How to Reach Out to a Recruiter on LinkedIn (10+ Tips & Samples)

Are you looking for a new job? Did you know that you can find one by utilizing LinkedIn?

Experts agree that reaching out to a recruiter on LinkedIn is essential for finding a job. However, many job seekers are still unfamiliar with it.

According to experts, here are effective ways to reach out to a recruiter on LinkedIn:

Many people reach out to me on LinkedIn with an opening line that says, “Forgive me if this is not the right way to reach out,” I always chuckle because most recruiters love getting these types of notes if the candidate is relevant to their network.

Reaching out to a recruiter on LinkedIn is acceptable if you are a job seeker. Recruiters are generally eager to connect on the platform and use LinkedIn to make an introduction and learn a bit more about the candidate before moving to a phone conversation.

Most importantly, the candidate/job seeker takes the time to find the right recruiter to reach out to. Many recruiters are specialized and play in a niche, so don’t waste your time reaching out to just any recruiter.

Do your diligence to ensure the recruiter you connect with works in your region and industry and has interesting jobs.

Tips for reaching out to a Recruiter on LinkedIn:

Take the time to search for relevant recruiters before you start reaching out

This can be done through a simple Google search: “Supply Chain Recruiter” or “Logistics Headhunter” or “Transportation Recruiting.”

Once you identify an individual recruiter or an agency that seems to align with your background, review their website/job board to confirm they have opportunities in line with your skillset.

From there, you can hop on LinkedIn and search the company or recruiter’s name to get to an individual profile.

“Connect” with that individual and then send a personalized note in the connection

My suggestion is to first “connect” with that individual and then send a personalized note in the connection:

“I saw you recruit in my industry, and I’m looking to explore new opportunities, so I’d love to connect with you.”

Search LinkedIn to find the right recruiter or recruiting firm

Start by narrowing down the location. While most recruiters in the United States will work across the entire country, some work in just a single market or territory.

My suggestion is to start by limiting the location to the United States, so you don’t overlook those firms or individuals that recruit nationwide.

Consider filtering down to your industry that is relevant to your background

You may want to filter down to title and try keywords like “Recruiter“ or “Recruitment“ or “Recruiting“ or “Headhunter,” or try searching those terms in the company name.

Once you find a few options, take a moment to peruse the jobs they have posted on LinkedIn. If relevant, you are onto something, and it’s time to identify a person at that company to make the introduction.

Make it personal and avoid generic messages

LinkedIn is one of the best resources available when looking for new career opportunities.

It allows you to reach out directly to recruiters, hiring managers, and headhunters, whether you are looking to inquire about job openings in a specific industry or company or following up after sending your application.

No matter which of the reasons above led you to approach the recruiter, it’s crucial to avoid generic messages. Even when sending your connection request, make sure to add a brief but personalized note.

Do a thorough research

The first step to a personalized message is doing thorough research. Once you’re sure you’ve found the right person, take a few more minutes to scroll through their social media profiles and get to know them better.

If you find a recent publication they posted, read it and have a comment ready to add to your message. If you enjoyed it, compliment it, but be specific about what you liked about it.

Here are sample message examples:

Make sure you’ve got the correct individual for the job

Make sure you have the proper individual in mind before you start thinking about how to approach recruiters or hiring managers on LinkedIn. To find recruiters, put your industry plus the word “recruiter,” for example, “marketing recruiter.”

You can also use LinkedIn to identify local recruiters by narrowing your search results by region. Just make sure the recruiter or hiring manager is still working and hasn’t moved on to another position or area.

Start with something other than LinkedIn

Although it may seem paradoxical, you should initiate contact with a recruiter on a network other than LinkedIn, such as Twitter, where they will receive a notification with your name. When you connect with that individual on LinkedIn, they’ll be able to recognize your name and face.

View a recruiter’s LinkedIn profile after connecting with them outside of LinkedIn and make sure your privacy settings are adjusted.

Send a connection request that is unique to you

You’ve contacted a recruiter through another channel, looked at their LinkedIn profile, and are now ready to connect. But hold off on clicking the blue “Connect” button! You must first determine what to say.

It’s critical to provide a message with your connection requests. Do you accept a connection request from someone you’ve never met if there’s no message? Most likely not.

When reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn, including a note will significantly improve your acceptance percentage.

Send your CV to the recruiter or hiring manager

When the recruiter or hiring manager approves your connection request, send an email or a LinkedIn message to be more direct. If a recruiter’s email address isn’t listed under “Contact information” on their profile, send a message using LinkedIn.

Keep in contact with them

Maintaining a comfortable and welcoming chat will assist a recruiter in remembering your name, which may lead to them thinking of you as a kind and knowing someone always willing to help. That sounds like someone a corporation would want to hire.

Make sure your subject line is straight to the point

When reaching out to a recruiter, remember they are swamped, so make sure your subject line is straight to the point. If your subject line is clear about your intentions, the recruiter will be more likely to read your message.

Related: 40+ Best Subject Lines for Job Application and Follow Up Emails

Update your LinkedIn profile before reaching out to recruiters

Take time to update your LinkedIn profile before reaching out to recruiters and tailor it to the role and dream company you are targeting.

Do a diligent search for the correct recruiter

Do a diligent search for the correct recruiter that is assigned to fill the role you are interested in, and never mass message all recruiters.

Be polite and greet them in your message

Always be polite and greet them in your message. Mention briefly why you are reaching out and why you are a good candidate for the role.

Create a call to action asking the recruiter if they can review your resume

At the end of your message, create a call to action asking the recruiter if they can review your resume, get on a call with you to discuss the role further, or connect with you.

You can send out a message like the one below:

If you’re looking for a job, finding a recruiter to help you out is a great way to get started. LinkedIn is an excellent resource for finding recruiters, and there are a few things you can do to make the most of your search.

Find recruiters in your area or industry

First, use the LinkedIn search bar to find recruiters in your area or industry. You can also search for recruiters by name if you know who you want to work with.

Look at the recruiters’ profiles

Once you’ve found a few recruiters, look at their profiles. Make sure they specialize in your field and have experience working with people in your industry. A good recruiter will have a lot of experience and will be able to help you find the best job for you.

Reach out to the recruiters you’ve found on LinkedIn

Finally, reach out to the recruiters you’ve found on LinkedIn. Send them a message letting them know that you’re looking for a job and that you’d like their help. Thank them for their time and let them know how they can contact you.

A standout message to anyone in HR, Recruiting, or staffing will have several unique selling points (USPs). These are the reasons that you would be an excellent candidate for the specific job or Company that they are recruiting for.

Some examples might be:

You have industry-specific experience or knowledge

You can show this in your recruitment note by linking to articles you’ve written, blog posts, or even just specific experiences in your work history that would be relevant.

You’re passionate about the Company’s mission

If you can find a way to connect your personal values with the Company’s goals, they will be more likely to remember you when reviewing applications.

You have a unique skill or ability

If you have a rare talent that would be valuable to the Company, mention it! This could be anything from fluency in another language to experience with a particular type of software.

Make the message a short, concise, charismatic, and memorable

Reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn needn’t be overly complicated or stressful, and there is certainly no need to overanalyze it.

Think of it as a digital version of an elevator pitch. You’ll want it to be short, concise, charismatic, and memorable.

A strong introduction, along with a quick overview of your experience, key skills, and what you’re looking for in terms of the next position, is a solid start.

Intrigue the recruiter to want to find out more about you and your qualifications

The point is to intrigue the recruiter to want to find out more about you and your qualifications. Therefore it truly pays to have a well-developed and polished LinkedIn page.

The recruiter can get a more in-depth look at where you’ve worked and if your expertise matches any roles they might be hiring for.

Keep your account fresh, relevant, and packed with keywords

Hunting for a job does not have to be extremely difficult if you put in the right effort and attention to detail. Before jumping the gun and clicking that blue “connect” button on the recruiter’s LinkedIn account, ensure you have optimized your profile.

Many recruiters use HR tools to simplify and improve the recruitment process, and so can you. With LinkedIn’s messaging tool InMail, you can send a brief text to anyone on this network, regardless of whether you’re connected.

If you’re not too eager to sign up for a LinkedIn premium, try the 1-month free trial and see it yourself.

Keep the message short and sweet

Most importantly, ensure that the connection request message or the InMail subject line and body showcase your true colors. Keep the message short and sweet while remaining authentically you.

Being straightforward and avoiding metaphors will increase the chances of the recruiter reaching out to you.

Request to put you in touch with someone currently working the role you’re applying for

People underestimate the amount of influence that recruiters have throughout the job application process. I have a three-step process needed to make this work with message templates that have worked for both my community and me.

Here’s the tip: Your message to the recruiter should end with a request to put you in touch with someone currently working the role you’re applying for. Recruiters, like most people, want to help those who help themselves.

Secondly, believe it or not, you’re showing them that you can problem-solve effectively. Finally, you come off as polite and considerate.

Now you know what the trick is; here’s a three-step process to make it work.

Get the recruiter to accept your connection request and engage with them

This first step is all about getting the recruiter to accept your connection request and perhaps start to engage with them.

Write a message asking to be connected with someone working in the role

Step two is where the key takeaway comes in: write the message asking to be connected with someone working in the role you’re applying for.

Now that we’re connected and have established some sort of rapport, I can afford to send a longer message without coming off as too direct or aggressive.

Follow up with the recruiter after your conversation with a team member

The third and final step is following up with the recruiter after your conversation with a team member. The goal here is to stay top of mind with a recruiter by reinforcing that your desire to join the company is now more vital than ever.

Related: How to Follow up with a Recruiter

So those are the three steps. Of course, I want to address the possibility that the recruiter may not end up connecting you with anyone, and that’s totally fine.

Even if they reject your primary requests, most recruiters will provide you with alternatives. For example, they might say, “Oh, you know what? I can answer any questions you might have about the role.”

Perfect, you just got 30 minutes to chat with a recruiter for the role you want, or they might say, “Why don’t you send over your resume first? I’ll forward it along to the hiring manager, and they’ll see if someone’s able to reach out for a chat.”

Awesome, your resume just got forwarded along instead of being lost in the system. I’m trying to get at all of these alternatives is better than reaching out through a recruiter in a generic fashion and hoping that the default connection request can help you stand out from the crowd.

Determine your value proposition

When approaching a recruiter, you must demonstrate that you are an excellent candidate for them, that recommending you to a client would make them appear good, and that you have a clear understanding of how you will offer value to their client.

Do not contact a recruiter solely because you are a recent graduate looking for work. That is not what recruiters typically do, though many businesses have entry-level recruitment programs.

Bear in mind that the recruiter does not work for you. They work for their employer, the business. You are the asset; you are the finished product. If they cannot sell you to a company, they will be unable to position you and earn money.

Defining your value proposition is critical. If you possess a highly sought-after skill set, ensure it is prominently shown on your LinkedIn profile and in your message to the recruiter.

If you lack an in-demand skill set, you will have to work harder to demonstrate your worth to a recruiter. This may entail initiating projects, serving as a thinking leader, communicating effectively, and appearing as someone who is either a current or future leader worth noting.

Ascertain that your LinkedIn page is appropriately presented

Ascertain that your LinkedIn page is appropriately presented and that you have a great profile photo. Ascertain that your headline and synopsis convey a clear value proposition. After that, you are prepared to go to the next phase.

Recruiters receive numerous messages on LinkedIn from many job seekers, hence the tendency to ghost. Here are some guiding tips to reach out effectively as a job-seeker.

Connection request and proactive tool usage

Sending a connection request should be coupled with a short message attached. Research to ensure you connect to the right person, such as hiring, HR, and recruitment managers.

Use the proactive and passive tools on the platform, such as the #OpenToWork tag. An industry-specific approach is essential in reaching out to recruiters.

Send an InMail message

A brief personalized message is critical as it grabs the recruiter’s attention as they accept the LinkedIn connection request.

A personalized message results in a higher chance of acceptance in reaching out to LinkedIn recruiters. The message should be a simple introduction to who you are and why you have reached out.

Keeping the message short and simple

Keeping the message short and simple ensures it is readable, as no recruiter wants to read long abrupt messages.

Choose the initial message words wisely, as the profile should be optimized to communicate the bigger message. Use the limited characters to call the recruiter to action.

Reach out to recruiters by sticking to the relationship without overdoing it

After the connection on LinkedIn, reach out to recruiters by sticking to the relationship without overdoing it. This may include gradual complements as the results may not be immediately after connection.

The relationship eases the recruiter to reach out to you on new job offers with a good match for you.

Reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn is a smart way to get your name out there. However, it’s essential to do it the right way.

Keep it short and straightforward

There are two basic ways to go about reaching a recruiter. First, a job-seeker can send a recruiter a personalized connection request on LinkedIn.

This helps form an impression from the very beginning. Try to be professional and specific while drafting the message. Keep it short and straightforward.

Send an InMail to recruiters with an open profile

The second way is to send an InMail to recruiters with an open profile. Here job-seekers can explain their interest in the opening and why they are a right fit. They can also include their previous experience and skills in the InMail body to catch the recruiters’ attention.

Read through the recruiter’s profile and find something nice

Try to read through their profile, find something nice, and let them know about it. It will make them remember you! And, of course, always be courteous and keep your message short and sweet.

Writing a novel is unnecessary since these recruiters don’t have much time to spend on those platforms. It’s also good to end your thank you message by showing gratitude and professionalism.

Send a concise, specific, and personalized first message

One of my biggest tips for reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn is to send a concise, specific, and personalized first message.

The most basic methods of contacting recruiters are via connection request or email. However, how these strategies are applied makes all the difference.

Include a statement with your connection request

Frequently, candidates send the connection request at random. It is usually a good habit to include a statement with your request highlighting why you are contacting them.

Additionally, you might say how you discovered the profile and what you liked about it (for instance: the kind of content they curate and circulate).

This increases your visibility and informs the recruiter why you approached them—the likelihood of a request getting accepted increases dramatically.

Email the recruiter if you wish to write them in greater depth

If you wish to write to a recruiter in greater depth and probably share your CV, navigate to their LinkedIn profile’s contact information section.

Most recruiters include their email address, which you may extract and use to generate a custom email for them. If the recruiter reads their email frequently, not only will you be spotted, but you are also likely to receive a thorough answer.

Tip: Avoid communicating with recruiters only for the sake of obtaining leads/opportunities. Maintaining friendly and regular chats is usually a good idea.

I’m not suggesting you spam them constantly, but occasionally inquiring how they’re doing and sharing an exciting and helpful article is plenty.

As head of my company and someone who plays an active role in recruitment, I have the following suggestions on how to approach recruiters on LinkedIn correctly:

Make your LinkedIn profile interesting first

Even before you contact a recruiter, make sure your public profile is aligned with the role you’re interested in. They’ll take a look at it to decide whether or not you’re worth responding to.

Stay professional

First names are okay, but make sure you get them right. Don’t call someone Mary if their name is John, for example. And definitely nothing like, “Hello there, Beautiful…”. Remember that LinkedIn is a professional setting.

Connect with a personalized message

Recruiters are busy and receive loads of connection requests every day. Try to stand out by adding a personalized message to your connection request.

Initiate a follow-up conversation after connecting

Recruiters are busy people and will likely accept your connection without a response. Don’t be shy about following up to push the conversation further. The chances are high that the recruiter in question meant to follow up with you but forgot due to their busy schedule.

Basic methods to reach out to recruiters are connection requests or email. However, the way you use these techniques makes all the difference.

Add a note when sending a connection request

Often, candidates end up sending the request randomly. It is always a good practice to add a note to your request where you can briefly highlight why you are connecting with them.

You can also mention how you came across the profile and what you liked about it (for instance: the kind of content they curate and circulate).

This gets you noticed more and tells the recruiter why you have approached them. The chances of the request being accepted increase manifold.

Share your resume and more about your detail through their email

If you want to write to a recruiter in more detail, probably share your resume and then head to the contact info section of their LinkedIn profile. Most recruiters have their email id mentioned, which you can extract and create a specialized mail for them.

If the recruiter actively checks their email, this will get you noticed and be likely to get you a full-fledged response.

Always keep conversations warm and regular with recruiters

Do not exchange messages with recruiters only when looking for leads/ opportunities. It is always good to keep conversations warm and regular.

By that, it won’t mean to spam them daily but to ask how they are doing. Sharing an exciting and helpful article once in a while is good enough.

Make sure you have a strong profile that showcases your skills and experience

When reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn, there are some helpful tips to keep in mind. First, make sure you have a strong profile that showcases your skills and experience.

Recruiters will often browse LinkedIn profiles when looking for potential candidates, so it’s essential to make sure your profile is up-to-date and looks good.

Send personalized messages to recruiters when reaching out

In addition, be sure to send personalized messages to recruiters when reaching out. Recruiters receive many messages from candidates, so it’s important to stand out and make a good impression.

Mention why you’re interested in the position

Mention why you’re interested in the position and what skills you would bring to the table. Be professional and courteous, and you’ll be more likely to get a response.

Send a follow-up email after sending a message

Finally, don’t be afraid to follow up after sending a message. Recruiters are busy, so they may not always have time to respond right away. If you don’t hear back after a week or so, it’s perfectly acceptable to send a follow-up message.

Do your research about the recruiters

You need to know who you are talking to and what their job entails. This knowledge will help you sustain a conversation with them — believe me; recruiters will be able to recognize when someone doesn’t understand what they’re talking about!

Always follow up a LinkedIn invite with a message

If you have just tried to connect with someone on LinkedIn, send a message with this connection. In all likelihood, the recruiter will have no idea who you are – so why would they accept the invitation without an introduction?

Keep this message brief. You don’t want to overwhelm them with information about yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions