LinkedIn is the largest professional social network in the world with 756 million members in over 200 countries. Therefore, it’s likely that the hiring manager for the job you’ve just applied for is on LinkedIn. But should you reach out to them?
Should You Contact the Hiring Manager on LinkedIn?
Whether it’s worth reaching out depends on the company, the hiring manager, and how you approach the individual. It is especially important for competitive jobs that receive hundreds of applicants to be active and make a personal connection that can help your application stand out. On the other hand, it may annoy the hiring manager who prefers not to be contacted by applicants.
Ultimately, unless the job advertisement states that applications will only be considered through the company’s website or applicant tracking system, there’s not much to lose by sending a brief and polite message on LinkedIn to the hiring manager mentioning your interest in the position.
If the employer explicitly requests that applicants do not contact them outside of their formal applications, do not send a message to the employer on LinkedIn. If this is the case, or if you are uncomfortable with the idea of cold outreach, ask a colleague or partner who has a connection with the company to make an introduction or referral; this can also give you an advantage.
Tips for Reaching Out to the Hiring Manager on LinkedIn
Contacting the hiring manager is straightforward. Here’s what to keep in mind when writing your message:
- Let the hiring manager know that you have applied and reaffirm your interest in the position.
- Mention one or two of your key qualifications to show why you are an ideal candidate for the job.
- Keep your message as specific and concise as possible. A brief message may capture the hiring manager’s interest in your application without irritating them.
- Make sure to carefully edit your message before sending it. All your correspondence with the hiring manager should be professional and polished; no message is better than a poorly written one.
LinkedIn Message Template for the Hiring Manager
Here’s an example of a message sent to a hiring manager:
Hi Carol,
I hope you don’t mind connecting with me on LinkedIn. I am applying for the Junior Graphic Designer position at Go-Go Retro, and I wanted to take a minute to say hello.
I am a fan of the company, and my skill set seems to be a perfect match for the role. I have gained a lot of hands-on experience using Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator during my internships at Blarg Tees and Green Scene. I’ve included a link to my portfolio in case you’d like to check out my work.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing more about the position.
Best regards,
Mary Smith
MarySmith.com/portfolio
When to Send the Message?
It can take some time to process your application depending on the company.
If it’s a small company and you’ve sent your resume via email, it’s acceptable to follow up soon after sending it.
If it’s a larger company, you’ll likely have submitted your application through an online applicant tracking system. In this case, wait a day or two after submitting your application for it to be entered into the system and reach the hiring manager.
Don’t worry if you don’t receive a response. Not everyone checks their messages on LinkedIn regularly. Some people don’t pay attention at all. If you don’t receive a reply, it doesn’t mean your job application isn’t being considered.
Follow Instructions
It’s also important to follow the guidelines set by the hiring manager when applying for the position. Failing to provide all the required materials could lead to your dismissal from consideration.
Throwing
The requests that were not executed what was requested by the people is an easy way to reduce the size of the pool of applicants, so take the time to deal with the specific application requirements set by the employer and meet them appropriately. One hiring manager recently shared that he receives many qualified applicants so that if he misses one good candidate while screening resumes, it will have no effect because there are more strong candidates to choose from.
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Sources:
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
LinkedIn. “About LinkedIn.” Accessed June 15, 2021.
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/should-you-contact-a-hiring-manager-on-linkedin-4021244
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