LinkedIn Message Templates: 12 Ready-to-Send Examples (2026)
12 LinkedIn message templates for connection requests, cold outreach, recruiter replies, informational interviews, referrals, and follow-ups. Copy, personalise, send.
Most LinkedIn messages do not get a reply. Not because the sender is unqualified or uninteresting — but because the message is about them rather than the person they are writing to, or because it is so generic it is impossible to respond to in any meaningful way.
The templates in this guide are built around a simple principle: every message should give the recipient a specific, low-friction reason to respond. That means a clear purpose, a brief explanation of why you are reaching out to them specifically, and a concrete ask that takes less than a minute to answer.
How to Write a LinkedIn Message That Gets a Reply
Before the templates, three principles that apply to all of them:
Keep it short. The LinkedIn message window is narrow and most people read messages on mobile. Three to five sentences is the target. If you cannot explain why you are reaching out and what you are asking in five sentences, the message needs editing — not expanding.
Be specific about why them. "I came across your profile" is not a reason. "I read your post on AI-driven hiring tools last week" is a reason. Specificity signals that you have paid attention and are not sending the same message to a hundred people.
Make the ask small. A first message asking for a job, a reference, or a one-hour call is too much. A first message asking a single focused question or requesting a 15-minute conversation is a manageable ask that most people can say yes to without significant commitment.
12 LinkedIn Message Templates
Connection Requests
LinkedIn's Help page on personalising invitations to connect puts the note at 200 characters, and a free account can only add a personalised note to three connection requests a month — after that, the invitation goes out blank unless you have Premium. That is a hard limit, not a style suggestion: write past it and LinkedIn will not let you send the note.
Template 1: Connecting after meeting at an event
Hi [Name], it was great to meet you at [event name] yesterday — I enjoyed our conversation about [specific topic]. I would love to stay connected. Looking forward to seeing your work.
Keep it to two sentences. Reference the specific conversation — not just "the event." No ask needed for a connection request.
Template 2: Cold connection request — same industry
Hi [Name], I have been following your work in [specific field or company] for a while and wanted to connect. I am a [your role] at [your company/context] working on similar problems. Hope to stay in touch.
No ask in the connection request itself. Save the ask for a follow-up message after they accept.
Template 3: Cold connection request — different backgrounds with a reason
Hi [Name], I am a [your role] exploring a move into [their industry/function]. I came across your profile while researching [specific company or topic] and would love to connect — your background in [specific aspect] is exactly the kind of experience I am trying to learn from.
Recruiter Messages
Template 4: Replying to a recruiter who reached out
Hi [Name], thank you for reaching out. I am open to hearing more about the [Job Title] role. A few quick questions before we set up a call — could you share the salary range and whether the role is remote, hybrid, or in-office? Happy to schedule something once I have that context.
This is efficient for both parties. Asking for salary range and working model upfront saves a screening call if the basics do not align.
Template 5: Reaching out to a recruiter proactively
Hi [Name], I am a [Job Title] with [X years] of experience in [specialism] and I am currently exploring new opportunities. I noticed you recruit in [sector/function] and wondered whether you are working on any relevant roles at the moment.
I am looking for [specific role type] in [location/remote], ideally at [type of company — stage, sector, size]. Happy to send my CV if that would be useful.
Keep the specialism tight. Recruiters receive many of these messages; the clearer you are about what you want, the easier it is for them to help you.
Template 6: Following up with a recruiter after no response
Hi [Name], I wanted to follow up on my message from [X days] ago about [role type] opportunities. I understand you are busy — if the timing is not right or you are not currently working on relevant roles, no problem at all. If something does come up in [sector/function], I would welcome the chance to connect.
Networking and Cold Outreach
Template 7: Reaching out about a specific job opening
Hi [Name], I came across the [Job Title] role at [Company] and wanted to reach out directly before applying. I have [X years] of experience in [relevant area] and have [specific achievement relevant to the role]. Would you be open to a brief conversation before I submit my application? Happy to share my CV.
Reaching out to a hiring manager or team member before applying significantly increases the chance your application gets reviewed.
Template 8: Requesting an informational interview
Hi [Name], I am a [your role/background] exploring a move into [their field or company type]. I have been reading about your work in [specific area] and would love to ask you a few questions about your experience — particularly around [specific aspect].
Would you be open to a 15-minute call or a few questions over message? I would be grateful for any perspective you are willing to share.
Template 9: Reaching out to a second-degree connection via a mutual contact
Hi [Name], I noticed we are both connected with [Mutual Contact]. I am currently [brief context — looking for opportunities in X / working on Y] and your experience in [specific area] caught my attention. Would you be open to a brief conversation? I would value any perspective you are willing to share.
Job Search Specific
Template 10: Asking about an unadvertised role
Hi [Name], I have been following [Company]'s work in [specific area] for some time and am very interested in joining the team. I do not see a current opening that matches my background in [specialism], but I wanted to reach out in case there are roles in the pipeline or opportunities to connect with the right person.
I am a [job title] with experience in [brief relevant background]. Would you be open to a brief conversation?
Template 11: Asking for a referral from a connection at a target company
Hi [Name], I hope you are well. I wanted to ask whether you would be comfortable referring me for the [Job Title] role at [Company] — I noticed it is open on their careers page. I think my background in [relevant area] is a strong match, and I know that employee referrals carry weight in the process.
No pressure at all if it does not feel right. I would be happy to send my CV so you can get a sense of my background before deciding.
InMail Templates
InMail lets you message someone you are not connected to, but LinkedIn's own Help page on InMail is explicit that it "is a premium feature" and "you must upgrade to a Premium account to use InMail messages." Without Premium, a mutual connection or a public email address is the way in.
Template 12: InMail to a hiring manager at a target company
Hi [Name], I am [your name], a [job title] with [X years] of experience in [specialism]. I am reaching out because I am very interested in [Company] and noticed the [Job Title] opening on your careers page.
In my current role I [specific achievement relevant to the role]. I would welcome the chance to learn more about the team and the role — and to share more about my background.
Would you be open to a brief conversation?
A Worked Example: Cold Outreach to a Hiring Manager With No Mutual Connection
Template 12 covers this scenario in outline. Here is the hardest version of it filled in, with the reasoning behind each choice, because a bracketed template does not show you why the phrasing works.
Dan (invented) is a logistics coordinator applying for a Senior Supply Chain Analyst role at a mid-size retailer. He has no connection in common with the hiring manager, Priya, so a standard connection request is not an option — she would have no reason to accept a stranger with no shared context. He has LinkedIn Premium, so he sends an InMail instead:
Hi Priya, I saw the Senior Supply Chain Analyst opening on your team's page and wanted to reach out before applying through the portal.
I currently coordinate inbound freight for a 40-store retail chain, and last quarter I renegotiated two carrier contracts that cut transport cost per unit by 11% without changing delivery windows. Your job posting mentions consolidating regional distribution centres, which is exactly the kind of project that work prepared me for.
Would you be open to a 15-minute call before I apply, so I can ask a couple of questions about the role? Happy to send my CV either way.
Four things are deliberate here, not accidental:
- The opening names the specific role, not "your company." Priya manages several roles. Naming the exact title tells her in one clause why this message landed in her inbox and not someone else's.
- The proof is one number tied to one action, not a list of skills. "Renegotiated two carrier contracts that cut transport cost per unit by 11%" is a claim Dan can defend in an interview. A line like "strong negotiator with cost-saving experience" asks Priya to take his word for it.
- The proof is matched to a detail from the job posting, not his CV in general. Referencing "consolidating regional distribution centres" shows he read the posting rather than sending the same InMail to every hiring manager in his target sector. That is the difference a hiring manager notices in the first sentence.
- The ask happens before the application, and the CV is offered rather than attached. Attaching a CV to a cold InMail turns it into an unsolicited application, which is easy to archive. Offering to send it after a short conversation keeps the reply low-effort — a yes or no to a call, not a decision to review a document.
Without Premium and its InMail credits, the alternative is finding a mutual connection to ask for an introduction, or locating the hiring manager's work email from the company's own site — both slower, but neither requires paying for a subscription just to send one message.
What Not to Do: LinkedIn Message Mistakes
- Asking for a job in the first message. "Please consider me for any open roles" in a connection request is the most common and most counterproductive approach.
- Copy-pasting the same message to everyone. Recipients can tell. Even minor personalisation dramatically increases response rates.
- Sending a wall of text. Paragraphs that run to six or seven sentences lose people before they reach the ask. Cut every sentence that does not add new information.
- No clear ask. "I just wanted to connect" is not an ask. Every message should end with a clear, low-friction next step.
- Following up more than once. One follow-up message is appropriate if you have had no reply after a week. A second follow-up crosses into pressure.
Using LinkedIn Effectively Alongside Your CV
A strong LinkedIn message can get you a conversation. What you do with that conversation depends on how well your profile and CV are prepared. If a recruiter or hiring manager looks at your profile after your message — and they will — your LinkedIn headline and About section need to immediately confirm that you are worth talking to.
Similarly, if the conversation moves to a formal application, your CV needs to match the impression you created. Tailor your CV to the specific job description before sending it, so the application reinforces your message rather than undermining it.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best LinkedIn message to send to a recruiter?
Be specific about what you are looking for — role type, location, company stage — and ask a focused question or offer to send your CV. Recruiters respond to clarity. A message that requires them to ask five follow-up questions to understand what you want will often not get a reply.
How long should a LinkedIn connection message be?
Two to three sentences is ideal for a connection request. LinkedIn's own limit for the note is 200 characters, and a free account can only personalise three connection requests a month before the option reverts to a blank invitation. That constraint is useful either way — it forces you to be specific and concise. Save the full pitch for a follow-up message after they accept.
Is it okay to message someone you do not know on LinkedIn?
Yes, within reason. LinkedIn is a professional network built for exactly this. The key is relevance and brevity — you need to give the person a specific reason why you are reaching out to them specifically, and you need to make the ask manageable.
What is the difference between a LinkedIn message and an InMail?
LinkedIn messages go to your first-degree connections for free. InMail is LinkedIn's paid messaging system that lets you message anyone on the platform regardless of connection status. InMail credits come with LinkedIn Premium subscriptions.
How do I message a hiring manager on LinkedIn without being connected?
You can use InMail if you have a Premium account. Alternatively, look for a mutual connection who can make an introduction, or try to find the person's email via the company website. A warm introduction via a mutual contact outperforms a cold InMail significantly.
Should I send a thank you message after someone replies?
Yes, briefly — but keep it proportionate. A one-line acknowledgement after a useful informational interview response is appropriate and professional. A lengthy thank-you for someone who answered a single question is unnecessary.
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