LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform, with over 810 million members worldwide. Connecting with other professionals on LinkedIn can help you expand your network, find new opportunities, and grow your career. However, sometimes a LinkedIn connection request may go unanswered or get lost in the recipient’s notifications. In these cases, you may want to resend a connection request on LinkedIn to remind the recipient to accept. You can also customize your request message to increase your chances of connecting.
In this article, we’ll walk through how to resend a LinkedIn connection request, customize your message, and provide tips for getting accepted. Whether you’re seeking to connect with a recruiter, hiring manager, potential client, or industry leader, sending a compelling customized request can help you stand out and make meaningful connections on LinkedIn.
Resending a LinkedIn Connection Request
If your initial connection request on LinkedIn goes unanswered, you have the option to resend the request. Here are the steps:
- Go to the LinkedIn profile of the person you want to connect with.
- Click “Connect” on their profile.
- On the next screen, if you’ve already sent them a request, LinkedIn will say “Your request is pending” and give you the option to “Resend request.”
- Click “Resend request” to send your connection request again.
LinkedIn will replace your previous request with a new one, so the recipient will be notified again that you want to connect.
However, keep in mind you can typically only send a connection request twice without a response before LinkedIn blocks you from sending further requests. So make your two chances count by customizing your message thoughtfully.
Customizing Your LinkedIn Connection Request
One way to boost your chances of getting your LinkedIn connection request accepted is to customize the message you send.
By default, LinkedIn just includes a generic note saying you’d like to connect. But taking a minute to write a unique message and explain why you want to connect can go a long way. It shows extra effort on your part and gives the recipient context around why connecting would be mutually beneficial.
Here are some tips for customizing your LinkedIn connection request message:
- Mention how you know each other or your common background. This immediate context helps the recipient remember who you are.
- Explain why you want to connect with them specifically. Do you share similar interests or goals? Do you admire their work? Help them understand what value they’d get from connecting.
- Refer to any recent interactions you’ve had, like meeting at an event or interacting on social media. Remind them of your previous conversations.
- Keep your message concise yet personable. You have 300 characters, so make them count. Use a warm and enthusiastic tone.
- Add a call to action, inviting them to connect with you. End on a positive, forward-looking note.
Let’s look at some examples of customized LinkedIn connection request messages:
Common Background Example
Hi [name], I see we both graduated from [university] and are working in the [industry] space. I would love to connect so we can share ideas and opportunities. Looking forward to networking with a fellow [university] alum!
Reason for Connecting Example
Hi [name], I really admire the work you do with [company/organization]. Connecting would allow me to learn more about your approach to [relevant skill]. I’m interested in growing my skills in [relevant area], and I think we could have great conversations. Hope to connect soon!
Event Follow-Up Example
Great meeting you at [event name] last week! Our conversation about [discussion topic] was highly valuable for me. Let’s stay in touch by connecting on LinkedIn. I’m looking forward to following your work at [company name].
Social Media Interaction Example
I enjoyed discussing [topic] on [social media platform] the other day. You clearly have tremendous expertise when it comes to [relevant skill]! It would be great if we connected on LinkedIn to continue the dialogue and potentially collaborate someday. Hope you’re doing well!
Tips to Get Your LinkedIn Request Accepted
Beyond customizing your request message, here are some additional tips for getting your LinkedIn connection request accepted:
- Only connect with people you have an existing relationship with or share common interests and goals. Don’t spam connect.
- Personalize your request for each recipient based on your specific relationship or objective.
- Follow up after sending your request. Politely reach out after a week if you still haven’t gotten a response.
- Provide value to others first before asking to connect. Engage with their content, share their posts, or offer help.
- Send connection requests sparingly. Too many at once to the same person can come across as aggressive.
- Use a complete, professional profile picture and cover image to convey credibility.
- Review your own profile and make sure it’s up-to-date before requesting to connect.
- Follow up after connecting by sending a message or requesting to meet for a quick coffee chat.
Being thoughtful and strategic with how you send LinkedIn connection invitations can go a long way in expanding your professional network.
When Is Resending a Request Appropriate vs. Inappropriate?
As a general rule, it’s appropriate to resend a LinkedIn request if:
- Enough time has passed that they may have forgotten your initial request (2-4 weeks).
- You have a new, substantive reason for connecting based on recent interactions or shared connections.
- You have improved your profile significantly since your last request.
However, avoid resending a LinkedIn request if:
- They already ignored your initial request.
- Little time has passed since your last request (less than 2 weeks).
- You have no new information or context to add.
- They have a history of not responding to any requests.
- Your request seems excessively pushy or aggressive.
In general, one additional resend can be appropriate if your initial request may have gotten overlooked. But any more than that risks damaging your professional reputation or annoying the recipient. Use your best judgment based on your relationship with the person.
Troubleshooting Unaccepted Requests
If you’ve resent your customized LinkedIn request but still have not gotten a response, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Make sure you spelled their name correctly and are sending it to the right profile.
- Check to see if they actually use LinkedIn regularly. If not, try emailing them instead.
- Politely follow up one more time via email or other channels to ask if they received your LinkedIn request.
- Consider if you need an introduction from a mutual connection before requesting to connect.
- Accept that they may simply not be interested in connecting at this time. Don’t take it personally.
- Continue to engage with their content and look for ways to add value from afar.
While it can be disappointing not to connect on LinkedIn, the best approach is to remain professional. Find other ways to build a relationship first before attempting to reconnect again down the road.
Ethical Considerations
When reaching out to reconnect on LinkedIn, keep these ethical considerations in mind:
- Respect the recipient’s time – keep your requests concise and don’t over-message if they don’t respond.
- Accept “No” gracefully – not everyone will want to connect, and that’s ok.
- Build trust – establish common ground and emphasize mutual interests/goals. Don’t oversell.
- Provide value – offer helpful information and resources without expecting anything immediate in return.
- Consider your intentions – make sure you are reconnecting for the right reasons, not just to grow your network size or sell something.
- Protect privacy – do not resend a request via multiple channels if they haven’t responded to earlier outreach.
Reconnecting authentically, thoughtfully, and respectfully will serve you well in building relationships that provide true mutual benefit.
Conclusion
Resending a customized connection request on LinkedIn can be an effective way to remind recipients to connect with you, strengthen your existing relationships, and build new ones. By taking the time to craft a personalized message explaining why you want to connect, you can increase your chances of getting accepted.
Follow best practices in terms of the frequency of your requests, the appropriateness for your relationship, and professional etiquette. Provide value, focus on common interests, and respect boundaries if recipients decline your request. With a strategic, ethical approach, resending and customizing your LinkedIn connection requests can expand your professional network and open new doors.