Should You Connect with Recruiters on LinkedIn? | Better Job Searching

“Hi All, Curious to see if adding recruiters on LinkedIn from prospective companies that I’d like to work for would help/raise my chances of being reached out to for a job. At the same time would it be appropriate to reach out directly to a recruiter about an opportunity without applying first?” A job seeker asked on Reddit.

Professional networking manners vary occasionally, but the most important thing is how you can get employed by a desired company. Should you connect with recruiters on LinkedIn before applying for a job or getting an offer from the targeted enterprise is one of questions for some job seekers.


Part 1. Should You Connect with Recruiters on LinkedIn?

“Should I connect with the recruiters on LinkedIn before applying for a post?” – Yes, you can of course. A company can sometimes post just one job online to check if it’s competitive online. If you connect with the recruiters directly before applying, you can get more detailed information about the job requirements and potential working chances. In addition, it will be helpful for you to showcase your personal advantages and skills. 

“Should I connect with the recruiters on LinkedIn before getting an offer from an applied company?” – Yes, the same answer as the last question. When you have already applied for a job on LinkedIn, or follow up with the interview result, you are also inspired to connect the recruiters to see how possible they may hire you. During the connection process, your performance can also increase your favorability on you.

No matter when you want to connect with recruiters, one more important thing is using proper LinkedIn connection template, which is beneficial to your job searching too.


Part 2. How to Find & Connect with Recruiters on LinkedIn

Not every recruiter on LinkedIn is advised to connect. You should know how to find and connect with the right recruiters. There are several ways you can find a recruiter on LinkedIn, including searching for a job directly, connecting with companies, creating job alerts for desired posts, etc.

Knowing how to find the targeted recruiters online, you can follow the steps to connect with them directly.

Step 1. Navigate to the profile of the recruiter you want to connect with. Let’s take Microsoft as an example.

Step 2. Click the “Connect” button located in the page’s Introduction section.

Step 3. Click “Add a note” in the message pop-up.

Add a Note in LinkedIn Connection

Step 4. Write a personalized message. Please note that your message is limited to 300 words. So you’d better prepare a concise and accurate message in advance.

Step 5. Click “Send Invitation”.


Part 3. Tips to Connect with Recruiters on LinkedIn

As a recruiter may receive a number of connection messages every single day, you should also get well-prepared for connecting with the decision-makers. Here are some tips that can help you stand out among those competitors.

1. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Setting up a LinkedIn profile is the first thing you should do when searching for a job, but every time you want to connect with a recruiter, it’s necessary to optimize the profile information.

How to Optimize the LinkedIn Profile:

  • Use your photo as the profile image if it’s not.
  • Complete every section as possible as you can.
  • Write a compelling and impactful headline.
  • Use keywords that are related to the posted job in your LinkedIn summary.

2. Create an Eye-catching Connection Message

Imagine that you go through hundreds of connection messages from job seekers, what content is worth another minute? A compelling connection message can always attract the recruiters at first glance.

How to create an eye-catching connection message on LinkedIn:

  • Be concise and straightforward.
  • Use a professional tone.
  • Express sincerity to the company.

3. Connect with Recruiters at the Right Time

Choosing a proper time to message the recruiters is inescapable too. Due to different time zones (for remote work mostly), workdays, and enterprise cultures, it’s better to connect them at an appropriate time.

The above 3 tips are given to increase the possibility that you may receive a reply from a connected recruiter rather than just pressing the send button.

Bonus Tip. How to Get More Chances in Job Searching

The answers to whether you should connect with recruiters on LinkedIn are positive. However, some job seekers are searching for more chances rather than just getting connected with the companies. An easier way to find a job online, using Jobright, is now available for worldwide job hunters.

Jobright provides more than 8 million active jobs that cover almost every industry and job level. Its AI-match technology helps to compare and match the most suitable job so that you can connect with the recruiters quickly. Moreover, Jobright will improve your resume quality using the AI Resume Builder, saving hours of editing your working experience.

FAQs About Connect with Recruiters on LinkedIn

1. Can I Connect with Recruiters on LinkedIn before Getting an Offer?

LinkedIn provides the path between job seekers and recruiters so that they can always get connections. So you can connect with the recruiters effectively and showcase your attention in a favorable post.

2. Is it worth it to connect with recruiters on LinkedIn?

Yes, it’s worth connecting with recruiters before, during, or after applying for a job. Your connection with the company shows true interest in the job or the company, which gains your experience in professional communication. 

Conclusion

Should you connect with the recruiters on LinkedIn? Yes, no matter if you want to apply for a job, or facilitate the decision process, connecting with the recruiters in advance is helpful to establish professional relationships, build a professional network, and access job opportunities directly, thus getting employed. In addition, optimizing your LinkedIn profile, creating efficient connection messages, and sending timely are more likely to get a reply. Last but not least, Jobright is recommended to try if you want more job chances online. It’s free to start your career with AI from now on.