Use this exact email template from a LinkedIn career expert to network and find a new job during a recession

• It's possible to network and job search during a recession.
• LinkedIn career expert Blair Heitmann shared a script for emailing friends and professional colleagues about new job opportunities.
• In a networking email, you should show compassion, but also be specific about how they can help you.
• Other experts say asking for advice can make the recipient of your message think more highly of you.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

The new coronavirus pandemic and the global recession will leave many people out of a job - and looking for a new one.

In the week ending March 28, a total of 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment, the Labor Department reported.

Approaching someone in your network and asking if their company is hiring right now can seem a little presumptuous. Which is why many job-seekers are hesitant to start reaching out, said Blair Heitmann, in-house career expert at LinkedIn.

Complimentary Tech Event

Transform talent with learning that works

Capability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More

But your network "is your No. 1 asset as a professional over the course of your career," Heitmann said. In fact, some companies don't post senior-level positions on job boards and the only way to find them is to network your way into a recruiter's database.

Networking can be especially useful right now as a way to explore new career opportunities if your current company - or your entire industry - is on shaky footing. And while some people may be overwhelmed, Heitmann thinks others may be delighted to arrange a phone call now that they're socially isolated.

Heitmann shared a simple template for networking effectively, even in a tough economy and a global pandemic. Most importantly, you'll want to acknowledge the crisis situation and be forthright about how they can help you.

The most effective networking message in a recession shows compassion, but gets to the point

Here's Heitmann's script:

Dear [recipient's name],

First and foremost, I want to ask how you are doing. This is certainly an unprecedented time and I hope you are healthy and safe.

I am currently using this time to think about my next career move and reconnect with people in my network. If you happen to have a few minutes over the next few weeks, would you be willing to chat? I'd love to catch up and also hear about your experience working at [recipient's company] in [recipient's job title] role. I know it is a very busy and unusual time for many of us. I'm happy to connect whenever it is most convenient for you.

I look forward to hearing from you. Stay safe and keep in touch.

Best,

[your name]

Be specific in your outreach about how the recipients can help you

Heitmann's script for networking emails is similar to templates that other experts have shared.

In their 2017 Book "The New Rules of Work," cofounders of the job-search and career advice platform The Muse recommend sending a single email to friends and professional colleagues to kickstart your job search. The idea is to be as specific as possible about what you're looking for and how the message recipients can help you.

The email should read, in part:

I am looking for [the type of position you're looking for], with a focus on [your focus], in [your location], ideally in the [specific field]. I am particularly interested in [the type of work you're interested in doing], but would also consider [another type of work you find interesting].

If you know of any job opportunities or leads, please send them my way.

Kim Hoffman, a talent-acquisition director at Intuit, previously shared with Business Insider some guidelines for following up with recruiters about job offers right now. Hoffman said job candidates should ask the recruiter if they're staying safe; mention that they understand the recruiter's timelines may have shifted; and explain that they're checking in to see if there's anything else the recruiter needs from them.

Remember, too: People like being asked for advice. Research suggests that it makes them feel like they're on your side, and makes you seem smart, too. As Stephanie Brown, the author of "FIRED: Why Losing Your Job Is The Best Thing That Can Happen To You," wrote for Business Insider, she was able to land a series of networking meetings by including the same sentence in every message: I would love your advice on what you think I should do next.

It never hurts to ask for guidance - and usually, it helps.