How to message a recruiter as a student, with templates
Keep it to three sentences: who you are, the specific role you're interested in with one piece of evidence that you fit it, and one clear ask, such as the right next step or a short call. Send it to the recruiter named on the posting or the team's hiring manager, after you apply, and follow up once after about a week.
Who should you message?
- The recruiter or talent partner named on the posting, or listed as recruiting for that team.
- The hiring manager, usually the person who leads the team the role sits in.
- A campus or university recruiter, for internships and new grad programs.
- Alumni from your school at the employer, for advice and referrals.
Message one or two people per role, not everyone at the company. See who to contact about a job for how to find each one.
What should the message say?
Three sentences: who you are, the role and one piece of evidence that you fit it, and one ask. Name the role by its title, and apply before you write so you can say you have. On LinkedIn, a connection note has a tight character limit, so the short version matters even more.
Templates you can adapt
- After applying: “Hi [name], I'm a [year] studying [field] at [school], and I just applied for the [role] position on your team. Last summer I [one relevant thing you did, with its result]. Is there anything else that would help my application?”
- Before a career fair or info session: “Hi [name], I'm a [year] in [field] and I'll be at [event] on [day]. I'm interested in your [role] openings because [specific reason]. Could I stop by your table to ask about the team?”
- Asking for a short call: “Hi [name], I'm a [field] student interested in [team or role] at [company]. I saw [a specific project, post or product] and would value fifteen minutes to hear how your team works. Would a call next week suit you?”
- Following up: “Hi [name], following up on my application for [role]. Since applying I [one new thing, such as a finished project]. I'm still very interested and happy to share anything that helps.”
When should you follow up?
Once, after about a week, with something new. If there is still no answer, move on and keep the role in your tracker. Recruiters handle many roles at once, and silence isn't a verdict on you.
Mistakes that get messages ignored
- Asking for a job or any opening instead of naming one role.
- Long messages that tell your whole story.
- Sending a resume with no word about which role it's for.
- Copying the same message to everyone at the company.
- Following up every few days.
Questions people ask
Is it okay to message a recruiter on LinkedIn?
Yes. Keep it short, name the role, give one piece of evidence and make one ask. Recruiters get many messages, and specific ones are the easiest to answer.
Should I message a recruiter before or after applying?
Usually after, so you can say you have applied and name the role. Before a career fair, or for a program that hasn't opened yet, a short note ahead of time is fine.
What do I say to a recruiter as a student with no experience?
Name the role and one piece of evidence from a class project, a part-time job or a club that matches what the posting asks for, then ask one question.
How long should I wait for a recruiter to reply?
About a week, then follow up once with something new. After that, move on and keep the role in your tracker.
Does Carir guess people's email addresses?
No. Carir shows an email address only when a public page prints it and it matches the person's name.
Try it on your own search
Carir finds the roles employers posted today, scores each one against your resume with the lines that earned it, and tailors without inventing experience. The free plan includes the job board and the tracker.