LinkedIn has become one of the top places for job seekers and employers to connect. With over 740 million members worldwide, LinkedIn is full of opportunities to grow your professional network and explore new job openings. One way to maximize your LinkedIn presence is by reaching out to recruiters, hiring managers, and other professionals at companies you’d like to work for. This is known as a cold reach out. Here’s how to effectively cold reach out for a job on LinkedIn.
Why Cold Reach Out on LinkedIn?
Cold reaching out simply means contacting someone you don’t already know. This allows you to expand your connections beyond your existing professional network. Here are some of the top reasons to try cold reach outs for your job search:
- Access to hidden job opportunities – Many open positions are never publicly posted on job boards. Connecting directly with company insiders allows you to uncover unlisted openings.
- Stand out from the applicant pool – Mass applying to job postings means stiff competition. Direct outreach shows initiative and gets your candidacy directly in front of hiring managers.
- Build new relationships – Even if a cold reach out doesn’t immediately result in a job offer, it expands your professional network. These new connections could lead to referrals and opportunities down the road.
- Customize your pitch – Cold reaching out allows you to craft personalized messages that explain why you’re a great fit for that specific company or role.
- Get your foot in the door – If you ultimately do land an interview, you’re no longer an unknown candidate. The recruiter or hiring manager already feels invested after previous correspondence.
The ability to make new, meaningful connections is one of LinkedIn’s greatest assets. Leveraging your network through strategic cold reach outs gives you a major advantage in your job search.
Who to Connect With
The key to successful cold outreach is targeting the right people. Here are the best professionals to connect with:
Recruiters
In-house recruiters at your desired companies should be your top priority. Look for recruiters and talent acquisition specialists in your industry or functional area. For example, if you want to work for Google, search for Google recruiters and send messages introducing yourself.
Hiring Managers
Connecting directly with the person who will make the hiring decision for a specific role is very powerful. Search by company and job title on LinkedIn to identify relevant hiring managers. Make sure to personalize your outreach by mentioning your interest in the open positions they oversee.
Former Colleagues
Co-workers from current or previous jobs can provide employee referrals which are highly valued by employers. Even former colleagues you weren’t very close with are worth reaching out to. Say you want to work at their new company and ask if they can submit your resume.
Alumni From Your School
Fellow alumni are often very willing to help recent graduates break into their industry or company. Tap into your alumni network on LinkedIn to connect with more experienced professionals at target employers.
2nd Degree Connections
Look through your existing connections for people who are connected to employees at companies you want to work for. Reach out to your contact and ask for an introduction. This gives you a warm lead-in versus a completely cold message.
Cast a wide net by reaching out to multiple recruiters, hiring managers, alumni, and 2nd degree connections at your desired organizations. The more personalized messages you send, the better your odds of getting a response.
How to Craft Your Initial Message
Carefully composing your cold outreach messages is key. Follow these best practices when crafting your notes:
Personalize the Subject Line
Avoid boring subject lines like “LinkedIn Message” or the recipient’s name. Include key information like the company name to show your note is tailored and relevant.
Example subject lines:
- Stanford Alumni Interested in Joining xyz Corporation
- Software Engineer Seeking New Role at ABC Company
Address Them by Name
Always use the recipient’s first and last name in your greeting to immediately personalize the note. This shows you took the time to understand who they are.
Introduce Yourself
Briefly explain who you are in the first paragraph. Share details on your background like your university, degree, years of experience, and current position. This context helps them understand why you are reaching out.
Note Your Connection
If you have a connection in common, mention this mutual acquaintance. You can say something like:
“Jane Doe suggested I reach out regarding your Account Manager opening.”
This gives additional credibility versus a completely random outreach.
Express Interest
State the specific role, job title, or company you are interested. Flattering the organization builds rapport and shows this message isn’t a generic blast.
For example:
“I’ve been following XYZ Company’s innovative work in the mobile app space. I would be thrilled to join your Product Design team.”
Highlight Relevant Skills
Summarize your background, experience, education, and skills that make you a fit for the role or company. Focus on accomplishments that stand out.
Explain Why You Want to Connect
Clearly but concisely say why you are reaching out. Do you want to learn more about open positions? Discuss company culture? Ask for referrals or introductions?
Be direct about your purpose while keeping the tone conversational and friendly.
Include a Call to Action
Close your message with a specific call to action. This gives the recipient clear direction on how to continue the dialogue. Directly request a phone call, video chat, or in-person meeting if appropriate. Or simply suggest connecting via LinkedIn messaging.
Thank Them
Expressing appreciation improves response rates. Note that you value their time and look forward to hearing their insights on your qualifications and fit.
Tips for an Effective First Message
In addition to the message structure above, keep these best practices in mind:
- Keep it short – 3-4 paragraphs at most.
- Check for typos and grammatical errors.
- Use a professional email address.
- Mirror the recipient’s preferred method of contact.
- Follow-up if you don’t receive a response within 1 week.
- Avoid hard selling yourself or being too pushy.
- Focus on showing interest in their company, not just promoting yourself.
- Sound enthusiastic about the opportunity to connect.
Sample Cold Reach Out Message
Putting all these tips together, here is an example of an effective cold outreach note to a recruiter on LinkedIn:
Subject: UCLA Alum Seeking Social Media Manager Role at XYZ Corp
Dear Jane,
My name is John Smith and I am a recent graduate of UCLA’s Communications program. I noticed XYZ Corporation is hiring a Social Media Manager on LinkedIn. I would be thrilled to be considered for this position given my digital marketing experience and interest in XYZ’s work.
As a social media intern at ABC Marketing Agency, I managed accounts with over 50,000 followers. I developed social campaigns that increased engagement by 35% quarter-over-quarter. In addition, I collaborated directly with clients to optimize branded content and identify new growth opportunities.
I would love the chance to discuss how my skills in community management, digital advertising, and analytics could contribute to XYZ’s award-winning social media presence. Are you available for a quick phone call later this week? I’m happy to work around your schedule.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to learning more about XYZ’s Social Media Manager role.
Best,
John Smith
This message checks all the boxes of an effective cold reach out. It has a specific subject line, personalized greeting, brief background, details on the open position, highlighted skills, clear call to action, and thanks the recipient. Following a template like this significantly increases your chances of getting responses and landing interviews.
Following Up After Initial Outreach
What should you do if you don’t hear back after your first cold message? Here are some tips for following up effectively:
- Wait at least 1 week before following up to allow them time to respond.
- Keep your follow up messages brief – 2-3 sentences at most.
- Acknowledge you may have gotten lost in their inbox.
- Reiterate your interest in connecting.
- Suggest an alternative contact method like email or phone.
- Offer to re-send your original message.
- If you don’t hear back after 2 follow-ups, it’s best to move on.
Here is a good template for a follow up message if you don’t receive a response to your initial LinkedIn outreach:
Hi Jane,
I wanted to follow up on the LinkedIn message I sent last week regarding the Social Media Manager position at XYZ Corp. I realize you’re likely very busy, so my note may have gotten buried. I remain very interested in learning more about this opportunity. Would you have a few minutes this week to connect via phone? I can resend my original message in case you didn’t receive it.
Looking forward to connecting!
John
Persistence pays off, but avoid bombarding contacts with excessive follow-ups. If you’ve sent a few messages with no response, focus your efforts elsewhere.
Expanding Your Network
Beyond direct applications and outreach, here are additional ways to grow your LinkedIn network for new job opportunities:
Join Industry and Alumni Groups
LinkedIn Groups based on your major, university, desired industry, or other interests are a great way to connect with like-minded professionals. Engage regularly by commenting on discussions and posting relevant content.
Follow Company Pages
Following company pages lets you stay up-to-date on new job postings, company news, and events. This shows your interest in the organizations and helps make new connections.
Attend LinkedIn Events
From casual meetups to large conferences, LinkedIn events are a prime networking opportunity. Check LinkedIn for both virtual and local events related to your field.
Share, Comment, and Like
Being active by sharing posts, commenting on updates, and liking content raises your profile. This can lead to new followers and connections on the platform.
Leverage all of LinkedIn’s features to organically grow your network in addition to direct outreach. A broader network improves your access to insider opportunities.
Key Takeaways
Here are the most important things to keep in mind when cold reaching out for jobs on LinkedIn:
- Target recruiters, hiring managers, former colleagues, alumni, and 2nd degree connections at your desired companies.
- Personalize each message with specific details on their organization.
- Briefly introduce yourself and highlight your background and skills.
- Explain your reason for connecting and include a call to action.
- Follow up if you don’t receive a response after 1 week.
- Join groups, follow company pages, and attend events to expand your network.
With over 740 million users, LinkedIn is full of potential new professional connections. But cold reach outs must be strategic and personalized in order to be effective. By crafting thoughtful messages, following up politely, and expanding your broader network, you can leverage LinkedIn to uncover hidden job opportunities.
The ability to directly connect with recruiters, hiring managers, and insiders gives you a unique edge in your job search. Approach cold outreach as an opportunity to build relationships, not just land interviews. With persistence and genuineness, you can develop new contacts that support your career goals now and in the future.
Conclusion
In summary, cold reaching out on LinkedIn is a highly effective job search strategy when done correctly. Thoroughly research your target companies and employees, craft personalized messages highlighting your fit, and politely follow up if needed. Patience and persistence are key, as is focusing on building connections, not just advancing your own interests. Leverage LinkedIn’s tools and features to expand your network. With a strategic approach, cold outreach provides a major advantage versus just applying online to job postings. Initiating direct contact with the right people can help uncover unlisted opportunities and fast track you into consideration at desired employers.