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Connection request templates: hiring managers and HR leads

Hiring managers get a recruiter message a day. Yours needs to prove in one line that you've read their job ads and placed this kind of person before.

Paul CassidyBy Paul Cassidy, founder of Prospectio.ai. Ex Google, Salesforce and Twilio sales leader. Updated 4 September 2026.
In short: name the role they're hiring for, name something similar you've placed recently, and offer nothing else. The voice note after accept is where you mention a candidate.

Template 1: the open role

Hi {first name}, saw you’re hiring a {role} in {location}. I placed two similar hires at {sector} companies this quarter and know that market well. Would be good to connect.

Template 2: the multiple roles

Hi {first name}, {company} has four engineering roles open at once, which usually means a lot on your plate. I run a {specialism} desk at {agency} and thought it worth connecting.

Template 3: the new leader

Hi {first name}, congratulations on the move to {company}. New {function} leaders usually build a team in the first six months. I’ve supported a few through that at {agency}. Happy to be a contact.

Template 4: the sector

Hi {first name}, I recruit exclusively in {sector} and {company} keeps coming up in conversations with candidates. Would be good to be connected in case the timing’s ever right.

After they accept

A voice note: thirty seconds, mention the specific role, mention a candidate profile without a name (“a senior backend engineer coming out of a fintech, Dublin-based, notice period four weeks”), and offer a call. The reply is often “send me their profile”, which the auto-responder can handle.

Prospectio for recruiters

Import a list built on hiring signals. The ICP filter scores each contact as a hiring decision maker at the right kind of company, picks the reference (open role, new leader, sector), and writes the note. Account safety matters more in recruitment than anywhere; see how we protect your account.

Frequently asked questions

Should I mention my agency name?

Yes, briefly. Hiding that you're a recruiter reads as evasive. Being a recruiter who's clearly done the homework reads as useful.

Should I attach a CV or candidate profile?

Not in the connection note. After accept, a voice note mentioning a specific candidate profile (anonymised) is one of the strongest follow-ups in recruitment.

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