What to say when messaging a hiring manager
Finding the right person is step one. Most people blow step two.
They find the hiring manager, then send them a paragraph that reads like a cover letter got lost on its way to LinkedIn.
Here's the rule: under five lines. Name the role. Ask one easy question. Drop in one proof line, max. Then stop.
A hiring manager reads this between meetings, on their phone, half paying attention. Long messages don't get read closely. They get skimmed, or skipped.
Before you paste anything
- Five lines or fewer. If you're editing it down and it's still eight lines, cut more, don't just trim.
- One ask. Not "let's connect and also I'd love to hear about the role and also here's my background." One question.
- One proof line, if you have a real one. Not three.
- No CV attached on the first message. That's what applying is for. This is a conversation opener, not a submission.
Two templates that work
Adapt the brackets. Don't send these word for word to twenty people, the pattern gets noticed.
1. Still hiring or already filled
"Hey [Name], saw the [Role] post on the [Team] team. Still open, or has it been filled?"
Use this when you have almost no other information and just want a fast yes or no.
2. Wrong person redirect
"Hey [Name], think I might have the wrong person, are you hiring for [Role], or is there someone else on the team I should be talking to?"
Use this when you're not fully sure you found the right manager. It costs you nothing and often gets a helpful reply even when you guessed wrong.
Weak versus strong
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| "I hope this message finds you well" | Skip the greeting filler, get to the role |
| "I'm a hard worker who is passionate about..." | One concrete thing you did, with a result |
| Full career history | One line, tied to their actual open role |
| "Can we hop on a call to discuss opportunities?" | A specific yes/no question about the role |
| Three paragraphs | Three to five lines |
Connect first, then message
Send the connection request with no note. They don't know you yet, and a favor-ask in a cold request gets ignored more than a blank one does. Message after they accept, using one of the templates above.
If they don't accept within a few days, that's useful information too. It doesn't mean start over, it means try email or a different angle.
Get the full system
These two templates cover the first message. Access 2 Jobs handles the finding process automatically and hands you a draft message like these, built for the specific role.
Get first access to Access 2 Jobs
Get first accessFAQ
How long should a first message to a hiring manager be?
Five lines or fewer. Name the role, ask one clear question, include one proof line if you have one. Anything longer gets skimmed instead of read.
Should I attach my CV to the first message?
No. That's what the application is for. The first message is meant to open a conversation, not deliver a submission.
What if I don't have a strong "proof line" to include?
Skip it rather than force a weak one. Both templates on this page work fine with no proof line at all, they're built to work without one.
Should I send the same message to everyone?
Adapt the brackets every time. A message that's obviously copy-pasted across twenty people gets recognized as a template and ignored.