When a recruiter contacts you, it’s to ask if you’re interested in having a conversation about a specific position. No recruiter expects that every person will be a perfect fit, but something they learned about you—your resume, LinkedIn profile, portfolio, website, presence at industry conferences or networks—matched the skills and experience for the role.

We get it. If you’re receiving a constant barrage of outreach emails and LinkedIn messages from recruiters, responding nicely might be the last thing on your mind. But you don’t want to miss a future opportunity by responding rudely or ignoring the outreach. The recruiter may work for multiple clients in your field or functional area, so even if you’re not interested in that particular role, a simple reply will keep you on their active list. And if you’re responding to a recruiter’s LinkedIn message, replying can boost your visibility in LinkedIn’s algorithm. (If you’re curious about the things recruiters typically look for in LinkedIn profiles, read this.)

Your responses don’t need to be long. Most recruiters prefer short and sweet. Here are a few ways to politely decline recruiter outreach without hurting your future chances. Feel free to copy and paste!

I’m Not Interested in Travel

  • Thank you for the email for the [position] at [company]. While the responsibilities are a good fit with my background, I’m not that interested in the amount of travel required.
  • Thanks for reaching out about this opportunity. I read this a few times and looked at the full description on their website. Parts of it are very appealing to me, but I’m not up for the travel that this position will require.

It Doesn’t Match My Career Path

  • My strengths are primarily in information technology.  It looks like an exciting position, but not in my area of expertise.
  • Thanks for thinking of me, but it’s not a great fit.

I’m Happy Where I Am 

  • I appreciate the outreach, but I am very happy where I am. Thank you!
  • Thank you for reaching out. I am not interested in the position, but if you would like, I can forward it to any colleagues I think may be interested. I don’t have anyone in mind specifically right now.
  • Thanks for the info. Not interested in this position but please keep me in mind for others that might come your way.
  • Thank you for reaching out regarding the opportunity at [company]. I am currently happy with my employment at [company], but thank you again for considering me.
  • Thank you for reaching out to me. I would normally be very interested in exploring this opportunity further, but I just recently accepted a [title] role with [company].

I’m Not Interested in Making a Move

  • Thanks for reaching out, but I’m not interested in making a move right now.
  • I’m not currently not in the market, but feel free to send me anything you think may be of interest. If I know someone who would be a good fit, I’d be happy to forward it to them.
  • Thanks for the email. I appreciate the thought. I am very happy where I am, but I’ll see if I know anyone who might be a good fit for the role.
  • Thank you for considering me for this position—I appreciate it. I’m happy in my current role and don’t plan to leave or relocate, but I’ll keep my eyes and ears open for a candidate who might meet the skill set outlined in the job description.

Keep Reading

When you’re ready to start actively looking for a new role, how you position yourself can make all the difference in a competitive market. Here are Staffing Advisors’ most-read articles to help you land a new job that will drive your career forward.

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