To help you navigate the tricky waters of messaging recruiters on LinkedIn, we’ve gathered twelve best practices from top professionals, including talent acquisition leaders and career coaches. From the importance of messaging recruiters with a clear purpose to the effective use of voice notes to specify opportunities, these insights will guide you on what to do and what to avoid.

MESSAGE WITH PURPOSE

It’s important to message recruiters with a purpose, making sure you’ve done your due diligence on what you’re requesting.

Are you interested in a job? Make sure you’ve already applied, meet the minimum qualifications, and are clear on the recruiter’s relationship to the role. With this, you come across as prepared, intelligent, and informed.

Approaching the conversation with a clear request to either speak with the recruiter, receive written communication on a decision, or ask for the recruiter to help get your application flagged with the actual recruiter for the role, will put you ahead of all the misdirected messages the recruiter likely sees daily.

Desiree Smith, director, Talent Acquisition, Early Warning, Zelle

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH RECRUITERS

When reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn, it’s important to understand that recruiters often get inundated with connection requests. Typically, these are about a posting or someone asking how to connect with the company. In most cases, if a recruiter is not looking for a candidate that matches your background right now, they may connect but not reply, and that’s okay!

Connecting and building a relationship with a recruiter is a better approach. If you are courting a company, reach out before there is an opening you’re interested in. Keep up with the company news and updates, engage on postings. Keep your name top of mind so that when a role that fits comes up, the recruiter remembers who you are.

Reaching out just to send a copy of your resume is pointless; your LinkedIn profile should show everything needed, so instead, use your message to connect and build a relationship that can go both ways!

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