Messages to Recruiters on LinkedIn: 10 Templates That Work

Messages to recruiters on LinkedIn are often the first thing a recruiter reads about you, before your resume. Most of what lands in their inbox looks the same: "Hi, I'd love it if you could check out my profile" - no role, no context, no reason to reply. Your message should do the opposite: say in one line who you are, why you're writing to this person, and what you're asking for.

Before you copy a template, make sure your profile is ready for the visit - a recruiter who likes your message will open it within seconds. If your headline and About section need work, start with the 25 things recruiters check on a profile.

What makes a LinkedIn message worth replying to?

Three things: specific context (a role, a post, a shared connection), one piece of proof that you're relevant, and an ask that's easy to say yes to. A message missing any of the three reads like spam, however polite it is.

• Short: three to five sentences. A connection note gives you up to 300 characters, and that's enough.
• Name and role: use their first name, and name the role or requisition number if there is one.
• One number: "4 years of React", "led a team of 6" - something checkable.
• One ask: a 10-minute call, a pointer to the right recruiter, or a look at your resume. Not three asks.
• No attachment in the first message: your profile link is enough; send the resume when asked.

10 LinkedIn message templates for recruiters and hiring managers

Replace everything in square brackets. Don't send the same message to ten people at one company - they talk to each other.

1. Connection request to a recruiter in your field

When: you're starting a search and want recruiters in your field to know you before a specific role opens.

"Hi [Name], I'm a [role] with [X] years in [field/stack], starting to explore roles at [type of company]. I saw you recruit for roles like this at [Company] - would love to connect."

Why it works: within 300 characters there's a role, experience and a reason to connect. The recruiter can tell at a glance whether you're relevant.

2. Connection request to someone at a company you want

When: you have no contact at the company and want to understand the team before applying.

"Hi [Name], I saw your post on [topic] - [one line on what you found interesting]. I'm a [role] considering applying to [Company], and would love to connect and maybe ask two quick questions about the team."

Why it works: referencing the post proves it isn't a mass message, and "two quick questions" is small enough to accept.

3. Message to a recruiter about a specific role

When: you've applied (or are about to) for a role this recruiter owns.

"Hi [Name], I applied today for the [Role] position. I have [X] years of [requirement 1 from the posting], and in my current role I [one achievement with a number]. Happy to share anything else that would help, or send my resume to you directly if that's easier."

Why it works: the recruiter gets the match between the posting and your background ready-made, instead of hunting for it in your resume.

4. Cold message to the hiring manager

When: you know who will manage the role (from the posting, the company site or a LinkedIn search) and you're a strong fit.

"Hi [Name], I saw you're hiring a [role] for the [team]. Over the last two years I [achievement directly related to what the team does]. I've applied through the site and wanted to reach out directly as well - happy to have a short call if it sounds relevant."

Why it works: a manager reads through their team's eyes. An achievement that solves a problem they have now beats any job description.

5. Referral ask from a friend

When: someone you know works at the company and there's a role that fits you.

"Hey [Name], how are things? I saw you're hiring a [role] ([link]). It's a great fit for me - [one line why]. Would you be up for referring me? I'll send the resume plus two lines about me you can paste in."

Why it works: you save your friend the work. With the blurb ready, referring you takes a minute - and internal referrals usually get read before website applications.

6. Referral ask from a weak tie (alumni, former colleague, same unit)

When: you have no friend at the company, but someone shares a background with you.

"Hi [Name], we haven't met - we both [studied at X / served in Y / worked at Z]. I'm a [role] thinking about applying for the [role] on your team. Could I ask you ten minutes about how the team works? If it seems like a fit afterwards, maybe a referral too."

Why it works: you don't ask a stranger for a referral in message one. You ask for a conversation, and the referral comes out of it - or doesn't.

7. Reply to a recruiter who reached out (interested)

When: a recruiter messaged you about a role that sounds interesting.

"Hi [Name], thanks for reaching out - this sounds interesting. I'd love to hear more about [one specific thing: the team, the product, the company's stage]. I'm free to talk [two time windows]. My updated resume is attached."

Why it works: a specific question shows you read the message, and ready time slots save a round of back-and-forth.

8. Reply to a recruiter - not now, but later

When: the role isn't right at the moment, but you want to keep the door open.

"Hi [Name], thanks for thinking of me. I'm not looking right now, but I'd be glad to stay in touch. What would interest me in the future: [type of role/company]. If something like that comes up, I'd love to hear about it."

Why it works: recruiters remember who replied politely, and telling them what you want is exactly what they need to come back at the right time.

9. Follow-up after applying with no response

When: five to seven working days have passed since you applied or last messaged, with no reply.

"Hi [Name], I wanted to make sure my application for the [Role] position came through. I'm still very interested, and since applying I've [one short update: finished a project, a course, a result]. Let me know if there's anything else I should send."

Why it works: a follow-up with something new is a reason to reply; one that just asks "any update?" is pressure. One follow-up is enough - after another week of silence, move on.

10. Thank-you message after an interview

When: within 24 hours of an interview, to the interviewer (or the recruiter who scheduled it).

"Hi [Name], thank you for the conversation today. I especially enjoyed [one topic from the interview], and it made me even keener to join [team/Company]. If there's anything else you'd like to check with me, I'm happy to help."

Why it works: mentioning something from the conversation itself shows you listened, and keeps your name in mind while they decide. For the interview itself, see our guide to HR interview questions.

What should you not write to a recruiter?

Anything that hands the work to the recruiter: "please look at my profile and let me know if anything fits", an unexplained resume attachment, or a long message with your whole career. Recruiters won't search for a role on your behalf - they reply to people who've already found one.

• "Open to any role that fits" - says nothing about what you want.
• Opening with "My name is X and I..." - your name is already next to the message.
• Apologising ("sorry to bother you") - you're not bothering anyone, you're reaching out professionally.
• Three follow-ups in a row - one is enough.
• The same message, word for word, to several people at the same company.

How do you keep track once the messages pile up?

Log every outreach with a date and a follow-up date. After twenty messages, nobody remembers who they wrote to and when. A simple sheet works - see how to build a tracker that doesn't fall apart - or Custro's Application Tracker (Pro), which keeps roles and stages in one place.

If you send a lot of messages, Custro's LinkedIn Optimizer (Pro) also includes a recruiter-message generator in the Chrome extension that drafts a note from your profile and the role. You still edit the draft - that's what makes it yours.