Connecting with others on LinkedIn can be a great way to expand your professional network. When you connect directly with someone, they become a 1st degree connection. Your 1st degree connections likely have their own connections, which are your 2nd degree connections. You can leverage these 2nd degree connections to further grow your network by seeing which of them you have as mutual connections.
What are 2nd degree connections on LinkedIn?
On LinkedIn, your 1st degree connections are people you are directly connected with. Your 2nd degree connections are people who are connected to your 1st degree connections. For example, if you are connected with Jane, and Jane is connected with John, then John is your 2nd degree connection.
You can think of it like degrees of separation – you are one degree away from your 1st degree connections, and two degrees away from your 2nd degree connections. Here is a visual representation:
You | 1st Degree Connection | 2nd Degree Connection |
---|---|---|
You | Jane (connected to you) | John (connected to Jane) |
So your 2nd degree connections are people connected to people you are connected with already. They are potentially valuable connections, but you don’t have a direct relationship with them yet.
Why see mutual connections with 2nd degree connections?
Here are some key reasons you may want to see your mutual connections with 2nd degree connections on LinkedIn:
- Expand your network – Finding mutual connections gives you a starting point to reach out and connect directly.
- Get introduced – A mutual connection can introduce you so you have a warmer outreach.
- Assess relevance – If you have several mutual connections, that 2nd degree connection is likely more relevant to you.
- Evaluate credibility – Mutual connections help vet a 2nd degree connection and evaluate their credibility.
Essentially, mutual connections allow you to filter and prioritize which 2nd degree connections are worth connecting with directly. Focusing on those with multiple mutual ties can be an effective networking strategy.
How to see mutual connections with 2nd degree connections
LinkedIn makes it easy to see mutual connections with your 2nd degree connections. Here are the steps:
- Go to your “My Network” page in the LinkedIn sidebar. This shows all of your connections.
- Click on any 1st degree connection to go to their profile.
- Scroll down and click “See all connections” to view their list of connections.
- This surfaces a list of your 2nd degree connections through this person. LinkedIn will indicate which ones you have as mutual connections.
- You can click on any 2nd degree connection to confirm the mutual connections you share.
Following these steps allows you to systematically evaluate your mutual connections with any 2nd degree connection on LinkedIn. Let’s look at an example:
- You are connected to Jane.
- Jane is connected to John, who is your 2nd degree connection.
- You view Jane’s connections and see John listed there.
- LinkedIn shows you share 5 mutual connections with John.
- This indicates John may be a valuable person for you to connect with directly.
This approach can be especially helpful when you are looking to expand your network within a certain company, industry, or location. Evaluating mutual connections first allows you to prioritize the most relevant prospects.
Other tips for using 2nd degree connections
Here are some additional tips for making the most of your 2nd degree connections on LinkedIn:
- Sort your 2nd degree connections by number of mutual connections to surface the best prospects first.
- Message mutual connections first to get introduced before reaching out directly.
- Export a list of all 2nd degree connections for a targeted outreach campaign.
- Use advanced search to filter 2nd degree connections by industry, current company, location, skills, etc.
- Visit company pages to view all employees and surface those you have mutual connections with.
Limits on viewing 2nd degree connections
One limitation to be aware of is that you can only see up to 65,000 2nd degree connections on LinkedIn. If any given 1st degree connection has more than 65,000 total connections, you will only see a subset of their network.
You also have limited profile views for 2nd degree connections before you need a premium account. With a free account, you can view up to around 100 profiles per month before LinkedIn limits further views.
Premium accounts lift these restrictions, allowing you to see full profiles for all your 2nd degree connections. But the steps above should still help you prioritize the most relevant connections to focus on.
Connecting with 2nd degree connections
Once you have found relevant 2nd degree connections with mutual ties, here are some tips for connecting with them:
- Ask mutual connections for a warm introductory message.
- Reference your mutual connections in your connection request.
- Personalize the message by mentioning shared interests or experiences.
- Follow up after connecting – don’t just accumulate connections, engage with them.
Take the time to make a thoughtful, personalized request focused on your mutual interests and the value of connecting. This will get their attention and increase the chances they accept your invitation.
Tools to identify mutual connections
In addition to LinkedIn’s built-in tools, there are also browser extensions and apps that can help surface 2nd degree mutual connections:
Tool | Key Features |
---|---|
LinkedHelper | – See mutual connections from profile pages – Get mutual connection notifications – Filter searches by mutual connections |
Linkar | – One-click mutual connections view – Tag and filter connections – Connection analysis reports |
ConnecPal | – Mutual connection alerts – Prioritize suggestions by connections – Manage and export connections |
Apps like these can enhance LinkedIn’s built-in functionality and help streamline the process of leveraging your extended network. The key is finding one with features that fit your specific networking needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do 2nd degree connections know I viewed their profile?
No, 2nd degree connections are not notified when you view their profile. You can browse their profiles anonymously unless you appear on their “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” list. This allows you to evaluate potential connections before reaching out.
Can I message a 2nd degree connection without connecting?
No, you cannot directly message a 2nd degree connection on LinkedIn without being connected. You will need to send them a connection request first. The exception is if you pay for Premium, which allows you to send InMail messages to anyone.
What network size unlocks 3rd degree connections?
You will start seeing 3rd degree connections once your 1st degree network surpasses 500+ connections. 3rd degree connections are connections of your 2nd degree connections. Expanding beyond direct connections allows you to access exponentially more of the LinkedIn ecosystem.
Is there a limit to how many 2nd degree connections I can view?
Yes, with a free account you can only see limited profile information for about 100 of your 2nd degree connections per month. Premium accounts allow you to view all 2nd degree profiles in their entirety without limits.
Can I export my 2nd degree connections list?
Unfortunately there is no way to export your full 2nd degree connection list from LinkedIn. You can save individual 2nd degree profiles using Bookmarking or Google Chrome extensions, but there is no bulk export feature. Premium accounts allow larger exported connection lists.
Conclusion
Viewing mutual connections with 2nd degree connections is a key LinkedIn networking strategy. It allows you to identify and prioritize the most relevant connections within your extended network. By reaching out thoughtfully and leveraging mutual ties, you can turn those 2nd degree connections into valuable 1st degree relationships.
Focus on quality over quantity, and integrate 2nd degree connection analysis into your overall approach to build an engaged, thriving professional network on LinkedIn.