LinkedIn provides job seekers with the opportunity to reach out to area recruiting and hiring managers without a more formal connection. While this ability is great for potentially locating a new position, it can also leave us open to making some critical errors during the introduction. And, if the first impression being offered isn’t strong, it can be a fairly difficult path to recovery.

So, before you send another message out introducing yourself to a recruiter or other professional, here are some approaches you should definitely avoid.

While it is important to be friendly in your introductory message, you don’t want to cross into over-friendly territory. This means now is not the time to comment on the weather, ask about their weekend plans, or engage in any other small talk that isn’t relevant to why you are reaching out.

Instead, it is better to be fairly direct in your message, giving the recruiter or hiring manager a clear understanding of why you are reaching out. That way, they won’t be spending any time trying to figure out your intentions and can get straight to the point.

Some people feel uncomfortable reaching out to someone they don’t know, assuming their message is equivalent to a burden. And, when this happens, it is easier for the writer to think starting off with an apology for taking the recruiters or hiring managers time or messaging them blindly is wise.

But offering an apology doesn’t actually make sense in this situation. If you have skills and experiences that can benefit the company, your message isn’t an inconvenience or a waste of their time. And that means an apology is simply unnecessary.

When a message is serving as an introduction to help you find a new position, it isn’t something that should be rushed. Sending a message with poor grammar and spelling is guaranteed to give a bad impression, so take the time to review the contents carefully before you send it out into the world. Typically, it only takes a few extra minutes to proofread the message, and it is always time well spent.

Job seekers often need to be persistent when it comes to finding new opportunities. However, that doesn’t mean you should send a new message every day until you hear back. Sending the same or a similar introduction repeatedly is more likely to annoy recruiters and hiring managers than anything else. Instead, reach out with your message and then let it be for a time.

Recruiters and hiring managers have more on their plate than reviewing LinkedIn messages, so many won’t respond right away. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t respond when they have the time. Try and exercise a little patience first before reaching out again, and you may be surprised how many responses you ultimately get back.

If you are looking for more tips about introducing yourself over LinkedIn or are seeking new opportunities in your field, the recruiters at TempStaff would love to connect with you. Contact us today to learn more about what our services can do for you.