Receiving a LinkedIn invitation can be exciting, but also overwhelming if you’re not sure who sent it or their intent behind connecting. LinkedIn allows all members to send invitations to connect to each other, opening up networking opportunities. However, some invitations may come from recruiters, sales professionals, or even scammers, so it’s important to vet every connection request.
How to view pending LinkedIn invitations
LinkedIn will notify you of new connection requests by email and on your homepage feed. To view all pending invitations:
- Click the My Network icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
- Select Manage next to the Connections tab.
- Go to the Invitations section. You’ll see a list of all pending invitations with the sender’s name, occupation, and company.
Who can send LinkedIn invitations?
Any LinkedIn member can send an invitation to connect. Common senders include:
- Coworkers or colleagues
- Acquaintances or friends
- Alumni from your university
- People you’ve met at events or conferences
- Recruiters who want to discuss job opportunities
- Sales professionals promoting services or products
- Contacts made through LinkedIn messaging
- Strangers who share common connections or interests
Should you accept every LinkedIn invitation?
Not necessarily. Vetting connection requests is important to prevent spam and maintain a quality network. Consider the following before accepting an invitation:
- Do you know this person or share any connections? Check their profile details.
- What is their occupation and motivation for connecting? Be wary of sales pitches.
- Does their profile seem credible with accurate details? Watch for fake accounts.
- Will you gain value from or regularly interact with this connection?
As a rule of thumb, only accept invites from people you know and trust or see value in connecting with professionally. It’s perfectly acceptable to ignore or decline requests that seem suspect or irrelevant.
How to accept a LinkedIn invitation
To accept an invitation:
- Go to the pending invitations section under My Network > Manage.
- Hover over the invitation you want to accept and click Accept.
- The user will be added to your connections.
You’ll have the option to send the user a message thanking them for connecting. This helps strengthen the relationship.
How to decline a LinkedIn invitation
To decline an invitation:
- Go to the pending invitations section under My Network > Manage.
- Hover over the invitation you want to decline and click Ignore.
- The invitation will be removed and the user won’t be notified. The invite will not be resent.
Use the ignore option over deleting an invitation outright, as deleting will notify the sender and they could resent the invitation.
How to cancel a sent LinkedIn invitation
You can cancel an invitation you’ve sent at any time before it’s accepted:
- Go to My Network > Manage > Sent invitations.
- Hover over the pending invitation and click Withdraw.
- The invitation will be cancelled and the recipient won’t be notified.
This prevents you from being connected to people accidentally or when changing your mind.
LinkedIn invitation etiquette
To send effective invitations that get accepted, keep these etiquette tips in mind:
- Personalize each request with a note addressing them by name and why you want to connect.
- Only send invites to people you have a relationship with or plan to collaborate with.
- Keep your network organized by regularly reviewing connections and removing irrelevant ones.
- Accept invites selectively and ignore spam or sales pitches.
- Follow up with new connections by liking or commenting on their posts.
Safety tips for LinkedIn invitations
While most LinkedIn invitations are harmless, stay vigilant against scams or spam by following these tips:
- Be wary of invites from people you don’t know, especially if their profile seems suspect.
- Never accept invites that seem sales-y or promotional in nature.
- Don’t connect with anyone asking you to share personal or banking information over LinkedIn.
- Use privacy settings to control who can view your connections and profile information.
- Report and block any user who exhibits suspicious behavior.
Common questions about LinkedIn invitations
Why did I receive a LinkedIn invitation?
You likely received an invitation because someone wants to connect with you professionally. This could be for networking, recruiting, business opportunities, or shared connections. Review the sender’s profile and message to understand their motivation before accepting.
Does accepting a LinkedIn invitation give them my email address?
No, accepting an invitation will not reveal your email address. You control which profile sections are visible to your connections. However, anyone you message with can see your confirmed email address.
Should I send a LinkedIn invitation to someone I don’t know?
There may be value in connecting with professionals outside your network, especially if you share an industry or interests. Make sure to personalize your invitation note and explain why you want to connect.
How do I cancel multiple LinkedIn invitations?
You can easily bulk cancel invitations from your account. Go to My Network > Manage > Sent invitations. Select all pending invites you want to withdraw, then click Withdraw.
Why is someone’s LinkedIn invitation still pending after months?
The recipient may have ignored your invite instead of accepting or declining it. This leaves it in pending state indefinitely. Consider withdrawing the stale invitation and trying to connect again later.
By carefully vetting each request and maintaining your network, LinkedIn invitations can lead to valuable connections. But always exercise caution when receiving or sending invites to prevent unwanted solicitations.
