Messaging a Recruiter after Applying for a Job? Follow These 6 Steps!

When applying for a job, it can be tempting to reach out to the company's recruitment team to make sure that your application gets noticed and doesn't get lost in the hundreds of others. So is it a good idea, or a bad idea? That depends!?

I have recently seen a significant uptick in what I call 'application notification' messages from candidates. While the concept in and of itself isn't bad, the content usually is. Instead of generating interest, more often than not, candidates end up working against themselves.

Do you want your message to leave a positive impression and get you an interview faster? Here is a comprehensive checklist that will make you stand out for the right reasons!

1. Exert Patience ? First and foremost, do not message the Recruiter immediately after applying. Our team and most other recruitment teams receive hundreds of applicants per day. Imagine if every single candidate sent an InMail the moment that they applied ?? Please allow at least 1 week before sending any direct messages.
2. Check Fit ?? Before sending the message, triple-check these two things: fit for the role, and fit of the person you're about to message. In other words, make sure that your experience matches the basic requirements for the position that you applied for. Secondly, make sure that you're messaging the right person, or at least that you're in the right ballpark. I can't tell you how many times I've received an 'application notification' message from someone who doesn't match requirements listed in the job description, or who applied for a US-based role. Checking fit alone will place you in the 80th percentile already!
3. Add Value ?? So you've checked for fit, what's next? Remember: We already have your CV, so tell us something that we can't find out from your resume. Show your personality, or humour. Demonstrate your prospecting skills, or attention to detail. Summarise your unique selling points for this specific opening. Copy and paste the requirements for the job, and order them from your greatest strength. Create a video message. This is your moment to tell us more about who you are!
4. Build a Business Case ?? This goes hand in hand with adding value, and it should be at the top of your mind as you write the message. Why do we need to hire you? What do you offer which others don't? There's nothing less impactful than receiving a message that says 'I applied for this role, can we talk?' In fact, if you're a salesperson, then this may disqualify you altogether. If you can't sell yourself, how can you sell our solution?
5. Make It Easy ?? As a Recruiter, you experience a daily influx of applicants, InMails, texts and calls, leaving very little time in between. Know your audience and make it easy for us to read your message - ensure that it's brief, punchy, well structured, and clear. Also, make it easy for us to understand how we know each other (if we do) and which role you applied for by sending a link for the position. We have many roles that go by the same title so adding more details is key.
6. Be Respectful ?? Last but certainly not least, the way in which you address your reader speaks volumes. All of the points above go out the window if there is ego, aggression, or disrespect present in your message. Use our first names in the greeting, use 'please' and 'thank you', and demonstrate appreciation. SentinelOne's company culture is at the very foundation of our success as a business and we make it a point to hire people who are not only the best at what they do but who are also kind, fantastic humans.

Overall, messaging a Recruiter after applying for a role can be impactful, if you do it right. However, it's a method that needs to be used with extreme caution and careful thought, or it may have the opposite effect.

Follow these steps and I guarantee that you will quickly land that interview, and if not, then you will certainly create a great impression, which will land you the next one!

On a final note, if you're looking to take that next big step in your career and join a company that's making a difference, then check out the SentinelOne Careers page... And don't forget to exert patience - please give us at least a week to get back to you with feedback! ??

This article was written without the help of ChatGPT, but it did play the role of photographer!