Do I Know You? Have We Met? (invites from strangers)

Another question from a network contact and my response.

Q: I just had someone ask to connect to me on LinkedIn.  I don’t know him.  I’ve had people with no connection to me try to link on LinkedIn only to find out they were looking for a job at (company). Sugestions?

 

A: LinkedIn serves up suggestions every day to every LinkedIn users about who they should connect with. It's quite possible this person is just clicking the "connect" button without realizing the etiquette of personalizing your invitations to connect.

 

It's also quite possible this person is trying to apply for a job at your company, as you suggest.

The best way to figure it out is to ask the question.

 

Here's what I do:

 

Hover over arrow next to the "accept" button and you'll see the text "reply (don't accept yet)." Then, reply to the person and say, "Hi John, thank you for the invite. Have we met?" This action will help to clarify their invitation intentions so that you can decide whether to accept, decline, or achive (delete) their invitation.

 

Hope this helps.

 

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