How to Respond to a Recruiter Message on LinkedIn (UK 2026)

Why this matters

UK recruiters operate networks of 200-2000 candidates. The candidates who respond professionally — even with 'no thanks for now' — get the next role months later when something better comes up. Ghosting recruiters is the most common LinkedIn mistake among UK candidates and the one that compounds most quietly. Three years of ghosting = no recruiter network.

Exact steps

1. 1 Read the message — it's usually generic, but check if there's anything specific
2. 2 Respond within 48 hours, even if briefly
3. 3 If interested: ask 2-3 specific questions about salary range, role, company stage
4. 4 If not interested but open to future: thank them, explain briefly, ask to be kept in mind
5. 5 If not interested at all: thank them briefly, decline politely, no need to explain
6. 6 Connect with the recruiter on LinkedIn — keeps you in their network
7. 7 If they share salary range and it's substantially below your target, decline professionally

What good looks like

What bad looks like

Common mistakes

• ✗Ghosting — closes the door for years
• ✗Replying after 2+ weeks — signals lack of engagement
• ✗Asking for the salary up front before showing any interest — UK recruiters take this as bad form
• ✗Aggressive 'stop messaging me' replies — UK recruitment is small and reputations travel
• ✗Saying yes to every conversation — wastes everyone's time and dilutes your network