You’re applying for a job. You do some research (and maybe a little social media stalking) to get to know who the hiring manager is. You found them - and you want to reach out and introduce yourself.

Great idea! However - please be sure to take care in crafting and thoroughly editing your message before sending it. It is always easy to tell when a candidate is sending out a mass message on LinkedIn that has not been customized - and it’s not a good look. All of your contact with the hiring manager should be personalized, professional and polished; no message at all is better than a sloppily written one.

Start your message by telling the hiring manager why you're interested in their company and what role you have applied to. It’s important to be as concise as possible. It might look something like this:

Contacting a hiring manager directly should never serve as a substitution for submitting your application through the company's normal hiring process. Always submit your application first, then reach out.

By reaching out to the hiring manager directly, you have a chance for your resume + application to stand out in a time where standing out is half the battle.

Remember, reaching out to a Hiring Manager directly doesn’t necessarily guarantee you’ll get the job - or even a response back (keep in mind, that person is probably really busy and receiving a lot of inmails).

However, your proactive communication can help demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role, and they may be impressed by your initiative. Making an effort to add a personal + human touch to your resume and application is a powerful quality to have in an employee.

Even if you’re not a fit for that role, you’ve earned yourself an extra impression and put yourself at the front of their mind to forge a personal and professional relationships that may outlast the application cycle. These valuable connections can be helpful in the future if a new role becomes available later on or if the hiring manager knows of open positions outside of their organization.

For these reason, and many others, If you aren’t already using LinkedIn to research + connect with employees and Hiring Managers at companies you are applying to - there’s no better time to start than now!