How to Respond to a LinkedIn Recruiter Message (4 Templates That Get Interviews)

A recruiter just messaged you on LinkedIn. Your hands are a little sweaty. You open the message, read it twice, and type three different replies before deleting all of them. Now you are staring at a blinking cursor wondering if 'sounds interesting, tell me more' is too eager.

It probably is.

Recruiters send 50 to 100 InMails a week. Most get ignored. The rest get replies so generic that the recruiter forgets the conversation before they hit send. The candidates who actually land interviews are the ones whose first reply does three things at once: shows interest, controls the pace, and surfaces the one piece of information the recruiter needs before they can take you to the next step.

Here are the 4 templates I used to land every first-round interview last year — and the exact scenario to use each one.

First: The Anatomy of a LinkedIn Recruiter Message

Before you can reply well, you need to decode what the recruiter actually sent. Most LinkedIn recruiter messages follow one of three patterns:

1. The spray: 'I came across your profile and thought your background could be a fit for a role we are working on.' No role named. No company. Sent to 200 people that week. Low intent.
2. The target: names the role, the company, and one thing from your profile. 'Your 6 years at Stripe caught my eye for our Senior Engineer role at Fintech XYZ.' Medium to high intent.
3. The executive search: long, formal, from a retained headhunter, usually about a Director or VP role. Highest intent. Always worth replying to, even if you are not looking.

The reply template you use depends on the pattern. Do not send the same response to a spray and a targeted message. The spray deserves a two-line qualifier. The targeted message deserves real engagement. Matching the energy is half the battle.

Template 1: The 'I Am Interested' Reply (Use When the Role Fits)

Use this when the role is legitimately interesting and you want to move forward quickly. The goal is to qualify the opportunity, signal engagement, and set up a call — without sounding desperate or over-available.

Hi [name], thanks for reaching out. [Role title] at [company] sounds relevant — I have been building [specific thing from their message that matches your work] for the past [X years]. A few quick questions before we set up a call: what is the team structure, what are the first 90 days focused on, and what is the comp range you are working with? Happy to share my current numbers once I have those. Thursday or Friday afternoon work for a 20-minute chat.

Why this works:

• Names the role and company specifically — shows you actually read the message
• One specific credential that matches the role — anchors the recruiter on why they reached out
• Three qualifying questions — filters garbage roles early, shows you are not desperate
• Comp question up front — saves both of you a month of wasted calls
• Two specific time slots — controls the pace and removes scheduling friction

Do not send your resume in this first reply. Make them work for it. A recruiter who already has your LinkedIn does not need the PDF yet, and asking them to describe the role before you commit the resume raises your perceived value.

Template 2: The 'Interesting But I Am Not Looking' Reply

Use this when you have a job you like and are not actively searching — but the opportunity sounds interesting enough that you do not want to slam the door. This template buys you optionality without locking you in.

Hi [name], appreciate the note. I am not actively looking right now, but [role title] at [company] is interesting enough that I would want to hear more before saying no. I am open to a brief call next week if you can share the comp range, the team structure, and whether this is a replacement hire or a new role. If the numbers line up I am happy to continue. If not, I will introduce you to two people in my network who would be a stronger match.

The referral offer at the end is the move nobody uses. It gives the recruiter a path forward even if you do not take the job, which makes them remember you for the next one. Recruiters have long memories when you actually help them.

Template 3: The 'I Need More Info Before I Commit' Reply

Use this when the recruiter sent a spray — vague role, no company, no comp, no details. Do not waste a real reply on a spray. But do not ignore it either, because even a spray can turn into a real conversation if you force specificity.

Hi [name], thanks for reaching out. I may be open depending on the specifics — can you share the company name, the role title, the location/remote status, and the comp range? Once I see those I can tell you if it is worth a call.

Four lines. Four questions. No resume attached. Either the recruiter follows up with a real answer and you upgrade to Template 1, or they vanish — which is exactly what should happen to a spray. You wasted 20 seconds instead of 20 minutes.

Recruiters respect this reply. It signals that you are a professional who values their own time. It also filters out the junk postings that were never going to move forward anyway.

Template 4: The 'Pay Me More' Reply (For Current-Job Leverage)

Use this when you are happy at your current job but want to create a competing offer you can use for a raise or retention conversation. This is the template that actually gets you paid more at the job you already have.

Hi [name], thanks for the message. I am happy where I am, but for the right opportunity I would consider a move. My bar is [specific comp number or band] base plus [equity or bonus target]. If [company] can clear that for [role title], I am open to a call. If not, I appreciate the reach out and will keep you in mind for next year.

Naming a specific number up front does two things. It filters out companies that cannot or will not pay that much, which saves you from wasted rounds of interviews. It also signals confidence, which is exactly the signal a recruiter is trained to act on. Most candidates are afraid to name a number first. Be the one who does.

Important: only use this template if you actually have a job and the number you name is 15-30% above your current total comp. Naming an unrealistic number or bluffing without a current role erodes your credibility fast.

What Never to Say in a Recruiter Reply

• 'Sounds interesting, tell me more!' — reads as desperate and gives the recruiter no information to work with
• 'Here is my resume' — makes you feel transactional before the conversation has even started
• 'I am very interested and available whenever' — collapses your leverage immediately
• 'I am looking for $X to $Y' as a range when you have not even been told what the role is
• 'I hope this message finds you well' — the universal marker of a generic copy-paste reply
• Any response over 120 words — recruiters scan, they do not read essays

The Follow-Up Most People Skip

You replied. The recruiter went silent. Most candidates assume the opportunity died. It did not. Recruiters manage 30 open roles at a time and messages get lost in the LinkedIn inbox, especially if you replied after 48 hours.

The 7-day follow-up that works:

Hi [name], circling back on [role] — happy to jump on a call if the timing works or tell me if the role is on pause. Either way appreciate the reach out.

One follow-up, 7 days after your first reply. If they still do not respond after the follow-up, move on. Never follow up twice on silence. That is where desperation reads start to show.

How Fast Should You Reply to a LinkedIn Recruiter?

Reply to a LinkedIn recruiter within 24 hours for interested responses and within 48 hours for any response at all. Industry data from LinkedIn Talent Insights shows recruiters move on to other candidates within 72 hours if they do not receive a reply. Replies sent within 6 hours get roughly a 2x higher first-round interview rate than replies sent after 24 hours. Speed signals interest without reducing your leverage.

Should I Send My Resume in the First Reply?

No, do not send your resume in the first reply to a LinkedIn recruiter. Recruiters already have access to your LinkedIn profile, which contains the same information. Sending a resume immediately signals over-availability and collapses your leverage. Instead, use the first reply to ask three qualifying questions (role scope, comp range, timeline) and offer a specific time for a 20-minute call. Send the resume after the call is confirmed or after the recruiter explicitly asks.

What If a Recruiter Does Not Reveal the Company Name?

Ask for the company name directly before committing to a call. Executive search firms sometimes withhold the company name for confidentiality, but legitimate corporate recruiters almost always share it when asked. A recruiter who refuses to name the company after you ask is either running a spray, working for a low-trust staffing agency, or representing a role they do not actually own. In all three cases, do not proceed to the call.

Is It OK to Negotiate Comp in the First Message?

Yes, it is not only OK but strongly recommended to bring up comp in the first reply. Asking for the comp range up front saves both you and the recruiter from wasting time on roles that do not match your numbers. The best phrasing is 'what comp range are you working with?' — never 'what is the salary?' The word 'range' signals professional experience with recruiter conversations and invites a real answer instead of a deflection.

The Underlying Rule: Control the Pace

The difference between candidates who get interviews and candidates who get ghosted is almost never talent. It is pace control. The best candidates reply fast enough to show interest but never so fast that they look available. They name numbers. They ask specific questions. They offer two time slots instead of 'whenever works for you.'

Recruiters are trained to read desperation. These 4 templates prevent you from showing any.

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