How to reach a hiring manager on LinkedIn (without being awkward)

TL;DR Identify the hiring manager via LinkedIn (2-3 filters). Engage on their content for a week before you DM. Message with a specific ask tied to the role. Never lead with 'I applied — can you check?'

Finding the hiring manager Open the JD. The team it lives under (Engineering, Product, Design) plus the seniority level (Senior, Staff, Manager) narrows the candidate list. On LinkedIn, filter Current Company + Title. The manager is one level up from the open role. Cross-check via LinkedIn's 'People at [Company]' filter.

The warm-up week For 5-7 days, thoughtfully comment on the hiring manager's posts. Not 'great post' — actual substance, one question or one add. This puts your name in their feed before your DM lands.

The DM template 'Hi [Name] — I saw the [Role] opening on your team. My background is [one-liner tied to the JD]. I'd love 15 min to hear what you're looking for in this role. Happy to send my resume as a starting point.' That's it. Under 5 sentences.

What to send in reply When they respond, send a tailored resume + a 3-line summary of why you fit. Do not send your generic resume. This is the single biggest advantage-to-effort ratio in modern job hunting.

If they don't respond One follow-up a week later, referencing something new they posted. Then move on — hiring managers are busy, and their non-response is not personal.