Top priorities for most developers: interesting technical problems to solve, modern tech stack (not legacy maintenance), good engineering culture (code review, testing, CI/CD), autonomy and impact, reasonable work-life balance, and fair compensation. Generic company descriptions don't address these.
Developer Outreach That Works
Reach software engineers effectively. Understand what developers care about and how to communicate it.
Developers are bombarded with recruiting messages and have learned to ignore most of them. But some recruiters consistently get responses. The difference? Understanding what developers actually care about and communicating it clearly. This guide shares what works.
1
What Developers Care About
2
What Turns Developers Off
Red flags in outreach: vague descriptions ('exciting opportunity'), clearly irrelevant roles (wrong tech stack), obvious mass messages, pushy or desperate tone, requiring resume for details, excessive buzzwords, and ignoring their clearly stated preferences.
3
Effective Message Elements
Include: why you reached out to them specifically, specific technologies they'd work with, type of problems they'd solve, team size and composition, transparent compensation range (if possible). Be direct and specific. Developers appreciate clarity.
4
Technical Credibility
You don't need to be an engineer, but you need credibility. Know the basics of your tech stack. Reference specific technologies accurately. Don't pretend to understand things you don't. It's okay to say 'I'm not technical but happy to connect you with the engineering manager.'
5
Channels and Timing
LinkedIn is standard but crowded. Consider: GitHub (for open source contributors), Twitter/X (for those active there), tech community Slack/Discord. Best timing: mid-week, not during deploy days (Fridays). Avoid reaching out right after work hours end.
Key Takeaways
- Developers care about tech, problems, and culture
- Be specific about tech stack and role
- Avoid generic company descriptions
- Build technical credibility through accuracy
- Consider alternative channels beyond LinkedIn
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Add to Chrome - It's Free Frequently Asked Questions
Should I include salary in outreach?
If you can share a transparent range, yes. Developers appreciate it and it saves time for both sides. If you can't share specifics, at least confirm 'competitive compensation' isn't code for underpaying.
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