also crucial to maintain very good grammar, because any grammar mistakes can make your message less appealing/professional.
IV. 7 message templates for reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn
Once you learn how to reach out to recruiters on LinkedIn, you must figure out the right messages that you should send via these platforms. The challenge here is that most of the time, you don't know where to get started. You might also end up questioning your messages, if they are good enough or not. What matters is to have a proper starting point, like the keywords we've shown below. Those will help you get started and figure out how to approach recruiters, while also offering a good insight into how to persuade recruiters to send a reply your way.
Template for introducing yourself and expressing interest in a specific job opening
Subject: Seeking a recruitment opportunity for (open role)
Hello (the recruiter's name)
My name is (your name), and I wanted to get in touch regarding the advertised position of (what position you saw). I've been working within this niche for over X (number of) years, and I was able to (list accomplishments here). I think the open position your company has right now is a perfect fit for me, and I will be able to add value and help your company.
Attached you can find my resume with more information about my previous work, experience and achievements. I am looking forward to your reply and connecting for an eventual meeting.
Thank you for your time!
Respectfully
(Your name)
Template for inquiring about potential job opportunities with the recruiter's company
Subject: Inquiry about job opportunity in (company name)
Hello (the recruiter's name)
My name is (your name), and I've been a part of the (industry) for over X years. Over my time in this industry, I achieved (share your achievements and relevant work highlights). Recently, I was introduced to your company, and I was very impressed with its industry impact, innovation, and creativity. I am exploring new opportunities; I would be interested in offering my skills for your business, and to see if there are any job openings available.
I attached my resume for more information about my achievements and previous work. Also, don't hesitate to get in touch if you need more information; I will gladly share what you deem necessary. Thank you so much for reading this message, and I am looking forward to your reply!
Respectfully
(Your name)
Template for requesting an informational interview or coffee chat
Subject: Contacting for an informational interview or business chat
Hello (the recruiter's name)
My name is (your name), and I am getting in touch in order to learn more about your company and its current job openings. I've been a part of this industry for multiple years (share number), and I am currently looking to find new job opportunities, according to my updated expertise and industry experience. I've heard very good things about your company and its culture, and I would like to get in touch with you and learn more about any current job opportunities/openings that you might have.
I would like for us to schedule a meeting or informational interview, according to your schedule. I think that I'm able to deliver great value for your business, as I've been working within this niche on multiple roles, including (share relevant roles).
I am looking forward to talking with you about any currently open positions, and seeing what I could be an ideal fit for. Thank you for your time!
Respectfully
(Your name)
Template for asking for feedback on your resume or LinkedIn profile
Subject: Professional inquiry: Looking for resume feedback
Hello (the recruiter's name)
My name is (your name), and I am specialized in (your specialization), with over X years of experience. Throughout my career, I've continually heard and learned about your company and seen the great difference it makes in the marketplace. That's why I am connecting today, to learn more about potential job opportunities from your business, while also looking for feedback.
If you could be so gracious as to take the time and check my attached resume or LinkedIn profile link, that would be much appreciated. I hope you can look at my profile/resume and let me know what I could improve, and what requirements I might not be meeting yet. Any feedback is much appreciated, and it will help immensely.
Thank you for your time and patience!
Respectfully
(Your name)
Template for following up after meeting the recruiter at a networking event
Subject: Connecting after meeting each other at the (networking event name)
Hello (the recruiter's name)
My name is (your name), and we met each other at (networking event name) a few days ago. It was great to talk with you, and listen to your ideas and opinions regarding the current state of the industry. I would be delighted to speak with you and connect even further, and also see what job opportunities are available within your company.
I am specialized as a (specialization), with over X years of experience. I would be delighted to get in touch with you and set up a discussion/interview, but also connect via LinkedIn if possible. You have a link to my LinkedIn profile here (share link), where you can learn more about my work experience, expertise, and skillset.
I am looking forward to connecting with you and learning more about your business and its current opportunities!
Respectfully
(Your name)
Template for expressing gratitude and keeping in touch after a successful job placement
Subject: Thank you for your professionalism and great recruitment experience
Hello (the recruiter's name)
My name is (your name), and I wanted to get in touch to thank you for the opportunity provided. I appreciate your candor, professionalism, and the ability to find the perfect job according to my skill set. I am delighted to work for the company and to provide my insights and expertise in order to help it grow and evolve in the long run.
It would have never been possible without your help, so I can assure you that it's much appreciated, and I am extremely happy with the entire process, as well as how things turned out. I am thankful for all the help, and I hope we can stay connected via LinkedIn!
Thank you again,
Respectfully
(Your name)
Template for reconnecting with a recruiter after a period of inactivity
Subject: Seeking to connect about potential job opportunities
Hello (the recruiter's name)
My name is (your name), and I am contacting you to learn more about current job opportunities/openings within your company. I am coming back after a period of inactivity, due to (reason why you were inactive). During this time, I worked on my skillset even further, and I can help your company in a variety of ways, including (the positions you seek and which you are qualified for).
I am looking forward to your reply and to seeing various ways I can help your business. I am excited to learn more about currently available job openings that would be fit for someone with experience in (list your primary expertise).
Thank you so much for your time; I am excited to see your reply!
Respectfully
(Your name)
Things you want to avoid when contacting a recruiter
Sending a LinkedIn message to recruiter can be a great idea, but also a double-edged sword. If you're not careful, you can also make a variety of mistakes. That's why it's imperative to figure out which are the most common mistakes, but also how you can avoid those problems yourself. Here's a quick list of mistakes that you should always avoid.
- You send a request without a note. Needless to say, a random request coming out of nowhere has low to no chances of getting accepted. The truth is that you want to share a proper, high quality and personalized note. That will grab the attention of the recruiter, while also showing the reason why you added them. Don't just send a request out of nowhere because it's rarely accepted.
- Don't ever say, "I haven't applied yet". Many recruiters will ignore requests that include this, because they might think you are not qualified. And if that's the case, why would they reply to your message?
- Sharing that you have experience, without details. Sure, everyone has experience, but what kind of experience do you have? Is it relevant to the position you are seeking to fill? Try to share that, and also talk about relevant accomplishments or motivations. Those will grab the attention of the recruiter more than anything else.
- Not doing your research is also a mistake. Don't share a general message and hope for the best. Perform your due diligence, personalize the message, and know what kind of people the company is hiring. If you are a good fit, show your advantages and stand out.
- Avoid being one of the three extremes. Some people are very irritable applicants, they try to over-appease or they are overly professional. These types of people/messages can deter a recruiter from working with you, so it's a good idea to avoid that as much as you can.
- A lack of transparency is also one of the mistakes job applicants make. Some of them tend to sugarcoat things in order to make their experience or knowledge feel more appealing. However, you want to be realistic and not hide or enhance things. Because the reality will always come back to bite you, one way or another.
- Not being available is a major mistake. Sure, you are sending messages, but all of a sudden, you barely reply to any inquiries from recruiters. That's a mistake because it shows a lack of interest. It becomes a problem, because you want to show you have value to provide, and you are willing to deliver great results.
- Obviously, you don't want to have grammar mistakes. It shows that you rushed your message; you didn't go through it even once, and that deters recruiters from reading. That means your request/message will most likely be ignored, which is definitely the last thing you want.
- Don't use misleading email subject lines. Instead, what you want to do is to stay on point. Make sure that the email title matches the content and your overall intention.
- Never use the wrong name, because it leaves a very bad impression in the eyes of a recruiter. That alone can be extremely problematic, especially when you are dealing with recruiters from large firms.
- Also, avoid sending a message that's tedious, long, and rather boring. You always want a message to be quick, to the point, and easy to read. Let's face it: we live in a time when the attention span of most people is very low. That's why you want to be to the point and efficient.
V. Conclusion
Learning how to message a recruiter on LinkedIn and using best practices can help you stand out as a candidate. The truth is that talking with a recruiter via LinkedIn is a solid introduction, and it can open up amazing opportunities. Plus, many recruiters are already using LinkedIn for recruiting purposes, so it's a good idea to take advantage of that.
Optimize your LinkedIn profile, experiment with different message types, and always personalize your messages, these are always a key factor that will influence your eligibility. We recommend using those tips and tricks shown above because you need to use every idea to stand out from the crowd.
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