As a recruiter, there are some candidates that make you say “wow” based solely upon their reply back to your initial message. Other times a response may elicit something completely different, usually along the lines of “oh boy”.
The goal of this blog post is to make sure you elicit the “wow” response more often than not.
To set the stage, put yourself in this scenario: You just received an inMail on LinkedIn from a recruiter reaching out to you about a very specific job. This job fits all of your criteria and would be a great next opportunity.
They end the message asking if you’re open to discussing further details over the phone. So, how do you respond?
The “Oh Boy” Response:
“Yes”
Trust me when I say this: this response leads the conversation absolutely nowhere. To add onto that, it makes the recruiter feel like they’re pulling teeth. While you are technically answering their question, you are showing absolutely zero interest (and are not being helpful in any way). A little more detail will go a long way.
The Mediocre Response:
“Hi Sarah, thank you for reaching out. I would like to learn more about this opportunity.
If you recognize this response, it’s because it’s the generated response you can click to send when receiving an InMail. This response is just fine: short, sweet, and to the point. Outside of expressing interest though, it still leaves enough to the imagination (especially if the recruiter gave you a lot of details already or asked to specifically set up a call).
The “Wow” Response:
“Hi Sarah, thank you for reaching out to me. I am interested in learning more about this opportunity and would appreciate a few minutes of your time to discuss this opportunity in more detail. I am available to talk by phone on September 15th, 16, and 17th between 1pm and 5pm. I look forward to hearing from you - my contact information is attached below.”
Email:
Phone:
I received this exact replica of a message once and let me tell you, I was impressed. Here’s why: this message was clear, concise, and gave the answer to almost every follow up question I was going to ask. I didn’t have to ask for availability or contact information, meaning that I could just set the call with the information given to me and avoid sending a million messages back and forth.
If you’re on the fence about discussing the role with the recruiter, just say so. A good recruiter will understand when you’re unsure or just not interested, and will be happy to send additional details over if requested. By giving the most information though, you set yourself up to make a killer first impression.
And if you're not interested at all? A simple no thank you will suffice. Trust me, we appreciate the response. If you know someone who might be interested, a referral always goes a long way too.
If you need a little help crafting a response, my DM's are always open!
This article is my own and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of TEKsystems.
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