Responding to a recruiter who reaches out to you on LinkedIn can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right strategy, you can reply in a professional and friendly way that keeps the conversation going. Recruiters contact people on LinkedIn all the time, so you shouldn’t feel worried or anxious. Just follow some best practices on how to respond, and you’ll be set up for success.
In this article, we’ll go over how to craft the perfect response when a recruiter messages you on LinkedIn. We’ll cover:
- Why recruiters reach out on LinkedIn
- Tips for responding to the initial message
- How to continue the conversation
- Mistakes to avoid
- Templates and examples you can use
With the right approach, you can respond to a recruiter politely and professionally. You’ll make a strong first impression and keep the door open to future opportunities.
Why Do Recruiters Reach Out on LinkedIn?
Before we get into how to respond, let’s discuss why recruiters use LinkedIn to contact talent in the first place.
There are a few key reasons recruiters leverage LinkedIn:
- LinkedIn is the top professional networking platform. Over 740 million members use it to connect with colleagues and companies. It’s a goldmine for finding qualified candidates for job openings.
- Members post detailed profiles showcasing their background, skills, experience, education, certifications, publications, volunteer work, and more. This gives recruiters valuable insight.
- LinkedIn provides tools for targeted searching, allowing recruiters to filter for candidates based on their role, skills, location, industry, company size, and other criteria.
- The platform makes it easy for recruiters to initiate contact. They can send InMail messages even if they aren’t connected to you already.
- Response rates are higher on LinkedIn compared to other outreach channels like email.
In summary, LinkedIn is a magnet for professional networking and recruitment. The depth of member profiles, targeting capabilities, and messaging options make it very popular with recruiters.
Tips for Responding to the Initial Outreach
When you receive an initial message from a recruiter on LinkedIn, how you respond will set the tone. Here are some tips for crafting an appropriate, professional reply:
Thank them for reaching out
Start by thanking the recruiter for thinking of you and contacting you about an opportunity. This lays a friendly foundation for the conversation. For example:
“Hi [NAME], thank you for reaching out and thinking of me.”
“Thank you for reaching out regarding your [job title] position.”
“I appreciate you contacting me about potential opportunities.”
Express interest if it’s a good match
If the role does seem interesting or like a potential fit, say so in your reply. This will encourage the recruiter to keep the dialogue going. For example:
“The [job title] role you mentioned sounds like an exciting opportunity.”
“I took a look at the job description, and I’m very interested in learning more.”
“This seems like it could be a great fit based on my background in [X].”
Politely decline if it’s not a match
However, if the job isn’t the right fit for you, it’s fine to politely decline. Thank them again for thinking of you, briefly explain why it’s not aligned, and wish them the best in their search. For example:
“I appreciate you reaching out, but I’m not looking to make a change at this time.”
“While the role seems interesting, I don’t have the required skills in [X] to be a good match.”
“Thank you for thinking of me, but I’m happy in my current position and not open to new opportunities now.”
Express interest in the company
Even if the specific role isn’t ideal, use your response as a chance to share your interest in the company’s work and mission. For example:
“While this particular job isn’t the right fit, I’m a huge fan of [COMPANY]’s products and mission.”
“I don’t have the exact background you need for this position, but I’m very interested in [COMPANY] and would love to learn about other roles.”
This keeps the door open for future conversations about other opportunities that may be a better match down the road.
Ask a question to continue the dialogue
In your response, asking a question gives the recruiter an easy opening to reply and keep the conversation moving forward. You could ask about:
- Other similar openings at the company.
- A chance to discuss the role and your background in more detail.
- Next steps in the hiring process.
- Ways you could develop the skills needed for this type of position.
Ending your message with a question shows your interest and engagement.
How to Continue the Conversation
Once you’ve sent your initial response, the conversation may go one of a few ways. The recruiter may:
- Thank you for getting back to them but say the role has been filled or they’re pursuing other candidates.
- Explain more about the role, company, or hiring process to gauge your interest.
- Suggest setting up a phone call to discuss further.
- Ask you to complete an application or screening if they want to move forward.
Here are some tips for keeping the dialogue going productively:
Ask clarifying questions
It’s perfectly fine to ask for more details about the position, required skills, responsibilities, team dynamics, or anything else that will help you determine if it’s a potential fit. The more you understand about the role, the better you can assess if it aligns with your background and interests.
Show enthusiasm and share relevant experience
If you remain interested after learning more, respond enthusiastically and highlight your qualifications. Provide examples of how your background aligns with what they are looking for in an ideal candidate. Get specific about your relevant skills, accomplishments, and motivations.
Inquire about next steps
Find out what the next steps would be if you progress forward, such as a phone screen, completing an online assessment, or meeting with the hiring manager. Ask if they need any other information from you at this stage.
Follow up if you don’t hear back
One week after your last message, it’s appropriate to follow up if you haven’t heard back from the recruiter. Send a quick note checking in on the status of the role and reaffirming your interest. But don’t continue chasing endlessly if they don’t respond.
Be responsive
Try to reply to the recruiter’s messages within 24-48 hours whenever possible. Faster responses make a good impression and keep your candidacy top of mind. But it’s fine to take a few extra days to reply if you need time to think it over.
Stay positive
Even if the specifics of the role aren’t a fit, maintain a positive tone. You never know what other opportunities may come up in the future, or if the recruiter may connect you with hiring managers elsewhere in the company.
Mistakes to Avoid When Responding
There are also some missteps you’ll want to avoid when communicating with a recruiter:
- Don’t wait too long to respond. Replying promptly shows you are engaged and interested.
- Don’t be unprofessional. Use proper grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and honorifics.
- Don’t ask about compensation or benefits too early. Wait for a recruiter to bring it up first.
- Don’t exaggerate or misrepresent yourself just to get hired.
- Don’t accept an interview or screen if you know you’re not interested in the role.
- Don’t vent about your current job or company.
- Don’t confront the recruiter with aggressive questions about why they contacted you.
- Don’t share confidential information about your current employer.
Avoiding these missteps will ensure the dialogue stays positive and productive. You want to move forward based on mutual interest and fit, not pushy or reactive behavior.
Response Templates and Examples
To make crafting your reply easier, here are some message templates and real-life examples you can use for inspiration:
Basic positive response template
Hi [RECRUITER NAME],
Thank you for reaching out and thinking of me for the [ROLE] position at [COMPANY]. This seems like an exciting opportunity given my background in [YOUR EXPERIENCE].
I took a closer look at the job description, and I believe my skills and experience in [RELEVANT SKILLS/EXPERIENCE] would be a great match for the role. Please let me know if you need any additional information from me at this stage. I’m looking forward to learning more throughout the hiring process.
Best,
[YOUR NAME]
Declining role template
Hi [RECRUITER NAME],
Thank you so much for contacting me about the [ROLE] position at [COMPANY]. I really appreciate you thinking of me.
After looking over the job description, I don’t believe I’m the best fit for this particular role given my background is primarily in [YOUR EXPERIENCE]. I don’t want to move forward if I can’t fully meet the qualifications you need.
While this role isn’t the right opportunity for me at the moment, I am very interested in [COMPANY] and would love to discuss any other openings you think may align closer to my skills in [RELEVANT SKILLS]. Please keep me in mind for future positions.
Thank you again, and I wish you the best as you continue your search.
Regards,
[YOUR NAME]
Following up template
Hi [RECRUITER NAME],
I hope you’ve been well. I wanted to check in regarding the [ROLE] position we discussed last week. Please let me know if you have any updates on the hiring process or next steps. I’m still very interested in the role and progressing forward.
My background in [RELEVANT EXPERIENCE] would be a great match, and I’m excited about the possibility of joining the team at [COMPANY]. If there’s any other information I can provide, don’t hesitate to let me know. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
[YOUR NAME]
Real-life example
Hi Matt,
Thanks for reaching out about the Project Manager role on the Marketing team at XYZ Company. This sounds like a great opportunity based on my 5+ years of experience managing marketing campaigns and product launches.
I really like that the position allows me to oversee projects from concept to execution. My background in campaign strategy and content development would be very relevant. Please let me know the next steps in the interview process. I’m excited at the prospect of bringing my skills to the XYZ Company team. I’ll be in touch if I have any other questions. Looking forward to learning more!
Best,
John
Key Takeaways
Responding to LinkedIn outreach from a recruiter doesn’t need to be stressful. Following these best practices will lead to a productive dialogue:
- Thank the recruiter for contacting you and share your interest if it seems like a good match.
- Politely decline if it’s not the right role but remain positive.
- Ask clarifying questions to learn more about the opportunity.
- Highlight your most relevant skills and experience.
- Inquire about next steps in the process.
- Avoid common mistakes like exaggerating, confronting, or oversharing.
- Use templates and examples to craft your reply.
With the right approach, you can respond to recruiters professionally and keep the conversation moving forward. The initial outreach is a chance to start building a strong relationship, even if the specific job isn’t perfect. You never know what doors that connection may open in the future.
