Hi friends, let me tell you something that might surprise you.
Most candidates who reach out to me or my team at ClanX don’t really say what they are looking for, at least not in the first message.
The reason is understandable. Asking for a job straight up in the first message can feel awkward. You don’t want to come across as desperate, and you’d rather establish some sort of personal connection first before making the ask.
But in trying not to be too direct, a lot of candidates end up not saying what they actually want.
I get 100+ DMs and emails a day. Some of them are great.
But most of them look like this:
“Hi”
“Hey, are you hiring?”
“Can we talk?”
“Interested in opportunities. Let me know.”
One screenshot from my LinkedIn DMs:
There is nothing wrong with these messages, but as a recruiter, they don’t give me much to work with. No role mentioned. No skills shared. No idea what they’re looking for. This isn’t just unhelpful. It’s exhausting.
And I don’t blame candidates for it. I used to be on the other side too.
I get it. Reaching out on LinkedIn is awkward.
I’ve been on your side. I used to be a frontend engineer. I still remember how weird it felt to message someone cold and try to sound “professional” while also not sounding like a robot. You want to show interest without seeming desperate. You want to be casual but also taken seriously.
Now that I’m a recruiter, building ClanX and helping engineers land roles across top startups, I can tell you this: most people overthink it… and still get it wrong.
Let me walk you through how to make it simple, clear, and most importantly, respectful of everyone’s time.
Case 1: You saw a job and want to apply
Don’t just say “Interested” or “Check my resume.”
Here’s a better version that sounds human and gets to the point:
“
Hey, Juned this side.
I saw you’re hiring for a frontend role. I’ve got 4 years of experience working with ReactJS at two product startups.I’ve already applied through the careers page. Would love to know if you can refer or anyway to fast-track my application?
Happy to share more details.
Thanks.”
That’s it. No fluff. No guessing. Just useful information that helps the conversation move forward.
Case 2: You don’t see a job, but want to get on the radar
Again, don’t go with “Hey, any openings?”
Try something more thoughtful:
“Hey Juned,
I came across ClanX and liked how you work with early-stage startups.
I’m a frontend dev with 4 years of experience building UI-heavy features.
Would be great to stay in touch if something comes up.
Thanks.
”
Now the recruiters knows three important things about you:
- What you do
- Why you’re reaching out
- That you’re not just blasting messages around
What recruiters wish you’d do
Do:
- Say what kind of role you’re looking for
- Mention your skills briefly
- Share why you’re reaching out to this person
- Keep it short (3–5 sentences is perfect)
Don’t:
- Send a “Hi” and wait for a response
- Expect recruiters to figure out your background for you
- Use copy-paste messages with zero context
- Attach a resume and no message
Why this matters
You’re not just messaging a recruiter. You’re one of dozens, sometimes hundreds of people trying to stand out.
If you make it hard to help you, you’re less likely to hear back. Not because we don’t care, but because we just don’t have the time to guess what you want.
Make it easy for us. And you’ll be surprised how much faster the conversation moves.
Final takeaways
- If you’re reaching out, say what you want
- Be specific, not vague
- Show you’re serious enough to write one thoughtful message
- Respect their time, and they’re more likely to respect yours
This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being clear, human, and helpful.
I’m currently hiring for 30+ engineering positions across top startups in India. [Explore open roles here]
If you’re feeling stuck or planning your next move, I can help you navigate it. [Book a call with me here]
Thanks for reading!