If you’re a job seeker looking to make connections with recruiters, it can be hard to know where and how to start. Recruiters are often busy professionals whose inboxes are flooded with emails from prospective candidates every day. If your message doesn’t stand out or show that you’re a good fit for their needs, it’s likely that they’ll move on without giving it further thought.

Reach out to a recruiter, who may be able to connect you with hiring managers. Recruiters will often meet with qualified candidates even if they don’t have an open position.

If you’re struggling to find a job, the best way to get into contact with someone who will help you is by reaching out directly to recruiters.

Recruiters are paid by companies to find talent and can often be very helpful in getting your name on their list of potential employees. They know what skills and experience employers want, so they’ll be able to make sure that your resume reflects this. During an interview process, they’ll also be able to give advice on how to improve your interviewing skills based on what they’ve seen other candidates do in the past.

Additionally, recruiters have connections with hiring managers at multiple companies in different industries and locations. They may have heard about an opening at a company that hadn’t been posted yet but would still be interested if it was filled quickly—and could put in a good word for you! If a recruiter takes an interest in you and thinks there’s even a chance of getting hired somewhere else after talking with them about your interests/skillset then go for it!

Make a connection with a recruiter by sending them an invitation to connect on LinkedIn if you have a mutual connection or if you share groups in common.

If you have a mutual connection or groups in common with the recruiter, it’s easy to make a connection.

• If you share a mutual connection: In the “Request an Introduction” field of your introduction request, select “The person I’m asking for an intro from knows this person.” Then add their LinkedIn name as the first name and leave the last name blank so that they see only their full name when they receive your invitation. All of our recruiters are busy so we recommend sending them one email per day at most!
• If you don’t have any mutual connections but share groups in common: In the “Request an Introduction” field of your introduction request, select “I know people who are connected with both people” instead of selecting “The person I’m asking for an intro from knows this person.” This will prompt one of our recruiters to send out an invitation directly to both parties involved as opposed to having one party contact another.

Customize your message to the recruiter, explaining why you’d like to connect and what you can offer them.

If a recruiter is looking for someone with your experience and expertise, it’s likely that you are the ideal candidate for their clients. One way to prove this is by showing them how well you know their client’s needs. If you don’t know what the company does, look at its website or talk to people who work there. Then, tailor your message to show that you understand what they need—and why you’re the right person for the job.

For example:

• -I’ve been following [company name] with interest ever since I heard about [new product]. I think they have an exciting future ahead of them!
• -I’m excited about [company name]’s new direction under [new CEO]. It sounds like an excellent opportunity for me to get involved in helping build out their marketing strategy and attract more customers!

Other Examples from TheJub:

• LinkedIn Message Sample #1: Hi (Recruiter). My name is (Name) and I’m a (Title). If you have a second, I would love the chance to discuss how my (Specific Skill) and experiences might match the (Job Title) I’ve applied for (If You Already Applied). Thanks for connecting and I hope you have a great day!
• LinkedIn Message Sample #2: Hi (Recruiter). Although we have never met or had the chance to work together, I’ve heard great things about (Company Name They Work For). I’m sure you are extremely busy but if there are any job openings around (Specific Role), I would love the chance to talk about why I might be a good fit. Thank you and have a great day! 
• LinkedIn Message Sample #3: Hi (Recruiter). My name is (Name) and I’m a (Title). Just looking to connect and share with others in the industry at this time. I hope you have a great day! Thanks  
  • Follow Up Message: Hi (Recruiter). Thanks for connecting. I see that you work with (Type of Role) which I’ve also been professionally working in for (Timeframe). I’m sure you are extremely busy, but if you have time, I’d love to talk about whether my background would make me a fit for any openings in your office. Thanks!

Note: These are simple guides. Be sure to make the message unique and your own.

Include links to your personal website, portfolio, or social media accounts, if relevant.

If you want to add any links to your profile, consider including one for your personal website, portfolio or social media accounts.

Be sure that the links are relevant and current, as recruiters will be looking at them to see if they can learn more about you. Recruiters are also likely to have their own websites with job postings on them—so don’t include link after link of generic sites (like Google or LinkedIn) that may not tell the recruiter anything new. And don’t bother including links to unrelated sites!

It can be frustrating to know the perfect person for the job but not be able to get in touch with them. Company recruiters are often the gatekeepers between candidates and hiring managers, so they’re an important resource for anyone looking for work. 

If you are feeling stuck in your career or job search, contact us today for a customized approach to your needs.