How to Reply to a Recruiter: Templates for Every Situation

Always reply — here's why

Recruiters keep notes. A polite two-line reply, even a "no thanks," puts you in their system as responsive and professional. The role you decline today is how you hear about the better one in eighteen months. Silence gets you marked as unreachable.

Template: you're interested

"Hi [name], thanks for reaching out — this looks interesting. I'd be happy to learn more. Could you share the compensation range and whether the role is remote-friendly before we schedule a call? Generally free [days/times]."

Asking for the range before the call is normal now and saves everyone time. Naming your availability moves things forward without a scheduling back-and-forth.

Template: not interested right now

"Hi [name], thanks for thinking of me. I'm happy where I am and not looking to move right now, but I'd be glad to stay in touch — feel free to reach out if something senior in [your area] opens up down the line."

Template: interested, but it's not the right role

"Hi [name], thanks for reaching out. This particular role isn't quite the right fit — I'm focused on [what you actually want]. If you work on roles like that, I'd genuinely love to hear about them."

This is the highest-value template: it turns a mismatch into a standing search on your behalf.

When they ask for your current salary

Deflect to the range for the new role: "I'd rather focus on the value of this role — what's the budgeted range?" In many places they're required to tell you, and your current number only anchors you down.

Let AI draft it from a screenshot

If you'd rather not start from a blank box: screenshot the recruiter's message and upload it to Appmo's reply assistant. It reads the message, picks up the context and tone, and drafts several replies — interested, declining, or asking for more — that you can send as-is or tweak. Your conversations stay private and encrypted.