Best way to contact a recruiter on Linkedin

[Anonymous]

I am looking for a new job, and recently saw that a company I would like to work for is hiring for a position that I would be a good fit for. I want to send an Inmail (or whatever it's called) to the recruiter that posted it, but I'm not sure how I should approach it, it will probably end up sounding like a cover letter. Anyone have any tips on how I should approach this?

[Anonymous]

Hi Mary,
My name is Jim Smith. I saw your job posting on LinkedIn and thought I would introduce myself to you. I am a senior supply chain manager currently employed with ABC Inc., in Washington DC. I am very interested in speaking with you about the current openining in your organization, and would like to schedule a time for a conversation if possible? I can be reached at 202-555-5555, or feel free to contact me directly via my LinkedIn InMail.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely
Jim Smith

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi Mary,
My name is Jim Smith. I saw your job posting on LinkedIn and thought I would introduce myself to you. I am a senior supply chain manager currently employed with ABC Inc., in Washington DC. I am very interested in speaking with you about the current openining in your organization, and would like to schedule a time for a conversation if possible? I can be reached at 202-555-5555, or feel free to contact me directly via my LinkedIn InMail.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely
Jim Smith

This but give your direct email so they can email you for your full résumé. Make sure your LI profile is up to date before you reach out as they will likely look at it.

Also PSA make sure you have a professional head shot type picture or none at all (headshot best option, casual picture worst).

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you both for your responses, they helped a lot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you both for your responses, they helped a lot!

Just don't copy that response and paste it. It contains a typo.

[Anonymous]

I saw it and was going to fix it.

I just tried to send the recruiter an Inmail, but evidently you're only allowed to do that if you're already connected to the person or if you have an upgraded account. Would it be weird if I ask her to connect? She has 500+ connections already so I'm assuming other people have done the same.

[Anonymous]

Not weird - that's what LinkedIn is for!

I get requests all the time from people I dont know. I usually accept but first read their profiles.

Make sure your profile is clean and professional and reads exactly like your resume - dates etc.

[Anonymous]

I applied through a company's job site recently and was sent a connection request on LinkedIn a few days later by a hiring manager. I looked up his name in the company directory, got his email, and have been working with him the last few weeks. LinkedIn is a tool, and how you use it can greatly influence where your career will go. You'll be showing them that your assertive and engaged in your career and they will be more likely to take you seriously as a candidate. I went as far as to suggest a meeting with him, which I got.

[Anonymous]

And recruiters won't find it weird.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I went ahead and asked her to connect, but she hasn't accepted yet (or just ignored it). Not really sure what to think.