Here's how to compose the best LinkedIn intro messages for networking

Having a LinkedIn profile is a great way to kick off your professional networking. There are so many functions to the tool, yet so many people simply use it as another form of social media. To do so is a great disservice to its potential though. 

Why?

Lurking behind all the job postings, surveys, and articles is a recruiter for just about every company you could name. 

If you can connect with a recruiter, you have increased your odds of landing a job. It doesn’t have to be a recruiter though, you can also use LinkedIn to connect with other staff at a company that you are interested in or peers from your industry. 

Keep reading to learn about the most effective ways to write an introductory message on LinkedIn. 

In this article, we’ll discuss:

• What is a LinkedIn intro message

• How to interact with recruiters using LinkedIn messaging

• Examples of intro messages for different scenarios

What is a LinkedIn introduction?

So what are we referring to by a LinkedIn introduction? Overall, it is the first message you send to someone who is not already in your network. There is an emphasis on writing a great introduction message because it’s the first impression you give a potential employer. 

When you’re speaking to someone in person, that person is socially obligated to engage with you. But with LinkedIn, a message can easily go without a response. Writing an effective LinkedIn introduction means creating a compelling enough reason for that person to continue engaging with you.  

How to send a LinkedIn introduction

Connect button

LinkedIn connections are with people who you know and trust. Initially, this might mean that you know them from work, school, or life in general. They are tangible beings in your life. 

As you progress through your utilization of LinkedIn, you’ll likely end up connecting with people who you haven't physically met, but trust in a theoretical way. Perhaps they’re part of the same career track as you, you’ve seen their postings and agree with them, or they’ve created some of the courses you participate in through LinkedIn Learning. 

When you press the connect button, a pop-up box will appear that says, “LinkedIn members are more likely to accept an invitation that includes a personal note”. 

While you’re not required to send a personal note, sending along a greeting will help solidify the connection. Whereas connecting without an intro message will expand your network by number, including an intro message will deepen the quality of your network. You are more likely to be remembered if you add the personal touch, which will benefit you in the long run. 

Message button: send the best LinkedIn intro messages

When you find someone on LinkedIn who you don’t know, but you want to reach out to, the first thing you need to do is press the button below their name that says ‘message’.

Previously there were limitations on who you could message. However, now you can message anyone for free, whether they’re already a connection of yours or not. 

Follow button

Following someone on LinkedIn is different from connecting with them. It allows you to view their postings and happenings without giving them access to yours. 

If you see a ‘follow’ button below someone’s name, it means that they have submitted published works to LinkedIn or have changed their privacy settings to be viewed by the general public. In a way, these are like the influencers of Instagram and other social media sites. 

If you’d like to rapidly grow your LinkedIn network, giving public access to your profile is a great option. 

How do I introduce myself to a hiring manager or recruiter on LinkedIn?

If you are asking yourself this question, pat yourself on the back because you have discovered the best utilization of LinkedIn!

Now, let’s discuss the do’s and don'ts of contacting a recruiter via LinkedIn. 

When’s the best time to do it?

You can reach out to a recruiter any time you’d like, and it will typically not hurt you to do so. However, there is one instance where it’s absolutely pivotal to reach out to a recruiter: right after submitting a job application for their company.

You want your application to stand out when you’re applying for a job, and the best way to ensure that is to multiply your points of contact. Once you reach out to a recruiter on LinkedIn, you’re giving them a snapshot of your background, interests, work history, and connections. 

If you are connected to similar people as the recruiter, it will show when they pull up your profile. If you are in the same LinkedIn groups, it will show. You want there to be as many similarities as possible with a recruiter in order to pique their interest in you as a candidate. 

Best LinkedIn intro messages: how should I word it?

When you reach out to a recruiter immediately following your submission of an application, try using the following format.

How do I personalize my LinkedIn message?

The main point of personalizing a message is that it compels the recruiter to connect with you. A recruiter’s whole job is finding valuable team assets; they truly care about finding the perfect candidate. By initiating contact and presenting your skills quickly, you’re actually making their job easier. 

So when you do make that initial contact, it should be more than a simple, “Let’s connect about the job!”. You do need to provide a hook. In other words,  you need to personalize your message.

The best way to personalize your LinkedIn intro message is to state a quick fact about your current role or your credentials. Try something like the phrase “I’m an expert in…” from  the example above. 

Another way to personalize your message is to relate to the person somehow. Look at their profile, did you go to the same school, have a mutual connection, or were at the same event? Add this to your greeting to make the best LinkedIn intro message. 

How do I respond to a LinkedIn introduction?

Let’s say the roles are flipped and one day you get a message in your inbox from a recruiter. Your profile came up for them when they were searching for keywords, and they’d like to connect. How excellent! 

In their message, the recruiter will likely give you a brief overview of the role they are searching to fill. They will also probably indicate which of your skills stood out. 

Before you respond, do some research. Go to the recruiter’s profile and the company’s profile. Explore both pages to get your preliminary information on what’s being offered. Once you feel ready, go ahead and respond. Let’s look at two scenarios. 

What to say if I’m interested in the job

To begin, let them know that you’ve done some research. Not only does this tell them that you’re interested, but also that you agree that you’re a qualified candidate.

Follow up by saying you’d like to learn more about the position. Offer to connect via video and suggest a good time for them to reach you. 

Here’s an example of how you can word it:

I’m so pleased that my profile came up in your search. I’ve looked into the position and company, and I am excited by the prospect. I would love to hear more about the opportunity. I am available any day this week between 2-3 pm EST. Let me know when you’d like to connect. 

What to say if I’m not interested in the job

As with every aspect of the job search, your goal is to open up as many doors as possible. To achieve this, always be courteous, grateful, and open to working it out under different circumstances.

If the position they mention is not something you’re currently interested in, that’s totally valid. While it can be easy to get excited by being scouted, it’s important to still think critically about the opportunity. If you wouldn’t have applied to the job posting on your own, there’s a good chance that it’s not the right fit for you. 

Follow this example to politely decline an offer to connect:

Thank you for considering me, this sounds like a wonderful opportunity. Unfortunately, this isn’t what I’m looking for at the time, but please keep me in your system should another opportunity arise in the future. 

How do I send the best LinkedIn intro messages to someone other than a recruiter?

One of the top utilizations of LinkedIn is for growing your network. Whether you are in a job hunt or securely in a position, there are so many reasons to want to initiate a connection. Use the following examples of ways to format the best introduction based on different professional scenarios. 

Greeting someone you met at a professional event

We met briefly at [name of event]. I really appreciated what you said about [reference your conversation]. I’d love to connect more about it. Is there a good time in the next week to hop on a call? 

Greeting someone whose work you admire

I’m really impressed by the [concepts/results/approaches] you shared in your article [name article] and I would love to hear more. Let’s connect about it!

Greeting a colleague at a new job

I’m new to [company] and wanted to reach out to my colleagues. I look forward to working together!

Is it better to be catchy or professional in a LinkedIn intro message?

A lot of this will depend on the industry and company that you’re applying for, as well as how you want to represent yourself. 

For executive roles, it’s best to lean into full professionalism. For creative industries, you can lean towards a more catchy style. For most other cases, it’s best to somehow create a cohesive message that blends professionalism and the humanness of being catchy. 

If in doubt, go professional. It runs a much lower risk of being seen in a poor light. 

Key takeaways

1. The best time to send a message to a recruiter is immediately following a job application submission.

2. Personalize your message to make it stand out the best.

3. Different professional scenarios require different message formats.