Short answer: prospecting client companies is not searching for candidates, and the two should not mix on one account. For an agency, the best signal is public: a company hiring in bulk or with a job posting that stays open. Write to the hiring manager as much as to HR, with a question about that precise hire.
Why is this page not about sourcing?
Pages answering "LinkedIn for recruiters" mostly talk about finding candidates. This page covers the other half of the trade: winning client companies. The two need different messages, lists and paces.
On one LinkedIn account, keep two separate sequences, and never contact a candidate with a sales message, or the other way round. As a precaution, only present a candidate's profile to a client with the candidate's agreement.
Which signal announces a hiring need?
For an agency, the need is often written in plain sight. Four signals deserve a message.
| Signal | Where to see it | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| Several open postings at the same time | Company page, job postings | Bulk hiring, often hard to absorb in-house |
| A posting open for a long time | Posting date | A role that is hard to fill (only when the date is visible) |
| A new head of HR or a new CEO | Profile, announcement of the new role | A moment when suppliers are reviewed |
| A funding round | Company or founder post | A stated growth plan, hence roles to come |
The limit: a posting proves a need, not a willingness to pay an agency. A company that hires on its own may well keep doing so.
Whom do you write to in the company?
Two contacts, two messages. HR or the head of recruitment knows the process. The hiring manager suffers from the lack of candidates. Our hypothesis, to be checked: for a hard-to-fill role, the hiring manager replies more readily to a question about their team than to an agency pitch.
Which messages should you send?
Square brackets are for you to replace. Three messages, after an invitation with no note.
1. Several open postings
Hi [First name], I saw that [company] is hiring [number] [type of roles] right now. How do you handle screening applications for so many roles in parallel?
2. A long-open posting
Hi [First name], the [title] posting has been online for [visible duration]. Do the profiles you receive match what you are looking for?
3. A new head of HR
Hi [First name], congratulations on joining [company]. In the first months, many HR leaders review their recruitment partners. Is that a topic for you?
None of these messages asks for a meeting. The question is enough to open. Our guide on the first message built on a specific fact explains why.
Which objections should you expect, and how do you answer?
These are the objections we would expect from an agency's clients, from our reading of the trade. They are not statistics.
| Objection | Short answer |
|---|---|
| "We hire in-house." | "Fine. Which roles take longest to fill? That is where an agency sometimes helps." |
| "We already have an agency." | "Do they work with you exclusively or on some roles only?" |
| "Send me some documentation." | "Happy to. For what type of role, so I send the right example?" |
| "We have no budget." | "Understood. When is the budget decided? I will come back then." |
| "Your fees are too high." | Do not discuss fees by message: offer a short call. |
For what comes after, see our follow-up templates.
What does Sales Farmer do for an agency?
The Watchlist follows the profiles of executives and HR leads and picks up hires, funding rounds, posts and job changes. Every day it ranks the people to contact and suggests a first message that quotes the fact it found. Hiring is part of what it watches, which makes it a direct signal for an agency. The sequence stops as soon as the person replies.
The Watchlist does not yet read the posts of company pages: a hire announced only on the company page may slip past it. The Starter plan follows 10 profiles, the Growth plan has no limit.
FAQ
Should you write to HR or to the hiring manager?
To both, with two messages. HR talks about the process, the hiring manager about the team that is short-handed.
Can you use the same account for candidates and clients?
Technically yes, but keep two lists and two sequences, and never mix the messages.
Should you mention fees in the first message?
No. Open on the current hiring and leave fees for a call.
How do you spot a posting that has been open for a long time?
Look at the date shown on the posting. If it is not visible, do not quote any duration.