When a recruiter contacts you, it's to discover whether you would entertain a conversation about a specific position. No recruiter expects that every person they reach out to will be a great fit. But something they learned about you -- whether it be your resume, LinkedIn profile, portfolio, website bio, etc. -- was enough to trigger a conversation. (If you received a message from us, this short video explains why we contacted you.)
We get it. If you're receiving a constant barrage of outreach emails from recruiters, responding nicely to them might be the last thing on your mind. But you also don't want to miss a future opportunity because of rudeness. (If you're wondering how to best manage your career during an economic downturn, check out our latest career advice.)