Short answer: Message the recruiter within a day or two of applying, in three or four sentences: the job, one or two reasons you fit, and an easy ask like "happy to chat if you think it's a fit". The one rule: only do it for jobs you're genuinely qualified for. That's what makes it welcome rather than spam.
Key points
- It's not spam if you fit the job. You're helping the recruiter fill it. You're just making sure a person sees your application, not only the applicant tracking system.
- Short and human wins. Three or four sentences. No essay, no CV unless they ask.
- Timing: right after you apply is best. Before applying works too. Follow up once, about a week later.
- Use the right template for the situation: just applied, not yet applied, following up, or a contract job.
- Silence is normal. Some won't reply. You only need a few conversations to get moving.
Why message a recruiter at all?
Because your application is one of many, and a person decides the shortlist. Advertised jobs in skilled occupations in Australia drew 21.5 applicants each on average in the March quarter of 2026, of whom employers judged 5.2 suitable (Jobs and Skills Australia, June 2026). LinkedIn found 95% of HR professionals say most of the applications they get don't meet the listed criteria, and 51% of Australian job seekers in its survey said they'd been ghosted (ACS Information Age, January 2025).
In that pile, a strong application can go unseen. A short message puts your name in front of the person running the job, in a place they actually read.
Australian employers say going direct works. In Jobs and Skills Australia's 2025 survey, 12% of employers who recruited were approached directly by job seekers, and most of those employers hired one of them (Jobs and Skills Australia, February 2026). It's most common for lower-skilled jobs, so it's a signal, not a promise. But it's the opposite of the idea that recruiters don't want to hear from you.
From Sidedoor's founder "This isn't about reaching out and spamming people. It's about reaching out for roles you know you're qualified for, that you know you should be shortlisted for. You just want to get through the noise of the ATS, actually speak to a human, and not be ignored."
Which template should I use?
| Your situation | Template | When to send | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| You've applied and want them to notice | 1. Just applied | Same day, or within two days | LinkedIn message or connection note |
| You haven't applied yet and have a question, or want to introduce yourself | 2. Before applying | Before you apply, while the job is fresh | LinkedIn, or the phone number in the ad |
| You messaged a week ago and heard nothing | 3. Follow-up | About 7 days after your first message | Same thread |
| It's a contract job | 4. Contract | As soon as you see it; contract jobs move fast | LinkedIn, or phone if they published it |
| You missed out, or there's no job right now | 5. Keep in touch | After a "no", or when a recruiter posts in your field |
Change the details in [brackets] to your own. Keep your real voice: these are starting points, not scripts.
Template 1: You've just applied
When to use it: you've applied for a job you clearly fit and want the recruiter to look at your application.
Hi [name], just reaching out to say hi quickly because I applied for the [job title] job you're hiring for. I'm currently [what you do now], and I've spent [years] years on [the most relevant experience for this job]. I'd love to chat further if you think it's a good fit. Hope you have a wonderful rest of your week.
Why it works: it names the job, so they know exactly what it's about. It gives one concrete reason you fit, in their language. And it ends with an easy ask they can say yes or no to. It's the kind of message Sidedoor's founder sent after applying for a job and hearing nothing. It reads like a person, not a cover letter.
As a connection request note (keep it under about 200 characters):
Hi [name], I just applied for your [job title] job. [Years] years in [field], most recently [one result]. Would love to connect.
Template 2: Before you apply
When to use it: the job is open and you'd like to check one thing first, or introduce yourself so your application doesn't arrive cold. This works especially well when the ad says "call [name] for a confidential chat".
Hi [name], I saw your post for the [job title] job in [city]. I've been doing [similar work] at [company or type of company] for [years] years and I'm planning to apply. Quick question before I do: is the team open to [hybrid / a start date in March / someone from a different industry]? Happy to send my CV if it's useful.
Why it works: a genuine question gives them a reason to reply, and the answer helps you decide whether to apply. Ask something the ad doesn't already answer. "Can you tell me more about the job?" is too vague to answer quickly.
Template 3: Following up
When to use it: you sent a message about a week ago and heard nothing. Send this once, in the same thread.
Hi [name], just following up on my note about the [job title] job. I'm still very keen. In case it helps, [one new, short detail: a relevant project, a certification, your availability]. No worries if it's already moved on.
Why it works: it's short, it adds something new instead of repeating yourself, and "no worries if it's already moved on" makes it easy to reply even with a no. After this, stop. One follow-up is persistent; three is pushy.
Template 4: A contract job
When to use it: contract jobs often move quickly, so send this as soon as you see the job. Recruiters running contract jobs want three facts fast: can you do it, when can you start, and what does it cost.
Hi [name], I saw you're looking for a [job title] contractor for [client type or project]. I've done [number] similar contracts, most recently [one-line project and result]. I'm available from [date], my day rate is around [A$ amount] and I have [work rights / clearance if relevant]. Happy to jump on a call today.
Why it works: it answers the questions the recruiter would ask on the first call, so they can put you forward quickly. Contract recruiters often have several similar jobs, so even if this one's filled, you're now on their list for the next.
Template 5: Keep in touch
When to use it: you missed out on a job, or a recruiter in your field posts something close to what you do.
Hi [name], thanks for letting me know about the [job title] job. I'd still love to be on your radar for similar [field] jobs in [city]. I'm [one line about you]. If anything comes up, I'd be glad to hear from you.
Why it works: shortlisted candidates drop out, and recruiters often have more jobs coming. Being someone they already know puts you in a good spot when that happens.
What not to send
- One message copied to dozens of recruiters. They can tell, and it undoes the point.
- Messages about jobs you don't fit. The note works because it's relevant. Sending it for long shots wastes the recruiter's time and your credibility.
- An essay. If they need to scroll, it's too long.
- Your CV as an attachment in the first message. Offer it instead. Many people don't open unexpected attachments.
- "Did you get my application?" They probably did. Tell them why you fit instead.
- Pressure or guilt. "I really need this job" or "I've applied to 200 jobs" puts the weight on them.
- Several follow-ups, or messages to five people at the same company. One person, one follow-up.
- Going around an agency. If an agency runs the job, message the agency recruiter, not the client.
What if they don't reply?
Nothing's wrong. Recruiters get a lot of messages, some jobs are already close to filled, and some people simply don't answer LinkedIn messages. Send one follow-up after about a week, then let it go.
Keep the contact. If they post another job in your field, you're no longer a stranger. And keep the numbers in perspective: you're trying to land one job, not win every recruiter over. A few real conversations a week is a good week.
If you're not sure who to message in the first place, start with how to find the hiring manager for a job. If you're applying a lot and hearing nothing, why am I not getting interviews for jobs I'm qualified for covers why. And if you're wondering whether paying for InMail helps, see is LinkedIn Premium worth it for job seekers in Australia.
How Sidedoor helps
The hard part usually isn't the message. It's knowing who to send it to. Sidedoor finds jobs that fit you from the recruiters' LinkedIn posts in your field and from job listings, and shows who posted each one. For a job with no name on it, paste the link into Job by link (3 credits) for the likely hiring managers and in-house recruiters. In Saved, mark a job Contacted so you know who you've written to. Sidedoor never sends messages for you: you write them, in your own words. Many recruiters also post jobs that never reach a job board; the hidden job market in Australia explains what the data says.