To make a connection,
- Click the “Connect” button, which is found under the drop down menu on the right of a person’s LinkedIn profile.
- Search for the name of the person with whom you’d like to connect
- Identify your relationship with that person.
To find great connections,
- Start with classmates, family, co-workers and friends
- Expand to professors, staff, alumni, and industry professionals
- Personalize your invitation when you invite someone to connect with you
- Connect ONLY with people whom you’ve met. Avoid connections with strangers
- Create connections that will be professional and mutually beneficial
- Consider ignoring requests that you fit your interests and values. It’s okay to do so
Note
LinkedIn supports and shows connections ONLY up to three degrees of separation from you, or a connection of a connection of a connection. Beyond the third degree, the relationship is no longer trustworthy.
To “get introduced” to someone within three degrees of connection,
- Open the person’s profile
- Find the arrow next to the “Send InMail” button
- Scroll over the mouse to find the option to “Get Introduced”
- Click “Get Introduced”
- Name the person from your network whom you’d like to introduce you
- Write a note that explains your interests and why this introduction is beneficial.
To make even more valuable connections, try
- Learning about industry insider tips and skills. View an organization’s profile. Click on “Insights” to learn about the “Tops Skills and Expertise” of employees in that organization as as well as others. “Follow” an organization to see job postings
- Researching organizations. View an organization’s pages and their employees to see their location, previous employers, schools and languages spoken. Use this feature to verify an organization’s reputation
- Preparing for interviews. Learn about an organization and review the profiles of people who might interview you
- Joining a group. Connect with people who share your interests and aspirations