- LinkedIn connection messages need to be 300 characters or less, so try to keep your message as concise as possible.
- Network with new and old co-workers by offering them a compliment as well as a desire to connect.
- Chat with a recruiter by mentioning your skillset. You can also acknowledge where you originally met them (like at a career fair).
- Reach out to second-degree connections (people you have a mutual connection with) by using your mutual connection as a conversational stepping stone.
A Co-worker (Current or Former)
Add a personalized touch to your message to make it stand out. If you’re connecting with a current co-worker, you might mention a great project they worked on recently; if you’re reaching out to a former co-worker, you might remind them of the past years you worked together. The more personalized your message is, the better!
Dear Lindsey,I know we’ve never crossed paths, but I am endlessly amazed by the top-notch visuals you provide for the company every week. I’d love to connect with you on LinkedIn so I can follow all your upcoming endeavors.Best,Penny
Hey Jack,I’m really grateful for the time we spent together when we worked at Amazon back in 2015. I’m thrilled to see you’ve continued to do great things with your career, and I’d really like to keep in touch.Warmly,Nick
A New Co-worker
Explain how you’ll be working with a new colleague. Maybe you’re the latest recruit to a company’s sales department, or you’re switching to a new department at your current company. Give your new boss or co-worker a heads-up with a personalized connection message on LinkedIn.
Hi Alejandro,I’ll be starting with the Customer Relations department this upcoming Monday, and I’m so looking forward to working with you and your team. I’d love to touch base beforehand if you’re interested in joining my professional network.Thanks,Caleb
Dear Elizabeth,I believe I’m transferring to your department next month, and I’m very excited to get started. Before that time, would you like to connect here on LinkedIn?All the best,Stefan
A Casual Acquaintance
Send a friendly message to an interesting acquaintance. The cardinal rule of LinkedIn connection messages? Be compelling! Let the acquaintance know how nice it was to meet with and/or chat with them, and show direct interest in connecting with them in the future.
Hi Jessica,It was so nice bumping into you the other day! I know we didn’t get to chat long, but I’m really impressed by your work with Grayson Pharmaceuticals and would love to talk more about your experiences.Best regards,Uri
Hey Markus,Thanks so much for visiting with me yesterday. I’d love to hear more about your work and research in the global education field.Warmly,Yvonne
A Person at an Event or Conference
Follow up with event contacts to build a long-lasting connection. Did you have a great conversation with someone at an academic conference, or cross paths with someone interesting at a networking event? Reference your first meeting in a LinkedIn message and let them know that you’d like to stay connected.
Hi Jamie,It was so great to meet you this past weekend and get an in-depth look at your company. I really enjoyed our conversation, and I’d love to connect and continue to learn more about your business.Talk to you soon,Olivia
Dear Mr. Zhào,Thank you so much for speaking with me at the International Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security. I really appreciated your insights and thoughts, and would love to keep in touch on LinkedIn.Looking forward to hearing from you,Alan
A Fellow LinkedIn Group Member
Use a dynamic LinkedIn group post or comment as a jumping-off point. Someone just posted a great article or discussion in a LinkedIn group, and you’re hoping to chat with them about it more. A LinkedIn connection message is the perfect way to get the ball rolling! Shoot them a short but sweet message about their original post, and see if they’d like to connect.
Hi Mateo,I’m a little late to the party, but I just read your comments on the recent discussion post in the Cloud Computing LinkedIn group and was blown away. I'd love to hear more of your thoughts, if you wouldn't mind.Warmly,Phoebe
Dear Mr. Benowitz,I’m part of the Lean Six Sigma LinkedIn group, and I was really fascinated by the points you made in Saturday’s discussion. Would you be interested in connecting on LinkedIn so we could discuss them further?Thanks for your time,Xavier Trent
A Professional You Look Up To
Express your admiration and desire to network in a few short sentences. Mention a specific publication, lecture, or another piece of media that the person worked on. Let them know how much you enjoyed the content, and see if they’d be interested in discussing it more on LinkedIn.
Hi Adam,I just found the LinkedIn article you published about social media marketing. I was absolutely fascinated by the points you made, and it really changed my way of thinking. Since I’m still learning the ropes of digital marketing, I’d really like to connect with you and follow your future publications.Best,Hana
Dear Ms. McMurray,I recently came across your psychiatry blog and I absolutely loved your discussion on modern medical practices. I’d love to connect with you on LinkedIn and discuss this topic in more detail.Thanks,Tala Reyes
A Recruiter
Take the initiative and share your skills with a recruiter. Maybe you found a recruiter on LinkedIn who works in your general area, or would love to connect with a recruiter you met at a career fair. Get things started by giving them a quick run-down of your skills and capabilities in a connection message. If you’ve already met the recruiter before (like at a networking event), reference your meet-up in the message.
Hi Candace,I saw that you work for Robert Half, which has an office in the San Francisco area. I’m a copywriter with 3 years of experience who would love to apply my skills in the professional workplace. Would you be interesting in connecting on LinkedIn?Thanks,Amina
Hi Ms. Casey,It was so lovely to connect with you at Oregon State University’s career fair. I really appreciated all of the information you shared about working in the hospitality industry. I’d love to add you to my professional network so we can speak more.Thanks,Hanh Do
A Prospective Employee
Highlight a candidate’s potential in your connection message. Did you find the perfect person for a job on LinkedIn? Shoot them an introductory message that describes the job opportunity you have in mind, along with why they’d be a good fit for it. Finish things off with a call to action that encourages them to connect.
Hi Caitlyn,I hope this message finds you well! I’m a representative for the Matthews Recruiting Company, and I think you’d be a great match for a French translator position I’m hoping to fill. Feel free to connect if you’d like to learn more about this opportunity.All the best,Mishka
Hi Jeremy,I’m really impressed by your recent programming work, and I think that you’d be an excellent fit for the Medical Biller and Coder position at Johnson Urgent Care. Let me know if you’d like to learn more about this opportunity.Let’s connect,Anthony
A Prospective Employer
Take the initiative to network with a potential employer. Did you just submit a job application, or do you have a job interview in the works? Go the extra mile by sending a LinkedIn connection message that highlights how eager and enthusiastic you are about the opportunity.
Dear Mr. Halimi,I’m excited to share with you that I submitted an application for the role of Tax Specialist (#45678). I would love to connect with you on LinkedIn to discuss the potential I could bring to your workplace.Best regards,Sam Connors
Hi Navi,I hope this message finds you well! I’m excited to meet with you this upcoming Monday, and would be thrilled for the opportunity to connect with you in the meantime.Thanks,Sofía De León
A Fellow Alumnus
Use school spirit to spark new professional connections. Want to connect with someone who shares your alma mater? Tap into your shared background by highlighting the significant connection you share at the beginning of your message. From there, explain why you’d like to connect with them.
Hi Clark,I noticed that you graduated from East Carolina University in 2010—let’s go Pirates! I’m actually graduating from ECU next month, and I’d love to hear about your experience entering the tech field as an ECU grad. Would you be interested in chatting about it sometime?Best,Paul Baker
Hi Ms. Avery,As a fellow Wildcat, I was thrilled to see another Kansas State alum working in the special education field. I really admire everything you’ve accomplished in your career so far, and I’d love to connect with you on LinkedIn and speak sometime soon.Best,Malik Badir
A Second-Degree Connection
Leverage mutual acquaintances into a meaningful new connection. On LinkedIn, second-degree connections are individuals with whom you share a mutual connection. The best way to strike up a conversation with these people is to use that mutual connection as a talking point.
Hi Dana,I couldn’t help but notice that we share a connection with Amiri Kaihe from Intuit. During my last few months there, she mentioned what great work you did for Intuit Investor Day. If it’s okay, I’d love to join your LinkedIn network so I can follow your professional endeavors.Best,Odina
Hi Ngozi,It looks like we’re both connected with Emma Cameron from Microsoft. Back when Emma and I were colleagues, she said a lot of great things about your work on a past project. If you don’t mind, I’d love to add you to my professional network.Thanks so much,Ava
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