LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform with over 900 million members. Connecting with other professionals on LinkedIn can help you build your professional brand, find job opportunities, and grow your business. One way LinkedIn members connect is by sending invitations to connect. But are all LinkedIn invitations legitimate? Let’s take a closer look.
What is a LinkedIn invitation?
A LinkedIn invitation is a request sent by one LinkedIn member to another to connect as contacts on the platform. When you send someone an invitation to connect on LinkedIn, you are asking them to add you to their professional network. If they accept your invitation, they will be added to your network as a 1st-degree connection. You will then be able to view each other’s profiles, see mutual connections, message each other, and more.
Common types of LinkedIn invitations
There are a few common types of LinkedIn invitations:
- Invitations from people you know – These include colleagues, classmates, friends, family members, and other contacts.
- Invitations from recruiters – Recruiters may invite you to connect to discuss job opportunities.
- Invitations from sales professionals – People in sales often use LinkedIn for prospecting and may invite you to connect.
- Invitations from strangers – Sometimes people you don’t know will invite you to expand their network.
Are all LinkedIn invitations legit?
Unfortunately, not all LinkedIn invitations are legitimate. Here are some red flags to watch out for:
Suspicious profiles
If the person inviting you has a sparse, incomplete, or suspicious looking profile, proceed with caution. Signs include:
- Very few connections
- No profile photo
- Bare bones profile details
- Job titles that don’t match profile
Mass invitations
If someone sends you a generic invitation without a personalized note, it may be a mass invitation sent to many people. These are usually not worthwhile connections.
Scam or spam
Some invitations are sent by scammers or spammers trying to take advantage of LinkedIn members. Warning signs include:
- Offers that seem too good to be true
- Requests for personal or banking information
- Phishing attempts asking you to login or verify account
Benefits of legitimate LinkedIn invitations
Accepting invitations from legitimate, relevant contacts can provide many benefits:
- Gain insights and advice – Connect with experienced professionals in your industry.
- Tap into opportunities – Find job openings, investors, potential partners and clients.
- Get endorsements – Connections can endorse your skills and write recommendations.
- Widen your reach – Grow your network and increase your visibility.
Tips for assessing LinkedIn invitations
Here are some tips for deciding which LinkedIn invitations to accept:
Check mutual connections
See if you have any shared connections who can vouch for the person. Mutual connections provide credibility.
Do some digging
Google the person’s name and company to look for any red flags before connecting.
Review the message
A thoughtful, personalized note shows the person looked at your profile and sees potential value in connecting.
Assess relevance
Connect with those who align with your professional goals and can offer mutual benefit.
| Connection Type | Potential Value? | Accept Invitation? |
|---|---|---|
| Industry peer | High | Yes |
| Recruiter in your field | High | Yes |
| Former co-worker | Medium | Yes, if no bad blood |
| Stranger with spammy message | Low | No |
Customize your settings
To manage incoming invitations, adjust your LinkedIn settings. Options include:
- Turning off relationship notifications from strangers
- Requiring personalized messages from anyone not in your network
- Manually reviewing all invitations before they are shown
How to politely decline an invitation
If you get a LinkedIn invitation that doesn’t seem relevant or legitimate, you can politely decline by:
- Clicking “Thanks but no thanks” in the invitation email
- ignoring the invitation and letting it expire
- Politely messaging the sender explaining why you are declining
Declining or simply ignoring unwanted invitations helps keep your connections focused on quality over quantity.
Conclusion
The majority of LinkedIn invitations are legitimate opportunities to grow your professional network. But always assess invitations carefully before connecting. Check profiles, messages, and relevance to determine if an invitation will provide value. Connect thoughtfully and customize your settings to control incoming requests. This will help you build beneficial connections while avoiding spam and scam attempts.
