LinkedIn gives you 300 characters to turn a stranger into a connection. Most people leave that blank. That's a mistake — personalised connection requests have acceptance rates 3–4× higher than blank ones, and a connection that starts with context is far more likely to result in a real conversation.
Personalised LinkedIn connection requests have a 30–40% acceptance rate. Blank requests from unknown profiles average 12–15%. A single sentence of genuine context doubles your odds.
Template 1: Connecting after applying to a company
"Hi [Name], I recently applied for the [Role] at [Company] and wanted to connect directly. I have [X years] in [relevant area] and would love to learn more about the team. [Your name]"
Template 2: Connecting with a recruiter proactively
"Hi [Name], I've been following [Company] closely and I'm very interested in [type of role] opportunities there. I'm a [title] with [X years] in [domain] — would love to stay on your radar if a relevant role opens up."
Template 3: University alumni outreach
"Hi [Name], I noticed we're both [University] alumni — I'm currently exploring [type of roles] in [industry] and would love to connect and possibly get your perspective on working at [Company / in this field]. No pressure at all."
Template 4: Connecting after a virtual event or webinar
"Hi [Name], I attended [Event Name] last week and found your point about [specific topic] really useful. I work in [related field] and would love to stay connected."
Template 5: Connecting for a referral (direct ask)
"Hi [Name], I see you work at [Company] — I've been following the company for a while and I'm very interested in [type of role]. I'd love to ask you a couple of questions about the team if you'd be open to a brief chat. No pressure either way."
Template 6: Following up on a recruiter InMail you received
"Hi [Name], thank you for your recent message — I replied but wanted to connect here as well so we can stay in touch regardless of this specific role. Looking forward to speaking."
Template 7: Connecting with a future potential manager
"Hi [Name], I've been reading about the work your team at [Company] is doing on [specific project or area] — it's genuinely impressive. I'm a [title] exploring my next move and [Company] is high on my list. Would love to connect."
Rules that apply to every connection message
- Under 300 characters: You have a hard limit. Every word must earn its place.
- One specific detail: Reference something real — a company, an event, a post they made
- No asks in the first message: Connect first, ask second. Don't pitch in the connection request.
- No generic openers: 'I'd love to connect with you' tells them nothing. Lead with context.
- Follow up: If they accept but don't reply, send one brief follow-up within a week. Then leave it.
LinkedIn connections are the starting point — but the conversation usually ends up with a request to see your resume. Make sure what you send is tailored and strong. HireSprint prepares role-specific versions of your resume in minutes, so you're always ready when the conversation happens.
