Most LinkedIn DMs to recruiters never get answered. Looking at the GotAJob stories where LinkedIn was the source channel (currently 18% of all offers), the messages that worked share a pattern.
The structure
Three sentences, in this order:
- One line that names the role and seniority you're looking for. Not "open to opportunities."
- One concrete artifact — a recent project, a published piece, a number you've hit. Linkable.
- One sentence that tells them what you'd like next — a 15-minute call, a referral, an intro.
Total length: under 30 seconds to read. No CV in the first message.
Why each part matters
The first sentence saves the reader from guessing. Most "open to anything" intros get filed as low-confidence.
The artifact is the only piece that's evidence. Anyone can claim experience; very few can point at it.
The ask is what makes the reply easy. "Would love a 15 min chat next week" is easier to say yes to than "happy to discuss further."
A version that worked
Hi Priya. I'm a senior product designer looking for my next role at a B2B SaaS firm with 50–200 people.
Recently shipped the new onboarding for [redacted], which dropped time-to-first-value by 38%. Short writeup: [link].
Would 15 minutes next Tuesday or Wednesday work to chat about whether anything at [your company] is in scope?
That note got a reply within 4 hours and led to an offer six weeks later.