3 LinkedIn Message Templates You Can Use to Impress Any Hiring Manager

Are you getting frustrated with your job search? Have you applied to 10 or more jobs and gotten zero replies?

As it turns out, timing and connections may be the two missing puzzle pieces that you need to land a job.

Research shows that candidates who apply to a job within the first 24-72 hours of it being posted have a 90-95% higher chance of receiving an offer. 

But that's not all, a surprising 84% of candidates who applied within this time frame had an employee referral.

What does that mean for you as a job seeker? Well it seems that “the early bird gets the worm” really is true when it comes to landing a job.

When I learned about this, it gave me insights, but also many fears. 

If you’re like me, the thought of reaching out to hiring managers (or any strangers) can be very stress inducing. But, in this post we’re going to shatter that barrier and I’ll show you a stress-free way to get all the benefits of networking without any of the stress sweats.

First, a few stats on why doing this REALLY matters:

1. A remarkable 42% of people surveyed claimed that directly contacting the hiring manager was the most helpful action they took to land their job. 
2. 45% of those surveyed credited their networking as the most helpful factor in getting hired.

Yes, you read that right. By summoning the courage to connect and network with those decision-makers, you're dramatically increasing your chances of success.

In this post, I’ll show you:

• How you can be one of the first applicants when a job is posted
• How to get referrals for jobs (without stressing out)
• How to write an amazing LinkedIn message that (actually) gets a reply. 

Plus, I’ll share a few ready-to-use LinkedIn message templates you can use right away.

Also, I want to give a huge shoutout to Jessica Hernandez for sharing these templates in the first place. If you don't follow her already, she puts out some great content!

Alright, let’s dive in!

How to Message a Hiring Manager on LinkedIn About a Job

Before I get into the LinkedIn message templates, let’s cover the single biggest mistake most people make.

When sending a LinkedIn message, most people say something like this:

Hi, my name is X, I am an expert at Y, I’ve applied to job Z, can you give me a referral?

This kind of message is perfect…if your aim is to be ignored and ghosted.

When reaching out to hiring managers on LinkedIn, it's important to approach the initial message with a more strategic mindset. Rather than immediately asking for referrals or job opportunities, it’s best to prioritize making a genuine connection. 

Your only goal should be to make the connection. 

Like I shared in our guide on how to network for a job, your first steps will be to establish a positive rapport.

You can establish rapport by:

• Expressing interest in their work
• Highlighting a common professional interest 
• Noticing a location or college you have in common

This is what we’ll put in the first message and I’ll show you how to phrase these in the sample LinkedIn messages below. 

After the connection is made, then you’ll nurture that relationship over time.

To nurture your relationship you can:

• Comment thoughtfully on their posts
• Ask them questions about their work or industry
• Look for ways to add value by sharing helpful resources or knowledge

Building your relationship doesn’t have to take months or years. 

I’ve had people reach out to me regarding jobs after just a few weeks of interactions and as a hiring manager I was happy to provide a referral. 

Remember, people want to help those they know, like, and trust. You can’t necessarily build trust in a few weeks, but you can definitely get them to know and like you. Sometimes that’s all it takes.

Here is a great video about why and how this works from career coach and Founder of The Final Round Podcast, AJ Eckstein:

LinkedIn Message Template 1: Connecting on common interests 

The first sample LinkedIn message that I like to use is probably the most versatile. Use this message to connect with a recruiter or hiring manager when you can find a common interest or location:

“Hi Michael, 

I see we're both graduates of UNF with a focus on human resources. I’m also in the Jacksonville area and looking to expand my network of industry connections. Would you be open to connecting with a fellow Florida native?”

Why It Works

This LinkedIn message template uses several effective strategies to connect with the hiring manager. 

First, it opens by directly addressing the person by name to personalize the message and grab their attention. While personalizing a message by including someone's name may seem like a no-brainer, you'd be surprised at how many job seekers overlook this crucial detail. 

The message then identifies several common interests, in this case attending the same university, majoring in the same field, and living in the same area. Establishing common ground like this is a great way to build rapport. 

What’s also powerful about this message is that it’s concise but personalized, expressing genuine reasons for connecting – like expanding industry connections and networking with fellow locals. 

On top of that, the casual and friendly tone (with phrases like 'fellow Florida native') makes the request to connect feel like a natural extension of shared experiences rather than a hard sell. 

Overall, I love this LinkedIn template because it comes across as authentic and purposeful, which always increases the likelihood of getting a positive response.

LinkedIn Message Template 2: Connecting on activity

This next LinkedIn message template is great when you can’t find a common interest. Use this message to connect with a recruiter or hiring manager when you see that they’ve posted on LinkedIn:

“Hi James, 

I saw your post about the challenges that recruiters are facing in the midst of this rocky economy, and it resonated with me. I’d appreciate connecting with you so that I can follow your posts.”

Why It Works

One of the best ways of increasing your job opportunities on LinkedIn is by connecting with people in your desired industry. Remember from the hiring statistic earlier, “candidates who apply to a job within the first 24-72 hours of it being posted have a 90-95% higher chance of receiving an offer.

As we’ve talked about before, using LinkedIn’s hidden search feature is one way to find jobs as soon as they’re posted. Another way is to make sure you’re connected to the people posting the jobs, and that’s what this template does.

The template opens up with a friendly greeting (again a personalized one, mentioning the recipient’s name), followed by a reference to a recent post they made. 

Remember, most people never post on LinkedIn, so if someone has it means they care about sharing something. By acknowledging the post they’ve written, you’re demonstrating that you’ve taken the time to read their content and understand their perspective.

Additionally, asking to follow their future posts shows that you value their insights and are interested in staying connected with them in the future. That in itself helps to establish that personal connection that we’re after.

All in all, this template is an excellent way to start a conversation because it expresses interest and opens the door for future engagement.

LinkedIn Message Template 3: Connecting on a new field or industry

This next LinkedIn message is great if you’re trying to make a career pivot into a new field or industry. Use this message to connect with a recruiter or hiring manager that is in a new field or industry you’re interested in:

“Hi Jennifer, 

I’m new to sales and saw your post about hiring entry-level sales reps. I’d like to follow you to stay up-to-date with the roles you’re posting and share them with my network. I’d also appreciate the opportunity to connect and learn from the content you share.”

Why It Works

One of the fastest ways to break into a new industry is by connecting with professionals who are already established in that field. That’s why I love this LinkedIn message template and recommend using it when you need to engage with new potential employers or industry experts. 

This template works really well in large part because it breaks the norms. When a recruiter posts about a job opening, they typically get bombarded with hundreds of messages. 

Most of them say either, “I’ve applied, please review my application,” or “I’m interested, please give me a referral.”

I’ve personally received hundreds of these messages as a hiring manager and I can tell you there’s no bigger turn off than when someone bluntly requests your attention.

The LinkedIn message template above, on the other hand, works so beautifully precisely because it doesn’t do this.

First, it expresses your desire to follow them and stay in the loop about job postings.

Then it goes further, by adding that you’d like to share these roles with your network. This shows you're not solely interested in personal gain, but also happy to help them with their needs. You’re not asking for a job or referral – quite the opposite, you’re saying you might provide them with referrals.

Finally, you’re expressing that you’d like to follow them and learn from their content. This shows that you value their expertise and appreciate the content they’re putting out.

Overall, this message is well thought out, courteous, and transparent. I love that this message is very honest and vulnerable by saying that you’re new to the field. I’ve found that this often resonates with hiring managers who value transparency in their connections.

Takeaways and Next Steps

The most important thing to keep in mind when sending a message to someone on linkedin about a job is to avoid making any requests.

Remember that every person you’re messaging is busy with their jobs, kids, family, activities, and so much more. 

If they suspect you’ll be asking them for help, referrals, or even just to “pick their brain,” chances are they’ll ignore your request. Not because they don’t want to be helpful, but because they’re already so busy.

The secret to connecting with a recruiter on a LinkedIn message is patience.

Write one message to connect. Then comment and engage with them. Build that relationship over time.

Again, this doesn’t have to take months or years. But taking a few weeks will be far more fruitful to your networking strategy than trying to rush the process.

If you’d like to learn more about how to network for a job, I recommend reading my guide here.

And, if you’d like help with your resume, interviewing, or LinkedIn profile, join our 100% free courses by dropping your info below and I’ll send them straight to your inbox.

Till next time, happy networking!