When applying for jobs on LinkedIn, it can be very effective to directly reach out to the hiring manager with a short message. This allows you to make a more personal connection, express interest in the role, and provide additional details beyond your resume/application. An effective short message to a hiring manager should be professional, compelling, and concise. Here are some tips and examples for writing an impactful note that will help your application stand out.
Do Your Research on the Company and Role
Before drafting your message, take time to thoroughly research the company, hiring manager, and position. Review the job description and company website to understand priorities, goals, required skills/experience, and workplace culture. This will allow you to tailor your message and emphasize how your background makes you an excellent fit. Mention any details that resonate with you or particularly excite you about the company mission and role.
Introduce Yourself and Your Interest
Start your message with a brief self-introduction stating your name, current position, and where/how you came across the job posting. Express enthusiasm for the opportunity to potentially join the organization and work with the hiring manager. You can say something like:
“My name is [your name], and I’m excited to apply for the [position name] role at [company name] that I recently saw posted on LinkedIn. After learning more about the position and your organization, I’m very enthusiastic about the opportunity to potentially join your team.”
Highlight Relevant Skills and Experience
Next, call out one or two of your most relevant qualifications and accomplishments that directly correlate to the position’s top requirements. You want to catch the hiring manager’s attention by emphasizing skills that make you uniquely suited to excel in the role. For example:
“As you’ll see on my resume, I have over 5 years of experience successfully driving digital marketing campaigns and developing targeted content strategies. In my current position at [company name], I spearheaded a website redesign that led to a 20% increase in traffic within just 6 months.”
Express Professional Interests or Goals
To help personalize your message, add a line or two explaining your professional passions, growth goals, or work style. This gives the hiring manager a better sense of you as a candidate beyond just skills and experience. For example:
“I’m deeply interested in leveraging data and analytics to create more targeted, results-driven marketing. This role really appeals to me because of the opportunity to take ownership over campaign performance analysis and reporting. I’m most energized by identifying actionable insights that directly impact business growth.”
Note Any Connections
If you have a shared connection, highlight that mutual contact who referred you or said positive things about the company culture. Namedrop only if it’s someone who the hiring manager is likely to know well and respect. This helps humanize you as a referral rather than just another applicant. For example:
“Jane Smith, who I used to work with at [company name], connected us and had fantastic things to say about the supportive and innovative work environment you’ve built at [company name].”
Express Appreciation and Next Steps
Wrap up your message with a note of appreciation for the hiring manager’s time and consideration. Provide your contact information and reiterate your interest in learning more about the role. For example:
“I greatly appreciate you taking the time to review my application. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you further about how I can utilize my skills and experience to contribute to [company name]’s continued success. Please feel free to reach me anytime at [phone number] or [email address]. I look forward to hearing from you soon.”
Proofread Carefully
Before sending your message, proofread thoroughly to fix any typos or grammatical errors. This shows professionalism and attention to detail. Consider asking a friend to review as well to make sure it’s polished and error-free.
Keep it Concise Yet Personable
Aim to keep your entire message under 5 sentences and focused on the most vital highlights. Hiring managers appreciate brevity. However, you still want to inject some personality and human connection, not just facts. Finding this balance results in an engaging, memorable note.
Customize Each Message
If applying to multiple roles at one company, be sure to tailor each note to the specific hiring manager, position, required skills, etc. Generic messages are easy to spot and make you seem disinterested.
Follow Up Your Application
Time your message to follow shortly after submitting your full application (resume, cover letter, etc). This prevents you from blending in as just another name on a stack of applicants. Reinforce why you’re a strong contender they shouldn’t overlook.
Connect on LinkedIn (Optional)
If there seems to be a potential mutual fit, you may choose to connect with the hiring manager on LinkedIn when you send your message. This can open the door for further conversations and relationship building. However, use your best judgment – some may see unsolicited connection requests as too aggressive.
Examples of Short Messages to Hiring Managers
Entry-Level Position
“Hi [name], I’m thrilled to apply for the entry-level financial analyst role at [company] posted on LinkedIn. As a recent finance major, I’m eager to utilize my academic knowledge and internship experiences in Excel, budget forecasting, and data analysis in a full-time capacity. Your company’s collaborative culture and mentorship opportunities are very appealing. I’d love to learn more about how I can contribute as part of the Finance team. Thank you for your consideration – I look forward to hearing from you.”
Manager Position
“Dear [name], My name is [your name] and I’m very interested in the Operations Manager role. With over 7 years of experience successfully leading production teams and implementing process improvements, I’m confident I have the right skills and expertise for this position. What excites me most is the chance to make an impact by optimizing efficiency at your growing company. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to review my application. Please let me know if there is any additional information I can provide to demonstrate how I would be an asset to your organization. I look forward to discussing further.”
Referral Message
“Hi [name], I hope you are doing well! Katie Smith, who I worked with at [company], passed along your job posting for a Social Media Manager and thought I would be a great fit. As you’ll see on my resume, I have a proven track record creating and executing social strategies that drive brand engagement and awareness. I would love to bring my passion for social media to your company. Please let me know if you would like to discuss my qualifications and interest in the role further. I appreciate your time and consideration.”
Previous Employer Message
“Dear [name], I was excited to come across your posting for a Project Manager on LinkedIn. As a former Project Coordinator at [company name], I already have experience and familiarity with your organization’s approach to IT project implementation. In my current role at [company name], I have expanded my PM skills even further and would love to bring that expertise back to help drive key initiatives. Please feel free to reach out via email or phone if you would like to discuss my background or interest in rejoining the [company name] team in this capacity. I appreciate your consideration.”
Things to Avoid in Messages to Hiring Managers
- Typos/grammatical errors
- Generic messages copied and pasted for multiple roles
- Lengthy notes (aim for 5 sentences or less)
- Overbearing sales pitches about yourself
- Forgotten company/hiring manager name
- Requesting a decision timeline or try to pressure them
- Talking negatively about current/past employers
Tips for Following Up
If you don’t receive any response after about a week, consider sending a polite follow up message checking on the status of the role and restating your interest. You can say something like:
“Hi [name], I wanted to follow up regarding the [position name] role to see if you have had a chance to review applicants yet. I remain very enthusiastic about the opportunity, and am happy to provide any additional information needed. Please let me know if you would like to further discuss my qualifications and interest. I appreciate your time and consideration.”
Limit follow up messages to just 1 or 2 if you still don’t hear back. At a certain point, take the hint and move on if they are unresponsive.
Make a Lasting Impression
With a compelling, professionally crafted message, you can grab a hiring manager’s attention and get your foot in the door. Avoid common mistakes like typos and generic content. With some care and personalization, you can greatly enhance your chances of progressing to the next stage of the hiring process. Use these tips and examples to make your communication stand out.
KEYWORD: LinkedIn application message
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