How To Build Connections On LinkedIn For Career Advancement And Job Search

Today’s question is about networking via LinkedIn – if you notice someone at your dream employer has looked at your profile, do you get in touch? If you’d like to see your question answered in a future issue, post it in the Comments below!

Should I reach out to someone who’s been looking at my LinkedIn profile that I’d be interested in working with? A few months ago, I noticed an executive checking out my page probably 3-5 times over the course of a month or so. I finally reached out to establish a more formal connection and told him I’d be interested in hearing about any opportunities that might exist at his company, and then he just responded with a very brief answer “we’re good at the moment” – which I thought was a bit abrupt considering he’d looked at my page multiple times. Also, [another executive at a company of interest] has looked at my page twice. I’ve known about him for years, and we have mutual colleagues, but we’ve never spoken. Do you think I should reach out? If so, what’s the best way to do so? – J.S., digital producer

If you have a Premium account on LinkedIn, you can see who looks at your profile. (If you have a Free account, you can see that someone has viewed your profile, but you don’t get any information about them.) What if the viewer is someone you want to know better, as in the case with this digital producer? How do you build deeper professional connections with people who could help your career, but you don’t know well or at all?

Yes,?reach out to people that you want to know

Whether it’s because they were looking at your profile or you have colleagues in common or you just read about them and think it would be beneficial to connect, go ahead and initiate contact with people you want to know. If you wait around for them to start, you lose time, and they may never reach out. (Here are?4 reasons ?why a recruiter may look at your profile and not reach out.) By proactively reaching out, you keep things moving.

But don’t scare them — they may not know how you know them or what you know

Not everyone knows that people can see that you looked at their profile. If you tell them you know they were viewing your profile, you may freak them out. This digital producer might have alarmed that prospective employer because he thought he was just browsing online and expected to do so anonymously, but then, BAM, he gets approached by one of who-knows-how-many profiles he reviewed.

Instead, focus on what you already have in common, such as being in the same industry or role or that you have colleagues in common, so that it’s just a natural fit for you two to connect. If you read about them or heard them give a talk, be specific about why their words were so impactful to you. You don’t want to give the impression that you’re just connecting to them because they are a prominent person in your field. You need to be more specific and personalized than that – senior people get contacted by a lot of people. If your LinkedIn profile is?optimized for your dream career , the right people will be willing to connect.

Start slow — don’t pitch new connections right away

Another way this digital producer jumped the gun was by mentioning “opportunities that might exist at his company”. When you have just met, it’s too soon to talk about working together. You might be tempted to ask about a job opening right away or pitch a consulting project, but that is presumptuous if you haven’t yet established who you are, what you know and especially what the other needs or wants.

Instead, deepen the relationship over a shared topic – e.g., something you’re working on that would be of interest to them. This way, you can bond over a shared interest, and get to know each other over time. This gives you time to demonstrate what you know and can contribute, and the other person has time to take it in at their pace.

Nurture connections with relevant follow-up

As you get to know them, focus your follow-up on what would be relevant and interesting to them. Send an article related to something they’re working on. Make a referral (check with them first) for other relevant connections. If you think you can help them with something they’re working on, share your idea without immediately pitching your services. You can also follow up more socially – congratulate them if they post a win on LinkedIn, send a Happy Holidays in December, or share a status update since the last time you talked.

Don't forget...

The best connections are developed over time, where you can build trust slowly and genuinely. Think about ways to follow up that are not at all about asking for a meeting, an introduction for you or a piece of business.

Caroline Ceniza-Levine is the founder of the Dream Career Club and a career coach, writer, and media personality on job market issues. The Dream Career Club includes online resources on job search, financial independence, career change and more so you can make a great living doing work you love. You can view a sample lesson on Resumes HERE .