Resignation / work communication
LinkedIn message to a recruiter
Recruiter message scripts for a cold note, an InMail reply, a follow-up, a posted role, and outreach while you are still employed.
Quick answer
Name the role or team in the first two lines, add one relevant fact about your work, and say how you want the recruiter to reply. Use a different note for a cold outreach, a reply to their InMail, a single follow-up, a role that is already posted, and a message you send while you are still employed.
The situation
A recruiter reads dozens of notes that say “open to opportunities” and nothing else. Yours has to name the role or team, one fact about your work, and the reply you want: a call, a job link, or a clear no. The five scripts below are written for the situations that actually show up in a job search, including the one where you still have a job and do not want your manager to find out from a recruiter.
What to do
- +Name the role, team, or job post in the first two lines so they do not have to guess why you wrote.
- +Give them one result or responsibility that matches the search, not a career summary.
- +Say what a useful reply looks like: a 15-minute call, the job link, or “not a fit.”
- +If you are employed, say so, and say not to contact your current employer.
- +Follow up once, on a specific day, and include an easy way for them to say the search has moved on.
What not to say
- ×Do not open with “I hope this message finds you well” and then paste your resume.
- ×Do not ask a recruiter to “keep you in mind for anything.” That is not a request they can act on.
- ×Do not follow up three times in a week, or send “just bumping this” with no new fact.
- ×Do not hide that you are employed and then act surprised if they call your office line.
- ×Do not put your compensation history, a life story, and five portfolio links in the first note.
Copy-ready wording options
Cold outreach
Script“Hi [Name], I saw you hire for [team or role type] at [company]. I am a [title] with [years] in [specific skill], most recently [one concrete result]. I am looking at [role type] roles this [quarter]. If you are working on anything in that lane, I would welcome a short conversation. If not, no need to write a long reply.”
Why it works: It tells them the search, the proof, and that silence is an acceptable answer.
Replying to a recruiter InMail
Script“Hi [Name], thanks for writing about the [role]. I have been doing [specific work] and I am open to talking if the role is still [level, location, or scope]. Could you send the job description and the hiring timeline? I can do 15 minutes on [day] at [time] or [day] at [time].”
Why it works: It answers their note, asks for the two facts you need, and offers times so they do not have to chase you.
Following up once
Script“Hi [Name], circling back on my note from [day] about [role or role type]. I am still interested, especially in [one specific part of the work]. If the search has moved on, a quick no is useful. If it is still open, I can send a resume or talk on [day].”
Why it works: One follow-up with a date and an easy no is enough. A second bump should only happen if they asked you to check back.
Asking about a posted role
Script“Hi [Name], I am applying for the [exact job title] posted on [where you saw it]. Two parts of my background match the post: [fact] and [fact]. I have not attached a resume in this note. Would you rather I apply on the site first, or is a short call useful before that?”
Why it works: It uses the posting’s title, matches two requirements, and asks which door they want you to use.
While you are currently employed
Script“Hi [Name], I am currently at [company, or “my current company”] and I am looking quietly. Please do not contact my employer or mention this conversation to anyone there. I am exploring [role type] roles that are [remote, level, or location]. If you have a search that fits, I can talk before [time] or after [time]. If you need an application before we speak, I will use a personal email only.”
Why it works: It states the confidentiality constraint before they have a chance to “check in” with your current company.
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Use LinkedIn message templatesFAQ
Should I message a recruiter before I apply?
If the job post names a recruiter, apply and send the posted-role note the same day so they can match the application to a person. If there is no post yet, the cold note is the application. Do not message five people at the same company with the same paragraph.
How long should a LinkedIn message to a recruiter be?
Short enough to read on a phone without scrolling much. Four to seven sentences is the useful range: why them, one proof point, the role you want, and the reply you are asking for. A resume can come after they ask for it.
What should I say if I am employed and do not want my manager to know?
Say you are employed and that they should not contact your employer. Offer times outside your workday and a personal email. Do not use your work email, and do not accept a connection request that posts an announcement your coworkers will see if your settings do that.
How many times should I follow up with a recruiter?
Once, about a week after the first note, unless they gave you a date. The follow-up should repeat the role and offer a no. If they still do not reply, stop. Another “just checking in” does not give them new information.
How do I reply to a recruiter InMail I might want?
Thank them, restate the role in your own words, and ask for the job description and timeline before you agree to a long process. Offer two specific times. If the role is wrong, say so in one line and name the kind of role that would be right, or decline cleanly.
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