You might often find messages in your LinkedIn inbox presenting a job opportunity that is ‘perfect for you’. Whether you’re actively looking for a new role or are happy where you are here’s how to best respond.

How to respond if you’re not interested

Don’t rush in and respond with ‘I’m not interested’. Even if the role isn’t something that you want to pursue it is worth remaining courteous and polite as the recruiter may have future opportunities which they can put you forward for.

Reply with a simple:

‘Thank you for taking your time to get in touch, I am not looking for a new role at the moment but if you have any future opportunities please don’t hesitate to get in touch.’

You could also use this opportunity to update your CV and send this onto the recruiter.

If you are unsure about a move and want to hear more about the role respond by suggesting that they call you to discuss the role in more detail, outlining the times that you’re free.

How to respond if you’re interested

If you’re interested in the role reply to their message at your earliest convenience. Ask the recruiter to send you a full job description and to arrange a time to discuss the role over the phone.

To prepare for the call you should:

• Go through your CV and ensure that you can quote your biggest achievements and skillsets related to the role.
• Look up the recruiter on LinkedIn to get a better idea of their area of expertise and find out what other roles they may be able to place you in.
• Prepare a list of questions to ask about the role and the company. Think about what is important to you – career progression, training and development, ESG policies, flexible working and company culture.

How to proceed

If you’re interested in being put forward for the role you can let the recruiter know straight away, or ask if you can get back to them the next day after you have given the role more thought. Draw up a list of pros and cons, how the role benefits your career ambitions and if the culture of the company meets your expectations.

If you feel like the role isn’t for you, politely let thank the recruiter for their time and explain that on this occasion you feel the role isn’t something that you would like to pursue. Ask the recruiter to keep you in mind for any future roles that would suit your skillset.