This is a guest article from Author and Career Social Media Expert Joshua Waldman.
Everyone seems to have their own comfort level with how they use social media, and in particular, LinkedIn.
On one side of the spectrum, there are people who will include only network connections whom they know very well.
On the other extreme, some people will accept invitations from anyone, known or not.
The problem is that as job seekers, we don’t always know where our new connections will fall in this spectrum. Only one thing is clear: in order to succeed in your job search you have to expand your network. And you will be confronted with a choice sooner or later on how to connect with a new person on LinkedIn.
It’s better to get an introduction, but if you absolutely can’t, here are some tips for improving the chances that your target person will accept your invitation.
1- Personalize Your Note
There has been some research indicating that the boring, auto-generated text in LinkedIn’s invitation statistically has a higher acceptance rate than a customized one. I will concede that this may be true.
However, I’d rather have a good cookie than a lot of bad ones. Setting expectations about why you want to connect and what you want out of the relationship is extremely important.
If you just used the standard language, then got an accepted invitation, what are the chances they will then be willing to respond to your In-Mails? Better to define the relationship up front; then they won’t be surprised later when you ask them for an info interview.
2- Keep it Short
Perhaps the reason the generic invitation does so well is that it’s so short – just one sentence. You have to realize that the hiring manager or info interview source you are targeting is extremely busy.
Here’s a quick tip for keeping it short: take out the apology. What’s left will be a concise and confident message.
3- Share with Something in Common
In most cases, you can’t invite someone to your network unless you either have their email address (which isn’t hard to find) or you share something in common (group, school, company). Always connect based on something you have in common. This lowers their defenses and aligns you as a friend.
For instance: “I saw that you are also a member of XYZ group, and I want to learn more about your role at ABC company. Shall we connect?”
4- Be Sensitive to Their Personal Social Media Policy
Offering to have a 5-minute phone call so they can get to know you isn’t a bad idea. First, it shows that you value their network connections, and it demonstrates you’re planning on being a valuable connection.
Second, they might be the kind of person who needs to meet their LinkedIn connections in person before accepting. They will appreciate your offer. In some cases, just offering is enough to convince them that you’re all right.
5- Warm up the Invitation
No one likes to get a cold call, and I doubt anyone likes to make them, either. So even before you ask for an invite, warm up your contact by interacting with them on a LinkedIn Group.
LinkedIn groups allows members to comment on each other’s posts, along with the little-known feature of privately commenting back to another member. Once a dialogue is initiated, or at least your reputation as a group contributor is established, it’s much easier to ask for a connection.
But remember: none of these techniques will work if you don’t have a complete and professional-looking profile. Check out this 20-minute video on how to make your LinkedIn profile shine.
For even more LinkedIn tips for finding a great job, check out my new book, JobSearchingwithSocialMediaforDummies.
Joshua Waldman helps frustrated job seekers leverage social media to find work FAST! He is the founder of CareerEnlightenment.com and the author of the new book, Job Searching with Social Media for Dummies. Sign-up for his newsletter today and get access to his exclusive training videos for free.
