Do you know how to reach out on LinkedIn to get hired? LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 467 million members worldwide and 106 million members in the United States.
It’s the perfect place to start or advance your career! With LinkedIn, you can build your professional brand, expand your professional network, and gain knowledge from the vast array of professional content available on the platform.
You can also use LinkedIn to find your next job! In a recent blog post, LinkedIn reported that the number of active job applications on LinkedIn has reached 9 million and that LinkedIn members have applied to jobs at a rate of more than 3 million jobs per month.
In addition, LinkedIn has a feature that allows you to see if any of your connections work at a company you’re interested in and, if so, you can ask your connection to refer you to the hiring manager.
You can also use LinkedIn as a social media channel to research companies and prepare for job interviews. The bottom line is that LinkedIn can be an invaluable resource in your job search, if you know how to use it effectively!
1. Do Your Research. Find the Right Point of Contact.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve received a message that says, “I’m not sure who I should be talking to, but I’m interested in your company.” Well, guess what? It’s 2025, and it’s easier than ever to find out who to talk to.
First, start by researching the company. Find the company’s LinkedIn page and scroll through the employees. You can filter by people who work in the department you’re interested in or by the person who holds the title you want. You can also look at the company’s website to find the right person to contact.
If you’re not sure who to talk to, you can always send a message to the recruiter or the person who posted the job.
2. Write a Compelling Subject Line.
The subject line is the first thing a recruiter will see. Make it count!
A strong subject line should be clear, concise, and to the point.
You can use the subject line to highlight your top skills, experience, or industry.
For example, if you’re reaching out to a recruiter who specializes in the tech industry, you could use a subject line like “Experienced Software Engineer Seeking New Opportunities.”
If you’re not sure what to put in the subject line, you can also use the body of your message to introduce yourself and provide some context.
3. Keep the Message Short and Sweet.
When you are reaching out to a potential employer or recruiter on LinkedIn, you want to keep your message short and sweet. Also, don’t just blindly send a connection request to a recruiter. Add something to go along with your connection request.
Your message should be no more than 100 words.
This is because recruiters and hiring managers are busy, and they don’t have time to read a long message.
Keeping your message short will also help you to get straight to the point and make a good first impression.
4. Explain Why You Chose to Reach Out to Them.
People are busy and don’t have time to guess why you want to connect with them. Be transparent and let them know how you found them and why you want to connect.
For example, if you found a recruiter on LinkedIn, you might say something like, “I found you on LinkedIn and I see that you specialize in the tech industry. I’m interested in learning about job opportunities in the tech industry and I see that you have a lot of experience in this area. I’d love to connect with you and learn more about your background and what kind of jobs you typically recruit for.”
If you found a job posting and you want to connect with the person who posted the job, you might say something like, “I saw the job posting you have on LinkedIn for a Marketing Solutions Assistant. I’m very interested in this position and I’d love to connect with you and learn more about the job and your company.”
If you found a company you want to work for and you want to connect with someone who works there, you might say something like, “I’m interested in learning more about job opportunities at your company and I see that you have a lot of experience in the tech industry. I’d love to connect with you and learn more about your background and what kind of job titles you typically recruit for.”
5. Mention Some of Your Key Skills.
As you’re introducing yourself, mention some of your key skills. This will help the recruiter understand what you’re all about.
If you’re a software developer, you might mention that you specialize in Python and have experience with machine learning.
If you’re a marketing pro, you might mention that you’re a whiz at Google Ads and have experience managing teams.
Keep it short and sweet, and don’t get too detailed. You’ll have plenty of time to go into more detail in your LinkedIn profile and in future conversations.
6. Ask for a Referral.
Now that you’ve found a job that you’re interested in, and you’ve taken the time to follow the company, and maybe even some of the employees, it’s time to take the next step and ask for a referral.
Referrals are the #1 way that people get hired, and the #1 way that recruiters make placements on LinkedIn. It’s a win-win-win. The company gets a great new employee, the recruiter gets paid, and you get hired. It’s a great way to get your foot in the door if you’re interested in a job.
When you ask for a referral, make sure to be polite and professional. Let the person know that you’re interested in the job and that you’ve followed the company. Ask if they would be willing to refer you for the position.
7. Use the “We Are Hiring” Feature.
This is a great tool that LinkedIn has, but most people don’t know about it. It’s a feature that allows companies to add a “We’re Hiring” tab to their company page on LinkedIn.
The feature will show you all the open positions at that company. This is a great way to find out if a company has a position that’s a fit for you.
To use the “We’re Hiring” feature, go to the search bar at the top of your LinkedIn page and type in the name of the company you want to work for.
Once you’re on the company’s page, look for the “We’re Hiring” tab. If the company has open positions, they will be listed there.
If the company you want to work for has a lot of open positions, make sure to use the filters on the left side of the page to narrow down the results. You can filter by location, job function, industry, and more.
8. Make Sure Your LinkedIn Profile Is Optimized.
Finally, make sure your LinkedIn social media profile is up to date and optimized. It goes without saying that your LinkedIn banner image and professional profile photo should accurately reflect who you are. This is the first place a recruiter will look when they receive your message.
Additionally, make sure your profile includes a well-written headline, a summary that tells your story and what you’re looking for in your next role, and a list of your most recent work experience.
You should also include any relevant skills, certifications, and education, and make sure your profile is complete.
Conclusion
The truth is, there are a lot of ways to reach out on LinkedIn to get hired. But the best way is to be yourself. Don’t try to fit into a mold you believe recruiters want to see. The truth is, recruiters are looking for people who can do the job. They don’t want to see a fake profile. They want to hire real people who are qualified and passionate about their work. While I don’t recommend people getting glued to their social media, but it’s always good to check your LinkedIn feed once a day to see what newly opened jobs are out there.
LinkedIn is no longer a social networking site. It can be a really good tool to establish a human connection with a recruiter.
We hope this article helps you learn how to reach out on LinkedIn to get hired. We’d love to hear from you! What are your best tips for reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn? Let us know in the comments below.
Further Reading: Coding Bootcamps vs. Traditional Degrees: Which Path Wins in 2025?
