LinkedIn InMail Examples: How to Write One That Gets a Reply

What is a LinkedIn InMail, and when should you use one as a recruiter

What exactly is a LinkedIn InMail

An InMail is a personal message you send through LinkedIn to someone you're not yet connected with. You need a Premium account or LinkedIn Recruiter to send one. Unlike standard messages or connection requests, an InMail lets you share the full content straight away. That's why it's a widely used tool within LinkedIn outreach for recruitment.

The difference between InMail, a connection request and a regular message

A regular message can only go to your direct connections. A connection request is capped at 300 characters, leaving little room to explain yourself. An InMail gives you that room, which is handy when you want to reach out to people outside your network. The opening line of your InMail doubles as your InMail subject line, so make sure it's relevant and clear.

When to choose InMail in your LinkedIn outreach

Use an InMail when you want to quickly test whether someone is open to a conversation. This works especially well for rare profiles or passive candidates. It's also more powerful than a generic request when you're reaching out about specific experience or a scarce skill set. Think of situations where a short chain of contact and good timing really matter.

What writing a good InMail actually involves for recruitment

Relevance and respect for the candidate's time

A strong InMail is short, personal and direct. You show right away why you're reaching out to this particular person. That signals you understand their profile and respect their time. Candidates often read on mobile, so scannability and brevity are essential. Mention only the headline points of the role and close with one simple question.

Not a sales pitch, but an invitation to talk

An InMail is not a job ad. You're inviting a first exploration, so the tone should be inviting. Avoid buzzwords, long paragraphs and sales-speak. Write as if you're inviting someone for a short introduction, not as if you're trying to sell them something.

A step-by-step plan for writing a good InMail: opening, bridge, context and CTA

A human opening line: how to start well

Start with an observation from the candidate's profile. Pick something visible, such as their sector, a career move or a specific skill. This shows you're not just firing off a template.

Examples:

• "I noticed you moved from consultancy into an in-house role."
• "Your profile stood out because you've been working with Go on healthcare projects for a few years now."

The bridge: why reach out to this person specifically

Connect the observation to the reason for your message. Show why their experience fits the role or working environment.

Examples:

• "Because you combine agency and in-house experience, this role at a scale-up could be a great fit."
• "Your recent move to a small team makes the step up to technical lead a logical one."

InMail length and what to say (and not say) about the role

An effective InMail runs to a maximum of 250 words. Keep each block of text under five sentences. Use white space and bullets to boost scannability.

For the role description, stick to two or three short bullets at most:

• Small team with plenty of autonomy
• Works with Java, Spring Boot and AWS
• Up to three days of remote work possible

Leave out extensive details, such as salary or a longer description. If someone's interested, that comes up later in the conversation.

A small, clear CTA in your InMail

Ask one logical, easy question, such as:

• "Would you be open to a ten-minute exploratory call?"
• "Shall I send you three bullets about the role?"

A CTA in an InMail works better when replying takes minimal effort. Avoid asking several questions. If useful, mention that saying no is perfectly fine too; that lowers the barrier to reply and can raise your InMail response rate.

Examples and formats to help recruiters master writing a good InMail

Bad vs good InMail example for recruiters

Bad example:

Hi,

We're looking for Java rockstars for a super fast-growing scale-up! Call me ASAP.

Good example:

Hi [name],

Your profile caught my eye because you've been using Java in healthcare systems for three years now. We're working on an e-health platform where that experience would fit well:

• Team of five backend developers
• Plenty of room for architecture decisions
• Remote-first team structure

Do you have ten minutes for a quick call to explore this?

Short templates for different roles

For a passive candidate:

Hi [name],

Nothing suggests you're actively looking, but given your background in healthcare and IT, I'd still like to put the following in front of you: a role that combines both. If you're curious, I'll send over three bullets with the details.

For a scarce profile:

Hi [name],

I'm reaching out because you work with Terraform in healthcare. A small team is building similar systems, with more influence over architecture. Open to exploring for ten minutes?

Writing a good InMail for scarce profiles and passive candidates

InMail for scarce profiles: extra sharp and short

People with scarce skills receive a lot of messages. Use a short, substantive hook, skip unnecessary compliments and get straight to the point.

Example:

"I know you get plenty of messages, so I'll keep this brief. Since you're currently working with Scala in the public sector, I wanted to flag this role on a fintech team. Open to a ten-minute call?"

InMail for passive candidates: exploratory and respectful

Passive candidates aren't actively looking. Be extra careful with tone, avoid assumptions about wanting to switch jobs, and leave room for a no.

Example:

"You seem well settled where you are, but given your experience with culture change in tech teams, I wanted to briefly flag something. If now isn't a good time, that's completely fine to hear too."

Common InMail mistakes and how to avoid them

Text that's too long and too much information

Why it doesn't work: mobile readers drop off when faced with big blocks of text with no structure.

What works better: use white space, short sentences and no more than three bullets.

Too generic, too pushy or too vague

Why it doesn't work: you don't land with the candidate because you never connect to their profile.

What works better: mention something recognisable from their profile and keep the tone exploratory, for example: "Not a fit? No worries, just let me know."

Other common InMail mistakes include:

• Buzzwords like "rockstar" or "ninja"
• Asking several questions in one message
• Assumptions about ambitions or dissatisfaction
• Private information you wouldn't see on LinkedIn

Following up after an InMail: staying polite while raising your InMail response rate

How many follow-ups, and how far apart

Send a maximum of two follow-up messages, waiting at least three days between them. Don't repeat your original message word for word; add something new instead. Think of a different hook, a new detail, or a concrete time suggestion.

Examples of short, respectful follow-ups

• "Hi [name], just checking whether you saw my message about [role/topic]. No worries if this isn't the right time."
• "If the timing isn't right now, I'm happy to reach out again later. Would that work for you?"

How a copilot makes it easier to write a good InMail, message after message

Working with InMail suggestions in LinkedIn Recruiter

With our InMail copilot in LinkedIn Recruiter, you see a suggestion for each candidate based on their profile. That suggestion already includes an opening line, a bridge and a CTA. You stay fully in control: you edit the message and send it yourself.

Fast personalisation at scale, without losing control

The copilot doesn't work automatically. That's why it helps corporate recruiters who want to send personal InMails at scale without sacrificing tone or content. That way you keep the nuance while working faster.

Save your best lines for the whole team

You can save strong opening lines and CTAs and share them with your team. In this case study with Manpower you can see how teams use that to stay consistent. Because it fits directly into your workflow, you can also see how our integration with LinkedIn fits your current workflow.

Checklist for writing a good InMail, for everyday use

• I know why I'm reaching out to this person right now
• My opening refers to something concrete from their profile
• I've built a clear bridge between the profile and the role
• The text is short (max. 250 words) and readable on mobile
• I use no more than three bullets to outline the role
• My CTA is one small, clear question
• The tone is neutral, professional and human
• There's no assumption about ambitions or dissatisfaction
• I've thought about one follow-up that adds new value
• If I received this message myself, I could read it in 30 seconds

With these guidelines and formats, you'll write a good InMail faster, one that fits the person and the situation. That boosts your response rate without making your messages feel impersonal. Want to get started with this as a team? Book a short demo or ask your questions.