Messaging recruiters on LinkedIn: Should you go for it?

If you’re on LinkedIn, you know it’s not uncommon to receive a message from a recruiter about an opportunity you could be well suited for. Reaching out to potential candidates is the nature of a recruiter’s job. But can the roles be reversed? Is it common—or even acceptable—practice for job seekers to be the ones contacting a recruiter instead?

Recruiters are an incredible resource for job opportunities, some of which might not even be posted publicly by their company or client. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re at a job seeker’s disposal. When it comes to whether you should reach out to a recruiter on LinkedIn, a strategic and intentional approach will be your path to success.

To help job hunters figure out exactly what their approach should be, we spoke with Jessica Hajsan, managing partner at Eleven Eleven Talent Collective, a Toronto-based company providing global recruitment services to purpose-led organizations. Hajsan works closely with organizations in retail and tech to fill their most critical open roles with high-caliber talent, specializing in filling executive-level roles within these fast-paced industries. Here, she provides insights into whether you should message recruiters on LinkedIn and the right strategy.

Should you reach out to recruiters on LinkedIn? Short answer: it depends

If you’re looking for a job, networking and making connections is always valuable—but what you say matters. Before you head to your connections list and send a note to anyone with ‘recruiter’ in their title to see if they have any opportunities available, Hajsan says the time to reach out to a recruiter on LinkedIn is when you are a strong candidate for one of the open positions that a recruiter is trying to fill.

“One thing that candidates are not always aware of is that agency recruiters do not make money finding candidates jobs; recruiters make money filling open roles for organizations with top talent,” Hajsan notes. “So, the trick is to find out which roles the recruiter is working on before reaching out to them.”

Dig a little deeper first, and if in your research you find the recruiter is working on filling a role that is a potential fit for you, Hajsan gives you the green light to send a message. However, it’s key to make it purposeful for them. “Reiterate why you would be a top candidate for the role and tailor your resume to the role description before you share your resume,” she adds.

What’s a good strategy and some best practices for messaging recruiters on LinkedIn?

A strategic approach will make or break whether you leave a good impression with a recruiter on LinkedIn. Before you do anything, do your research. Explore the company or agency’s website as well as the recruiter’s profile to find out what roles they are currently hiring for. Doing this demonstrates your interest and positions you as a candidate who has done their homework.

Once familiar with the available openings, you can tailor your message to showcase your understanding of what they’re looking for and why you’d be a good candidate. “If you are a strong fit for a role that the agency [or company] is working on, find out which recruiter owns the requisition and provide them with details that demonstrate why you’re right for the role,” Hajsan begins. “This would include your resume—tailored to the role description—, your salary expectations, and a few compelling bullet points as to why you would be the best candidate for the role.”

Starting the conversation: Proper etiquette for messaging a recruiter on LinkedIn

Research? Check. A role you would knock out of the park? Check. It’s time to get your fingers typing. Hajsan shares a real-life example of a message from a candidate interested in a role she was hiring for:

“Hi Jessica, I see that your agency is currently hiring for an executive assistant position at X organization. With 10+ years of experience as an effective EA, I am known for thinking strategically and executing impeccably.

I am also well versed in supporting C-Suite executives in the X industry, with exceptional, proactivity, detail, and precision in my work. I am not sure where you are in the recruitment process, but if the timing works, I would love to set up a chat with you to demonstrate what a strong match I could be for the role. Enclosed, I have provided my resume, which you will find matches closely the role description posted on the featured roles section of your website.

In order to allow you to assess if I could be the right fit for the role, I have also provided my salary expectations which are between $ X and $ X. I look forward to hearing from you should you find my profile to be the right fit for the role.”

Why does this approach work?

First, it shows the candidate did their research and specified the open role they were interested in, followed by their skills and experience that would make them a good fit for the role. After the warm-up lap, the candidate shared their resume and had a call to action (setting up a call). They also touched on salary expectations to further assess whether the compensation aligned with the candidate’s expectations. “Needless to say, I immediately set a phone screen with her. She moved to in-person interviews the following week and was hired thereafter,” Hajsan adds.

Mistakes to avoid when messaging recruiters on LinkedIn

Candidates, take note: making the wrong moves could result in a different outcome than you anticipated. Being vague in your message and expecting a recruiter to find you a job without putting in the effort will likely leave you on read.

As Hajsan puts it, “Keep in mind that recruiters find people for jobs and not jobs for people. This is how agency recruiters make a living. So make sure that you are targeting a specific open role that a recruiter is looking to fill, which will help the recruiter and be most beneficial to you.”

Lastly, she notes that it’s important to consider the timing of the hiring process when you reach out. As evidenced in the message Hajsan received from a successful candidate, you can ask about this in your note. “It makes good sense to ask the recruiter what stage of the recruitment process the recruiter is in for the role,” Hajsan points out. “The recruiter could be at the offer stage with another candidate and not open to looking at new candidates, so inquiring about the stage of the recruitment process is critical to get your timing right.”

Key takeaways: Should you (and how to) message recruiters on LinkedIn

Overall, messaging a recruiter on LinkedIn is an acceptable practice, but some conditions apply. Here’s a recap of the main points Hajsan shared to think about before you start drafting your note.

• A strategy is essential. When considering whether you should reach out to a recruiter on LinkedIn, plan your approach. Consider what kind of role you want (and would be good at) and first see if there is a match within the roles they are hiring for.
• Research before reaching out. Before sending a message, find out more details about the role and only reach out if you are the right fit. Give details that show why you are the right candidate, including a tailored resume, salary expectations, and why you would excel.
• Effective communication matters. Craft a purposeful and well-researched message that identifies the role you want to apply for and factors in where the recruiter is in the hiring process. In your message, highlight relevant skills, showcase your understanding of the available opportunities, and include a call to action. Avoid vague messages and understand that recruiters find people for jobs, so target a specific open role for the best outcome.

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