Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date
Before reaching out to a connection for a job opportunity, make sure your LinkedIn profile is complete and up-to-date. Recruiters and hiring managers will likely look at your profile before responding, so you want to put your best foot forward.
Some tips for optimizing your LinkedIn profile:
- Include a professional headshot photo
- Have a headline that summarizes your experience and goals
- List all of your relevant work experiences and achievements
- Detail your education, certifications, volunteering, and skills
- Get recommendations from past managers and colleagues
- Write an informative summary statement highlighting your qualifications
Taking the time to flesh out your profile shows connections you are serious and gives them confidence in connecting with you.
Research the company and role
Before reaching out, learn more about the company and specific job opportunity so you can tailor your message. Look at the job description if it’s posted, check out the company’s website and social media, and ask contacts what they know about the role.
Some key things to research:
- Company mission, values, goals, and culture
- Products and services offered
- Leadership team profiles
- Press mentions and news articles
- Size of the team and department you’d be joining
- Qualifications and responsibilities for the open position
This information will help you communicate how your background makes you a great fit for the company and position. It also shows the hiring manager you took the initiative to learn more beforehand.
Craft a personalized connection request message
The message you send when requesting to connect with someone is your first impression. Make it count by personalizing it to how you know the person or are connected in your network.
Some tips for writing an effective connection request:
- Mention how you are connected such as through a mutual friend, university, or past company
- Note any common interests, groups, or affiliations you share
- Explain why you’d like to connect with them specifically
- Let them know you admire their career path or expertise
- Keep it brief but personable – a couple of sentences max
A generic message like “Hi, I’d like to add you to my professional network” is easy to ignore. Taking the time to personalize the request makes the person much more inclined to accept it.
Ask for an informational interview
Once connected on LinkedIn, avoid jumping right into asking for a job. Instead, request an informational interview to learn more about their role and company and build rapport.
Here are some tips for requesting an informational interview:
- Thank them for connecting and introduce yourself
- Explain you are interested in learning more about their career path and company
- Ask if they would be open to a quick 20-30 minute informational interview
- Offer phone, video chat, or in-person meeting based on their preference
- Suggest 2-3 potential times that work with your schedule
- Express your appreciation for any time or insights they can offer
An informational interview shows you are genuinely interested in what they do and looking to learn. It also gets your foot in the door for future job conversations.
Ask smart, strategic questions
Informational interviews are your chance to gather intel that will aid your job search approach. Come prepared with thoughtful, strategic questions that go beyond basic company facts you can find online.
Some examples of good informational interview questions:
- How did you get started in this field? Any key turning points in your career?
- What skills or education are most important for success in this role?
- What does a typical day or week look like in your position?
- What projects are you working on that you find exciting right now?
- How would you describe the culture and work environment here?
- What keeps you working at this company and makes you satisfied?
- What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing this career path?
Listen closely to their responses as they will give you insights you can use in future interviews and applications.
Express interest in job opportunities
Once you have established a rapport through the informational interview, you can tactfully bring up your interest in any job opportunities.
Some tips for inquiring about open roles:
- Ask if they foresee any job openings on their team or in the company based on current growth
- Say you would be excited by the chance to contribute your skills and experience to their team and goals
- Inquire if they have any advice for applying internally or standing out as an applicant
- Ask if they feel you might be a fit for the company or any roles based on your conversation
- Invite them to keep you in mind as opportunities arise now that they know your background
- Express appreciation for any referrals, introductions, or application tips they can provide
When possible, aim to get an internal referral from your connection. Employees who recommend candidates often get a recruitment bonus and hiring managers prioritize referrals.
Follow up after applying
If you end up applying for a role at the company, follow up with your connection to let them know. Also update them on the status of your application process.
Some tips for following up:
- Send a quick note sharing you applied for the XYZ job posting
- Ask if they have any additional advice for next steps in the hiring process
- Give updates if you get an interview scheduled or receive an offer
- Thank them again for the referral and support if they helped connect you
- Ask to use them as a reference once you are further along in the process
- Stay in touch so you can leverage the relationship for future opportunities
Following up strengthens your relationship and keeps you top of mind as a qualified candidate.
Maintain the relationship
Your LinkedIn connections are invaluable career resources throughout your professional journey. Make an effort to maintain relationships with people who can serve as mentors, referrals, and references.
Some tips for nurturing your network:
- Comment on their posts and congratulate any work milestones
- Share articles or trends you think would interest them
- Catch up over coffee or on a quick call to reconnect periodically
- Offer to return the favor by being a mentor or resource to someone they recommend
- Keep them updated on your latest projects, accomplishments, and career moves
Putting in the effort to sustain your relationships makes it much easier to reach out down the road when you need career advice, job leads, or even a recommendation.
Conclusion
Messaging LinkedIn connections about potential job opportunities takes thoughtfulness and strategic follow-through. You need an optimized profile, researched approach, personalized outreach, smart questions, prompt follow up, and consistent relationship maintenance. But making these efforts can connect you with inside referrals, hiring manager introductions, career mentors, and job interviews. Nurture your network and tap into your connections for your next career move.