How to Respond to a Recruiter on LinkedIn

Use these response templates to make a good impression on recruiters

So you’ve just gotten a message from a recruiter on Linkedin. Congratulations! But now that the door's been opened, how should you respond? Depending on your current employment status and personal situation, there are many ways you can go about replying to an offer from a recruiter. We’ll talk you through the process of crafting a response that is both respectful and clear, and give lots of examples to help you out.

[Edit]Things You Should Know

• Thank them for considering you for the role regardless of whether you will accept or not.^[1]
• If interested, briefly describe your qualifications and experience and set up a time to talk more in detail.
• If not interested, graciously decline while keeping the doors open for future communication.
• Leave them your phone number and/or email so that you can stay in contact in the future.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Responding When Interested

1. Express your sincere interest and excitement. Start out by thanking them and letting them know right off the bat that this is a role you’re interested in. There’s no need to play hard to get in a situation like this. Replying as soon as possible will also show them your eagerness to learn more about the job.^[2]
   
   • “Thank you for reaching out to me. I’m eager to learn more about the role!”
   • “Thank you for taking the time to reach out to me—this sounds like a great job, and I’m excited to learn more.”
   • “Thank you for reaching out to me—this seems like a role that will fit well with my skills and goals, and I’m very interested in hearing more.”
   • You should always thank a recruiter for their consideration, even if you don't necessarily plan on accepting the role.^[3]
2. Give details about your current job or activities. Be transparent about what you currently do with the recruiter so they can get a better idea of your skills. A job recruiter won’t know absolutely everything about you, so give them a general summary of your qualifications. You can also take this as an opportunity to note any big accomplishments you’ve achieved.^[4]
   
   • “I have [x years] of experience in this field.”^[5]
   • “I’ve been consistently committed to [specific goal, skill or trait the new job entails].”
   • “In my current role at [name of current employer], I recently [impressive accomplishment that relates to the new job].”
3. Tell them why you think you’d be a good fit for the role. Do some research into the company’s values and goals and find something that resonates with you. Specifically address this in your response and state how your shared line of thinking will make you a great fit for the role. You can also pull items from the job description and assert how you are a good fit to carry out said duties.^[6]
   
   • “The company’s goal of [goal] is something that truly resonates with me, and I think I would be valuable in helping to achieve this goal.”
   • “I’m particularly interested in the opportunity to [duty from job description] and think that I would be a perfect fit for this role.”
   • “I empathize with the company’s values and think that my skills will greatly benefit the company and its mission.”
4. Set up a meeting time to learn more about the role. A phone call, video meeting, or in-person meeting will give you the opportunity to ask questions and talk more fluidly with the recruiter. Offer them a range of times that you’re available and leave them with your contact information, such as your email and phone number.^[7]
   
   • “I’d love to talk more about how my skills could benefit the [company name] team. I’m available [dates and times], and you can contact me at [email and/or phone number]. I look forward to talking with you more soon.”
5. Sign off with sincerity. Signing off is just as important as sending a greeting. End your reply professionally with an appropriate sign off and your name.^[8]
   
   • Use “Sincerely” to let them know that you are sincere in your excitement and interest in the job.
   • Write something such as “Best’ or “All the best” for a warm and friendly tone.
   • Sign off with “Much appreciated” to show them that you appreciate their time and effort in reaching out to you.

[Edit]Asking for More Information

1. Make it clear you’re not accepting, but would like to hear more details. Even if you’re satisfied at your current job, it doesn’t hurt to survey what’s out there and see what options you have. Be transparent and let them know that you’re not currently actively searching for a new job, but wouldn’t be opposed to hearing more.^[9]
   
   • “Currently, I enjoy the work I’m doing at [current company]. However, this sounds like a great role, and I’m interested in learning more.”
   • “I’m satisfied with the work I’m doing now at [current company], but would still like to hear more about [offered role].”
   • “While I’m not actively looking for a new job, the role of [offered role] does sound very interesting. I’d love to hear more from you and get some more insight.”
2. Request a job description or ask more specific questions. If you don’t know much about the role that’s being offered, ask the recruiter to message or email you the specific job description to look over. You can also take this time to ask one or two questions you may have about the job.^[10]
   
   • “Would you be able to send me the specific job description for [offered role] so that I can get a bit more insight on the role?”
   • “Could you tell me a bit more about the role of [offered role]?”
   • “I’m interested in hearing about the specific duties and expectations that come with the role of [offered role]. If you have any additional information, I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to learn more.”
3. Set up a meeting time to find out more about the job. A meeting with a recruiter either over the phone, over video, or in person will be the best opportunity for you to talk freely and ask more follow-up questions. Be sure to leave them your contact information so that they can reach you with more information.^[11]
   
   • “Are you available to talk sometime next week? I’m available [dates and times].”
   • “I have a couple questions that I’d like to ask and think it would be easier if we could talk over the phone or in person. Is there a particular date and time that works for you? I’m available [dates and times].”
   • “I’d love to get the chance to talk to you in more detail about this role. Are you perhaps available [dates and times] to talk? You can also reach me at [phone and/or email].”

[Edit]If You’re Interested in Another Role

1. Thank them and express your interest in the company. While the role they’re offering may not be exactly what you’re looking for, make it very clear that you’re still interested in working at that specific company. A general line saying that you’re familiar with the company and interested in the work they do will get the message across.^[12]
   
   • “Thank you for reaching out to me. I’m very familiar with [company]’s work and am more than interested in working within such a great establishment.”
   • “Thank you for contacting me about this position. I am familiar with [company] and am very excited about the work they do.”
   • “I appreciate you reaching out to me. I’ve been interested in [company] for a while now and have been following their work.”
2. Graciously let them know that you are not interested in the offered role. Instead of flat-out refusing the role, thank the recruiter for considering you for the job before letting them know that you don’t think it particularly fits your needs.^[13]
   
   • “Thank you for considering me for the role of [offered role]. However, I think I may be better suited for a different role within the company.”
   • “I’m honored that you consider me a good candidate for this job. However, I think that my particular skill set may be best used in a different role.”
   • “Thank you for reaching out to me and considering me for this position. However, I think I would be a better fit in a different role at [company name].”
3. State the role you’re interested in and explain why it’s a better fit. State the role you’re actually interested in and provide evidence as to why you’d be a good fit for that role. Note your past experiences, accomplishments and unique skill set to help convince them to go along with your thought process.^[14]
   
   • “I think I am better suited for the role of [desired role] given my past experiences.”
   • “I’m currently looking for a position that is more inclined towards [list out desired duties, skills, work environment, etc.], and think that [desired position] would actually be a better fit for me.”
   • “I think that my experience is actually more relevant to the position of [desired role] and think my skills would better benefit the company in that position.”
4. Send your resume and leave your contact information for future offers. Leave them your resume so that they can take a more detailed look at your qualifications and background and make a decision. Leave the door open for them to reach out to you in the future with an invitation for them to contact you with any new opportunities that might come up.^[15]
   
   • “I would be happy to send you my full resume for consideration, and you can contact me at [phone number and/or email].
   • If any positions open up in the future, I’d love to talk with you again.”
   • “I look forward to staying connected with you and wish you luck in your search to fill this role.”
   • “If you know of any other positions that you believe would be a good fit, you can contact me at [phone number and/or email].”

[Edit]Responding When Not Interested

1. Respectfully decline their offer. Be gracious and thank them for their time and consideration, but ultimately let them know that you are not interested in the position at this time.^[16][17]
   
   • “Thank you so much for reaching out to me. Unfortunately, I am not currently looking to accept a new job offer.”
   • “Thank you for your consideration. However, I am not planning on leaving my current job at this time.”
   • “Thank you for reaching out to me. I’m honored that you’ve considered me for this position, however I am unable to accept any offers at this time.”
2. Ask to be kept on their radar for future opportunities. You don’t have to cut your ties completely. You never know when you may be looking for a new job, and having one more person in your network will ultimately be beneficial to you. Feel free to give them your contact information so they can reach out in the future.^[18]
   
   • “If I find myself in pursuit of a new job in the future, I will be sure to get in touch with you again.”
   • “While I can’t accept any offers at the moment, I would love to stay connected with you in the future. You can reach me at [phone number and/or email].”
   • “Even though I won’t be accepting at this time, please feel free to reach out to me at [phone number and/or email] with any opportunities that come up in the future.”
3. Refer someone else who shares similar qualifications. If you know anyone who may be interested in the job and is qualified, mention that in your reply. While this is not a requirement, it can help both the recruiter and the person you’re referring.^[19]
   
   • “Even though I can’t accept this job, I know of someone who would be a great fit for the position. Can I leave you their contact information?”
   • “If you are still looking to fill the position, I know someone who may be a good fit.”
   • “While I myself must unfortunately turn down the offer, I can give you the contact information of someone I know who possesses all of the qualifications to excel in this position.”

[Edit]Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about job hunting, check out our in-depth with [v161418_b01].

[Edit]References

1. ↑ [v161418_b01]. 24 January 2023.
2. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-react-when-recruiter-messages-you-out-blue-nick-deligiannis/
3. ↑ [v161418_b01]. 24 January 2023.
4. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/10/18/in-a-hot-job-market-heres-how-to-respond-to-a-cold-reach-out-from-a-recruiter/?sh=2d93f64c5dc5
5. ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/email-examples-how-to-respond-to-a-recruiter
6. ↑ [v161390_b01]. 29 April 2020.
7. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/achievers-only-how-respond-recruiter-clinton-buelter/
8. ↑ [v161211_b01]. 24 September 2021.
9. ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/email-examples-how-to-respond-to-a-recruiter
10. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-react-when-recruiter-messages-you-out-blue-nick-deligiannis/
11. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/achievers-only-how-respond-recruiter-clinton-buelter/
12. ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/email-examples-how-to-respond-to-a-recruiter
13. ↑ https://joinhandshake.com/blog/students/how-to-wow-recruiters-that-message-you/
14. ↑ https://joinhandshake.com/blog/students/how-to-wow-recruiters-that-message-you/
15. ↑ https://joinhandshake.com/blog/students/how-to-wow-recruiters-that-message-you/
16. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/10/18/in-a-hot-job-market-heres-how-to-respond-to-a-cold-reach-out-from-a-recruiter/?sh=2d93f64c5dc5
17. ↑ [v161418_b01]. 24 January 2023.
18. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/10/18/in-a-hot-job-market-heres-how-to-respond-to-a-cold-reach-out-from-a-recruiter/?sh=2d93f64c5dc5
19. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/10/18/in-a-hot-job-market-heres-how-to-respond-to-a-cold-reach-out-from-a-recruiter/?sh=2d93f64c5dc5