Having a lot of connections on LinkedIn can certainly look impressive, but not having many connections does not necessarily reflect poorly on you. There are several factors that contribute to how many connections someone has, and the number of connections alone does not determine the quality of your profile or your professional network.
Why Do People Want a Lot of Connections?
There are a few reasons why people aim to have a high number of LinkedIn connections:
- It looks impressive at first glance.
- It suggests you have a large professional network.
- You appear well-connected in your industry.
- It allows you to cast a wider net when searching for job opportunities.
While these motivations make sense on the surface, the number of connections does not always correlate with having an impactful professional network. Quality matters more than quantity when it comes to your LinkedIn connections.
When Is a Low Number of Connections Understandable?
There are many valid reasons why someone may not have a lot of LinkedIn connections, including:
- Being new to the workforce
- Working in a niche industry
- Just starting to build out their LinkedIn network
- Preferring to make genuine connections vs connecting randomly
- Not using LinkedIn frequently enough
The number of connections is largely dependent on how long you’ve been on LinkedIn and how systematic you are about sending requests. It’s reasonable not to have many connections if you are selective about who you connect with or are relatively new to the platform.
Quality Over Quantity
While a high number of connections looks impressive at first glance, it does not necessarily mean those connections are valuable. Some people connect with anyone and everyone in an attempt to inflate their numbers, but those connections likely do not translate into meaningful networking opportunities.
Here are some signs of quality connections:
- You know them personally and have met in real life
- They work in your industry or a related field
- You have interacted with their content on LinkedIn
- They actively engage with your profile and content
The relevance and depth of your connections matter much more than how many you have overall. 20 genuine connections who can offer career advice or job opportunities are far more valuable than 500 random connections.
Tips for Making Quality Connections
Here are some tips for making meaningful connections on LinkedIn that could benefit your career:
- Connect with people you meet at industry events or through mutual friends
- Engage with content from influential people in your field and connect with them
- Join LinkedIn groups related to your industry interests
- Connect with former colleagues, classmates, or professors
- Follow companies you are interested in and connect with their employees
Focus on organically connecting with people you have something in common with or who work in your target field. This lays the foundation for a quality professional network.
How Recruiters View LinkedIn Connections
When looking at candidate profiles, most recruiters focus on relevant experience, skills, shared connections, and recommendations rather than the number of connections. Some connections can catch a recruiter’s eye, for example if you are connected to senior leaders at the company. However, random connections from unrelated fields do not move the needle.
Here are the main things recruiters look for regarding LinkedIn connections:
- Shared connections at the company or in the industry
- Connections to senior leaders and decision makers
- Quality recommendations that showcase skills and achievements
- A connection with the recruiter themselves
While some recruiters do factor in the number of connections, the relevance and depth of those connections matter much more in evaluating candidates.
Should You Try to Increase Your Number of Connections?
If the number of LinkedIn connections you have is noticeably low compared to peers in your industry, it can be worthwhile to gradually increase your connections. Aim to send 5-10 thoughtful connection requests per week to avoid spamming people. Here are some tips:
- Search by industry keywords and send requests with a customized message
- Connect with people who engage with your posts and content
- Join industry groups and connect with other members
- Follow company pages and connect with a few relevant employees
- Connect with fellow alumni from schools you attended
Building connections gradually and strategically is better than sending mass connection requests. As you connect with more relevant people, it can expand your professional network and job opportunities organically.
Focus on Quality Over Perceived Quantity
At the end of the day, the number of connections is just one metric and does not provide the full picture of someone’s professional network. Avoid fixating on the quantity alone.
Instead, focus on:
- Making authentic connections in your industry and local community
- Engaging meaningfully with your connections
- Obtaining recommendations that speak to your skills and character
- Establishing yourself as an expert through valuable content and thought leadership
These factors hold far more weight than the number of connections. While having some connections is important, quality trumps quantity when building an impactful professional brand on LinkedIn.
Conclusion
Having fewer than average LinkedIn connections does not inherently look bad. The number of connections is influenced by many factors and does not define the quality of your profile or network on its own. Instead of fixating on quantity, focus on organically engaging with the right people, establishing your expertise, and getting meaningful recommendations. This creates a strong professional brand and presence that leaves a positive impression regardless of your number of connections.
Number of Connections | Perception |
---|---|
0 – 50 | May raise questions if low number is inconsistent with experience level |
50 – 500 | Average range for many users |
500+ | Impressive at first glance but quality matters more |
1000+ | Very high but may include irrelevant connections |
Key Takeaways
- The number of LinkedIn connections depends on many factors like career stage and networking activity.
- Quality connections who can offer opportunities are more valuable than random connections.
- Recruiters focus on skills, shared connections, and recommendations more than total connections.
- Gradually build meaningful connections by engaging with relevant people and content.
- Focus on showcasing your expertise, leadership, and achievements instead of the quantity of connections.