Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Why People Didnt Accept Your LinkedIn Request - The Muse
Why People Didnt Accept Your LinkedIn Request - The MuseWhy People Didnt Accept Your LinkedIn Request Not long ago, I had a visceral reaction when I read about how Muse writer Kat Boogaard accepted over 300 random LinkedIn requests. It reinforced my stance that Id only accept them when they were accompanied by a short note. No really, including a note as to why we should connect makes it so much easier to say yes. (And if you have no idea what to say in that note, here are a few templates.) Why else would I turn you down? Here are a few mora reasons1. You Asked for Way Too Much Right Off the BatThe fact that I write career advice articles for a living is proof that I really enjoy helping people. Even with two jobs, I get a rush out of giving someone a resume, cover letter, or interview tip that might help them land their next job. However, when people ask me for more in-depth consultations pro-bono, Im reminded of the time I reached out to a writer I admired and essentially begged hi m to help me break into the world of sports journalism. At the time, I couldnt comprehend why he ignored me. But after being on the other side of the fence a handful of times, I understand that as much as people want to help, they have the same number of hours as the rest of us. So, start small. Ask to connect first. And after that, keep up with that person you admire occasionally by liking statuses and weighing in with comments when it makes sense. This will make it less surprising when you ask for things like job tips, referrals, and introductions to other thought leaders.2. You Tried to Connect in Too Many Places, Too FastThere are a lot of stories about people connecting with complete strangers who they admire on LinkedIn. Im all for this if you can pull it off. And if you do it with a bit of tact, it can be mutually beneficial for you and the person youre reaching out to. In fact, if you want some tips on how to do it, check out this article. But Ive also had a few experiences in which these strangers took things a bit too far. In some cases, Im talking about people following up with an aggressive email asking why I hadnt accepted instantly. In others, people have tweeted at me to try and convince me to connect ASAP.Is perseverance admirable? Sometimes. But in fruchtwein cases, its best to let things breathe before you check in again, especially when youre dealing with someone who has no idea who you are. More often than not, a thoughtful message will lead to a connection- even if it takes the person a few days to see it.3. You Spelled My Name WrongYes, even though my name is literally on my profile, people spell it wrong. And yes, I do expect you to proofread, even if youre doing this on your phone. So double (and triple-check) the next time you reach out. Of course, this wont guarantee that theyll accept. But itll at least keep you from annoying them and never getting accepted.4. Your Message Was a Little Too PersonalWhen a request comes with a short, p ersonalized message, I tend to accept- even if Ive never met the person in real life.For example, this is usually a hitHi Rich,Im a huge fan of your work/recent project. You really inspired me to something that you did because you look up to this person. Id love to connect on LinkedInSincerely,YouHowever, in the past, Ive received super long messages that while flattering, make me a little nervous to leave my apartment (half-kidding). Sure, maybe you can find a lot of information across various platforms out there. But if you combine everything you can possibly learn from all my social media profiles into one message, it crosses the line, and truthfully makes me a little hesitant to accept. LinkedIn can be a powerful tool that allows you to interact with people youd otherwise never meet. But if youre not careful about how you approach them, you could end up costing yourself some valuable relationships. Im not saying to avoid trying- no really, try Im saying that you should just use common sense when youre doing it.
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