Recruiters will often reach out to potential candidates via LinkedIn, even if they don’t know them personally. Think of it as saving the recruiter a step—instead of them finding you, you’re finding them. While messaging a recruiter once is fine, avoid sending them multiple messages in a row. Recruiters are busy people, just like you, and they probably have tons of messages to reply to.
Before connecting with a recruiter, check out their profile and work history to see if they’re a good match for you. If you’re in their industry or they note jobs that they’re currently recruiting for, you can wean out people who aren’t a good match.
Try to avoid asking questions, too. If a recruiter feels like they have to do a ton of heavy-lifting before they respond, they might not send a message back. Under 100 words is the maximum, but 50 to 75 words is ideal. [3] X Research source
This is another reason why it’s important to check out the recruiter’s LinkedIn before sending a message. If you accidentally call them the wrong name or reference the wrong industry, they’re unlikely to respond to you.
Typically, recruiters get paid based on how many positions they fill. If they feel like you’re a good fit for a job, they will do whatever they can to get you into that role.
“Hi again, Robert! I know you’re probably swamped with messages right now. I just wanted to reach out again to say that my years of experience in the tech industry might make me a good fit for some of the roles you’re hiring for. ”
“Thanks for getting back to me, Jennifer! I totally understand about not having a good fit for me right now. I’d love to keep in touch, just in case anything comes up. ”
“Michael, that job sounds perfect for me! I’d love to chat more about the qualifications and application process. ” “Thanks for getting back to me, Nicole. Unfortunately, that job doesn’t sound like the right fit for me at this time, but I appreciate you reaching out. ”
LinkedIn allows you to be a little more free than a resume or CV. Feel free to talk about your soft skills and who you are as a person outside of work, too.
