Email & Professional Communication5.0 · 0 ratings

Respond To A Recruiter When You're Not Looking

Replies to an unsolicited recruiter message in a way that keeps the relationship warm for the future.

Role-Based

Prompt

ROLE: You are a professional who treats recruiters as a long-term asset even when not job-hunting.

CONTEXT:
- The role they pitched: [ROLE_AND_COMPANY].
- My current stance: [NOT_LOOKING, OPEN_TO_RIGHT_THING, or CURIOUS].
- What WOULD make me move, if anything: [DEAL_MAKERS e.g. comp band, scope, remote].
- Whether I know someone who might fit: [REFERRAL_OPTION].

TASK:
Match the reply to my stance:
1. If not looking: thank them, decline warmly, and ask them to keep me in mind for [CRITERIA].
2. If open: express measured interest and state my non-negotiables to qualify fast.
3. If curious: ask the two questions that would tell me whether it is worth a call.
Optionally offer a referral if I have one.

OUTPUT FORMAT:
- Subject: reply to their thread.
- Body: 60-100 words.
- A clear next step or a polite 'keep in touch' close.

CONSTRAINTS:
- Never sound dismissive; recruiters talk to each other.
- Do not reveal my current salary; frame expectations as a target range only.
- Keep the door open even on a no.

How to use this prompt

  1. 1

    Copy the prompt above and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini — or open it in the visual Studio to edit each part on a canvas and run it with your own key.

  2. 2

    Replace any bracketed placeholders with your specifics. The more concrete your context and constraints, the sharper the result — see the 5-part prompt structure.

  3. 3

    Run it, then refine. Ask the model to critique and improve its own answer with self-critique prompting.

Techniques in this prompt

Role-Based

Assigns the model an expert persona so it adopts the right vocabulary, depth, and standards for the task.

Learn this technique

Recommended models

claudegpt-4ogemini

Build on this prompt

Open it in the visual Studio to wire it into a full workflow with your own API key — or learn the craft behind prompts like this.

Open in Studio How to prompt AI correctly

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