Outreach that opens with the mutual connection who suggested the candidate, converts that trust into a concrete role pitch, and asks for a short call.
Hi {{Candidate name}},
{{Mutual connection name}} — {{How you know the connection — e.g., a former colleague, an advisor}} — mentioned you when I described what I'm hiring for, and spoke highly of your work on {{What the connection praised}}.
The role is {{Role title}} at {{Company name}}: {{One or two sentences on what the role owns and why it matters right now}}. From what {{Mutual connection name}} shared, your experience with {{Relevant experience area}} maps closely to it.
Would you be open to a 15-minute call this week or next? If the timing is off or it's simply not interesting, no problem at all — a one-line reply is enough and I'll leave it there.
Thanks, and regardless: {{Mutual connection name}} clearly thinks a lot of you.
{{Your name}} {{Your title}}, {{Company name}}
Not legal advice
This template is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Laws differ by jurisdiction and change over time — have a qualified professional review any document before you rely on it.
Acknowledges a candidate's application with honest timeline expectations, what happens next, and a commitment to respond either way.
Tells a candidate their background screening is starting: the provider, what it covers, the consent step, expected duration, and who to ask about anything sensitive.
Asks for structured feedback on the hiring process after a decision, whatever the outcome: how long it takes, how to access it, how answers are handled, and why it matters.
Recruiter presents a vetted candidate to a client: three evidence-backed highlights, compensation expectations and availability, and a single next step to book the interview.
Honest mid-process update for when timelines slip: the real reason for the delay, a new date, confirmation the candidate is still in the running, and a promise to write again either way.
Acknowledges a candidate withdrawing from the process without friction: thanks them for the heads-up, asks one optional learning question, and leaves the relationship genuinely warm.