Recruiter, hiring manager or future teammate?
Three people. Three different reasons to message them.
Message the recruiter about process and timing. Message the hiring manager about fit, with one specific reason you are relevant to their team. Message a future teammate about what the work is actually like. Each can help with different things, so the ask should be different too.
What each one controls
| Person | Can help with | Cannot really help with |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiter | Whether the role is open, the timeline, where your application is | Whether you are a fit for the team |
| Hiring manager | Whether you are worth an interview | The process and the paperwork |
| Future teammate | What the job is really like, and sometimes a referral | The decision itself |
What to ask each
The recruiter
Short and practical. "I applied for the Data Analyst role last week. Is it still open, and is there anything you need from me?" Recruiters answer process questions. They rarely answer "can you tell me about the role".
The hiring manager
One reason you are relevant to their team specifically, then a small ask. "I saw your team is rebuilding onboarding. I did something similar at my last company and cut drop-off by a third. I have applied for the PM role and would be glad to share what we learned." If the message works after changing the person's name, it is too generic.
The future teammate
Curiosity, not a sales pitch. "I am applying for the backend role on your team. Could I ask what a normal week looks like?" People like being asked about their work. A referral, if it comes, comes after the conversation, not in the first message.
Order of operations
- Apply first, so there is something real to point to.
- Message the hiring manager, or a teammate if the manager is hard to find.
- Message the recruiter only for process, or if the others have not replied in a week.
When to stop
One message, one follow-up, per person. Two people at one company is plenty. Five people at one company is a campaign, and everyone there will know.
HUNT finds the people worth messaging at a company, tells you why each one is relevant, and drafts a first message from your own background that you send yourself. See how HUNT handles networking.
Related: Who should you message before applying?, How to ask for a referral without making it weird and How to write a cold LinkedIn message for a job search.
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