Essentials of Professional Networking: LinkedIn Connections

Networking is a lifeline for fresh graduates seeking their first job opportunity. LinkedIn Connections is one of the many options available for this purpose. LinkedIn allows its users to professionally connect with others through an option called LinkedIn Connect. When used right, this often ignored feature could get you that job you have had your eyes on.

LinkedIn Connection vs Follow

Connecting on LinkedIn is not the same as following. Connecting is a two-way process. Meaning, connecting allows you to see each other’s updates whereas following allows you to see their feed but not vice versa.?

There are several advantages to choosing to ‘connect’ over ‘follow’:

• Allows personalized messaging.
• Signifies a stronger intention to network and build professional relationships.
• Allows access to more information, including contact details, detailed profiles, etc.
• Increases your visibility on the platform, especially to your extended network.
• Allows potential employers to find you more easily.

Why Use LinkedIn Connections?

• Discover new career opportunities.
• Access high-quality resources like authoritative reports, insights on trends, and more from established industry experts.
• Stay updated on your industry’s latest news and developments.?
• Showcase your knowledge and abilities.
• Get endorsements for your skills from your Connections to increase your credibility.?
• Collaborate on projects and business ventures.

How to Use LinkedIn Connections?

You could use this feature to connect with various profiles of interest. This could be the profile of an alumni in a high-paying job, a professional working in a company of your choice, a respected industry expert, or even a top recruiter.?

• Start by keeping your LinkedIn profile updated. Add your relevant skills, qualifications, experience, etc. Nearly every person who found a job in less than 3 months had mentioned a minimum of 5 relevant skills on their profile.
• You can start by connecting with people you know professionally and personally.?
• Now, the real work starts. Start exploring profiles outside your immediate circle i.e. tap into ‘weak’ connections. According to ‘The Strength of Weak Ties’, a Stanford article, your casual or loose connections tend to be more helpful than your close circles when it comes to securing you a job opportunity. This is because people outside your known circle have a greater chance of knowing new information.??
• Use the filter feature to discover the profiles that are worth connecting with. Remember quality is more important than quantity. Connecting with hundreds of people is not as important as connecting with the right people.

Once you have identified the profiles you want to connect with, send them a request. When you click on the ‘connect’ button, you will get an option to add a note. Don’t miss this chance to attract the recipient’s attention by following these tips:

• counselling Keep your message short. Grammarly recommends keeping it below 75 words.
• Maintain a professional tone.
• Make sure that your message is error-free.
• Try establishing a connection instead of directly going for the pitch.
• When it comes to the message content:
• Introduce yourself and mention any shared interests?
• Explain your reasons for wanting to connect with the recipient
• Once the connection is established, following up messages is a good move.
• If you have a premium account, LinkedIn has an AI-powered feature that drafts an ‘icebreaker’ message to help you interact smoothly with your Connection. This feature refers to the information on your profile as well as the Connection’s profile to make the message more personalized. You can always edit the message before sending it.

Bonus: Template Request Messages

In case you don’t have a premium account, you could use these templates as a guide while sending requests to your LinkedIn Connections.

Request to recruiters:

Hi ___

I notice that you are with (company name). I wanted to reach out as I’m currently seeking new career opportunities. I have finished my (your educational qualifications) and am excited to start as (your preferred job title)/ to start in (your field). If you have the time, I’d be grateful for an opportunity to talk about whether my qualifications would make me fit for any of your current openings.?

Hope to hear back from you.

(your name)

Request to alumni:

Hi ___

I’m (your name). I noticed that we both graduated from (your college/university name). I wanted to reach out to learn about your experience after graduating. I’d be grateful for your guidance.

Hope to connect soon.

(your name)

Request to experienced professionals:

Hi __

I’m (your name). As a recent graduate in (your field), I find your posts about (topic of interest) insightful and useful. I would like to understand more about (your topic of interest) and I would benefit greatly from your interesting input.?

I’d love to connect with you.

Sincerely,

(your name)

If you would like to know more about how you could get on the top recruiters’ radar, connect with us for a counselling session.?