A recruiter's LinkedIn message is an interview that has not started yet, and most people answer it badly: too slowly, too vaguely, or with a wall of text that tells the recruiter nothing they can act on. The right reply takes three minutes and does one of three things: says yes and moves to a call, asks the two or three questions that decide whether a call is worth it, or says not now in a way that keeps the recruiter's list warm. This page gives wording for each, the questions to ask before you agree to a call, how to get compensation on the table before anyone's time is wasted, and how to prepare for the screening call that follows.
Three replies
- Interested: "Thanks for reaching out; this sounds relevant to what I am looking for. Before we book a call, could you share the compensation range and whether the role is remote, hybrid or on-site? If those work, I am free Tuesday or Thursday afternoon."
- Need more information: "Thanks, I appreciate the message. I am selectively looking. Could you tell me the company, the team's size, the compensation range and what the first ninety days look like? That will tell me whether I am the right person to speak with."
- Not now: "Thanks for thinking of me. I am not looking at the moment, but I would be glad to stay in touch; if something comes up in [area] in the next year, please do reach out. If it helps, I may know someone who would be a good fit."
- In all three: short, warm, no life story, and a reply within a day or two; recruiters move on quickly.
- If the message is generic and clearly mass-sent, the 'need more information' reply filters it: a real recruiter answers the questions, a spray-and-pray one does not.
What you say you are looking for in the reply should match what you will say in the interviews that follow, which is the material in what are you looking for in your next role; the recruiter is already forming a picture.
Questions to ask before a call
| Ask | Why | What a good answer looks like |
|---|---|---|
| The compensation range | A call with a range below your floor wastes both of you | A specific range; 'competitive' means ask again |
| Company and team | Agency recruiters sometimes withhold the company; you still need the sector and size | The name, or at least the sector, size and stage |
| Location and working pattern | Remote, hybrid or on-site decides many candidates alone | Specific days or a clear policy |
| Why they contacted you | Tells you whether it is targeted or a mass message | A reference to something specific in your profile |
| The process and timeline | Sets expectations and reveals how organised they are | Stages, rough dates, who you would meet |
Getting compensation on the table in the first exchange is normal and recruiters expect it; most would rather know your floor now than after three interviews. If you are unsure of your number, the preparation in salary negotiation role-play with AI gives you a range to state.
The call that follows
If the reply leads to a call, it is a screening call, and it is scored: the recruiter is checking fit, motivation, compensation and communication in twenty or thirty minutes. Prepare a ninety-second version of your background aimed at this role, as in tell me about yourself, a clear answer on what you want, your range, and three questions. The full routine for the call itself is in AI interview help for recruiter screening calls. If after the call you decide it is not for you, say so within a day with the courtesy described in how to withdraw from an interview process; recruiters remember candidates who close loops.
What not to do
- Ignore the message. A one-line 'not now' keeps you on a list that may matter in two years.
- Send your whole career in the first reply; the recruiter has your profile.
- Agree to a call without knowing the range, then discover it is half your salary.
- Ask the recruiter to 'send details' with no questions; it signals low interest.
- Negotiate in the message thread; the reply is for deciding whether to talk, not for terms.
- Reply from your work computer or during work hours if your employer monitors; the reply can wait until evening.
Where CoPilot Interview fits
CoPilot Interview is an AI interview assistant whose free AI mock interview rehearses the screening call that a good reply leads to: it builds questions from your résumé and the job description, reads them aloud and scores each spoken answer out of ten, so the ninety-second background and the compensation answer are ready before the recruiter calls. The free plan gives 15 minutes a day of live help in sessions of up to 15 minutes, with AI mock interviews included. The product is built for practice; if you ever consider live help in a real interview, follow your employer's rules.
Disclosure: CoPilot Interview is our product, so weigh what we say about it accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
How should I respond to a recruiter on LinkedIn?
Within a day or two, in three or four sentences: interested with your availability and a question about compensation and location, or a request for the details that decide whether a call is worthwhile, or a warm not-now.
Is it rude to ask about salary in the first message?
No. Recruiters expect it and prefer to know your range before anyone invests time. Ask for the range before booking a call.
What if the recruiter will not name the company?
Agency recruiters sometimes cannot. Ask for the sector, size, stage and location; if they will not share those either, decline the call.
Should I reply if I am not looking?
Yes, briefly. A polite not-now keeps you on their list and costs one sentence.
How do I prepare for the call after the reply?
A ninety-second background aimed at the role, a clear answer on what you want, your compensation range and three questions, rehearsed aloud once.
Practice this interview before the real one
The AI mock interview builds questions from your resume and the job description, reads them aloud and scores each spoken answer out of 10. Included on the free plan.
Start a mock interview