How To Reach Out To A Recruiter On Linkedin: A Complete Guide

LinkedIn is the most trustworthy social media platform among users in the United States. It’s the ultimate hub for professionals to build their networks and job seekers to find work opportunities.

LinkedIn is also the go-to place for recruiters seeking competent and credible candidates. But should you just wait for a recruiter to contact you? Or should you take the initiative?

Today’s guide discusses the possibility and benefits of messaging a recruiter.

It also explains how to reach out to a recruiter on LinkedIn, what to say, what not to say, how to respond, how to follow up, and how to get recruiters to notice your profile.

Is it Okay to Reach Out to a Recruiter on LinkedIn?

As a social platform oriented toward professional networking, keeping in touch with colleagues, and finding job opportunities, it’s safe to say that reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn is perfectly acceptable.

Even if you’re not an active job seeker, it’s good practice to message a recruiter on LinkedIn as they may be your gateway to finding/getting your dream job.

What you need to worry about isn’t if it’s okay to reach out when you can’t find a job, but rather how you do it. Be sure to follow the steps and tips we’ll be sharing throughout this guide to get the best results from your recruitment messaging efforts.

Why Should You Reach Out to a Recruiter on LinkedIn?

Recruiters can be a huge help to job seekers.

While it’s true that recruiters work for employers or staffing organizations, they can support you on your mission to land a position by sharing information about current openings and offering insights about current market needs.

Recruiters can also help cut down the length of time it takes to find a job by providing data that would otherwise require long hours of extensive research.

They can even give you tips regarding interviews, recommend other suitable openings that haven’t been publicly posted yet, or help uncover hidden passions.

How to Find the Right Recruiter on LinkedIn

As we said earlier, LinkedIn is filled with recruiters. Thanks to LinkedIn features, finding a recruiter for a specific role or industry is relatively easy.

However, to ensure that you’re reaching out to the right recruiter, you may have to do some extra research.

Use Search Filters

Use the LinkedIn search bar to look for recruiters and apply filters for more specific results.

For example, if you need a job in Chicago, choose the city in the Locations filter and then type “recruiter” to search within the selected city.

You can also apply the Company filter which lets you narrow down the search by industry and company size. This filter doesn’t display results for a specific company like Apple or Google, but it’s a great tool for focusing your search.

Look for Companies You Want to Work For

You can use the general search feature on LinkedIn and type “recruiter” plus “company name” to find internal recruiters in a certain company that you’d like to join.

You can also search for title synonyms such as “recruitment”, “staffing”, and “talent acquisition” alongside the company’s name if the results that pop up don’t match what you’re looking for.

Alternatively, you can search the company’s name and then look under its “people” or “hiring team” section for recruiters.

How to Reach Out to a Recruiter on LinkedIn

Knowing how to properly reach out to a recruiter can play a massive role in increasing the odds of getting a job.

Step 1: Start Outside of LinkedIn

It’s best to follow the recruiter on a social platform other than LinkedIn first.

For example, follow them on Twitter so they receive a notification with your name. This will help them recognize your name when you later connect with them on LinkedIn.

Step 2: Connect on LinkedIn with a Personalized Request

Send the recruiter a connection request coupled with a personalized message. Here’s how:

• Open the recruiter’s LinkedIn account.
• Hit ‘Connect’ on the left.
• Choose ‘Add a note’.

A box will pop up where you can type your message. Introduce yourself and mention something personal and interesting such as a mutual connection, growing up in the same area, or going to the same school.

Step 3: Send Your Thanks and Resume

When you connect with the recruiter, hit them with a brief thank you message and mention your interest in the openings they have available. Attaching your resume with the message is a good idea.

You can do this step via LinkedIn messages or the recruiter’s email address listed under their contact information.

Step 4: Keep in Touch

To stay on the recruiter’s radar, keep in touch with them but don’t be obnoxious about it. Weekly messages can be quite annoying, so circle back every 1 or 2 months and casually ask if anything new opened up.

Don’t make all of your messages a question about vacancies. An interesting article related to the recruiter’s industry is a nice touch now and then.

What to Say to a Recruiter on LinkedIn

When talking to a recruiter on LinkedIn, it’s important to pinpoint the reason you’re sending them a message.

Are you asking about available posts at a company? Are you asking if you’re eligible for a position? Are you inquiring about an open role?

Whatever your motive is, your message should be as personalized as possible and to the point. Try to begin with interesting information to catch their attention.

Your language should be polite with no slang. There should be no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors.

LinkedIn Recruiter Message Template

Hello,

I’m (name). I noticed (we both went to X school, we both know X person, we both live/grew up in X area, etc.), so I wanted to connect and see if there’s a chance to work together! I’m an (X profession) with (X years) of experience in the field.

(I’m looking for opportunities to advance within this niche), (I’m interested in X opening at your company), (I’m wondering if you can help me with my job search), or (I’d like us to browse any posts that you know about where I can be a good fit).

Let’s connect (or Yours Sincerely),

Name

What Not to Say to a Recruiter on LinkedIn

A big part of successfully reaching out to a recruiter on LinkedIn and finding a job you love is to avoid the wrong things to say.

1. A Generic or Form Message

Sending a generic message is a no-no when messaging a recruiter. By your lack of personalization, you’re risking coming off as a spammer or bot.

2. I’m Only Interested in the Maximum Salary

Everyone needs to make money and recruiters know that.

However, saying that you’re only interested in openings that pay the highest possible salary shows you’re materialistic, will leave a company if a position with better pay comes along, and don’t care about the values or culture of the place you’re working in.

3. My Needs Are Specific

Not keeping an open mind limits the ability of the recruiter to find you suitable openings. It’s one thing to know what you’re looking for in a job, but it’s a different thing to refuse to consider slightly varying conditions than ideal.

4. I’ll Do Anything

While you want to be flexible, don’t be too lenient with what you can accept. The “I’ll do anything” attitude is bound to put you in situations where you’re working in unfavorable conditions.

5. Anything Negative About Your Previous Jobs

Talking badly about previous employers or positions comes off as unprofessional and untrustworthy. Recruiters want reliable candidates who can maintain a professional attitude.

6. It’s on My Resume

If the recruiter asks a question with the answer already on your resume, chances are they’re aware of it but simply want to see how you’ll respond.

7. I’ll Doubt I’ll Take This

If you’re not leaning toward accepting an offer, don’t say “I don’t think I want this” or anything along the lines.

Take your time and if you’re sure about refusing, be conclusive about it to save everyone’s time. That’s how professionals act.

8. I’m Only Doing This to Counter My Boss

Never let a recruiter know you’re changing jobs out of spite or because you don’t like your boss. Even if that’s true, say something professional like “I’m looking for a more nurturing environment” or “I’m looking to tackle new challenges”.

How to Respond to a Recruiter on LinkedIn

Regardless of where you stand on a job offer, you should always respond to recruiters to keep your relationship with them pleasant and help them better understand what type of openings you’re looking for.

That said, make sure who you’re responding to is an actual recruiter and not a fake profile. Be vigilant and watch out for LinkedIn scams

How to Respond to a Recruiter When Interested

• Respond as soon as possible.
• Show a positive attitude.
• Be polite.
• Mention again why you think you’re suitable for the job.
• Keep it short and express gratitude.
• Include your contact information.

How to Respond to a Recruiter When Not Interested

• Be polite and respectful.
• Show gratitude.
• State the reason you’re not ready to accept the offer.
• Express your interest in their help in the future.

How to Attract a LinkedIn Recruiter to Your Profile

To get recruiters on LinkedIn to notice you, keep the following tips in mind:

1. Creating Content for the Industry You Work In

Share original content related to your industry. You can write short articles, make brief videos, take photos, or any other creative outlet to express opinions or give advice on aspects of your job/profession.

2. Mention the Company in Your Posts

If you’re interested in working at a specific company, mention its name in the posts you share. This way, your LinkedIn account pops up when the recruiter or hiring manager browses posts related to their company.

3. Share Your Knowledge and Values

Put your values and insights out there on the platform. Whether via posts, comments, or discussions, leave your mark and you’ll get noticed eventually.

4. Be Proactive

If you never participate in discussions, share posts, or leave comments, your presence will be too idle to attract attention. Instead, you need to be proactive in showing confidence and making your presence known.

5. Have a Fully Completed Profile

Missing information in your LinkedIn profile is a major red flag.

Whether you didn’t have enough time to complete it or you don’t know how to do it, there’s no way a legitimate recruiter will contact a person with an incomplete profile.

How to Follow Up With a Recruiter on LinkedIn

Last but not least, let’s talk about following up with recruiters on the platform after applying for an opening.

Should I Message a Recruiter on LinkedIn After Applying?

If you don’t hear from a recruiter or hiring manager within the specified duration of application consideration (or 4 to 5 business days if not specified), it won’t hurt to send a message stressing your interest in the position.

However, if the job posting explicitly asks applicants to not contact recruiters beyond the official job application, don’t send a message on LinkedIn.

What to Message a Recruiter on Linkedin After Applying

Here’s a simple template:

Hello,

I’m (name). I hope you don’t mind me reaching out. I’ve applied for (X opening) and wanted to say hello.

I’m a big fan of your company and I’m confident that my skill set is a perfect match for the job. I’ve included a link to my (portfolio, resume, etc.) if you want to check out my work.

Thanks for your time,

Name

Wrapping Up

That’s a wrap on our detailed guide on how to reach out to a recruiter on LinkedIn with effective steps, tips, and examples.

As always, feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions!

When reaching out to LinkedIn recruiters, start with a different social platform then send them a connection request on LinkedIn along with a short personalized message.

After that, send a thank you message with your resume attached and your inquiry included.