LinkedIn has become the go-to platform for professionals looking to network, find jobs, share content, and build their personal brand. With over 740 million members worldwide, it’s no surprise that many LinkedIn users receive connection requests from people they don’t know.
Accepting invites from strangers is a controversial topic. Some professionals welcome connections in hopes of expanding their network. Others are more cautious and ignore requests from people outside their inner circle.
So why do complete strangers want to connect on LinkedIn? Here are the most common reasons.
They want to grow their network
Expanding your connections is one of the main reasons people use LinkedIn. The larger your network, the more exposure you can get. Strangers may want to connect simply to increase their total number of connections.
Having more connections looks impressive and lends credibility, especially for SaaS sales professionals, recruiters, and others who rely on relationship-building. It also opens up more second and third-degree connections.
Some people focus on connecting with highly influential professionals, even if they don’t know them personally. The hope is that big names will open doors to career opportunities, business deals, and valuable introductions.
Is this appropriate?
Connecting to grow your network is fine, but avoid sending generic invites en masse. Take a targeted approach by personalizing connection requests and reminding the recipient who you are.
Focus on quality over quantity. Strive to build connections that have the potential to develop into valuable professional relationships and mentors.
They want to sell you something
Unfortunately, many connection requests are purely self-serving. Strangers reach out because they want to pitch you their company’s product or service.
They often target you based on your job title and industry. For example, SaaS sales reps may connect to directors at software companies to get leads. Recruiters connect to passive candidates. Mortgage brokers reach out to young professionals.
Once connected, they advertise through posts or direct messages. Essentially, you become another lead in their sales funnel.
Should you accept?
If you can tell the invite is insincere, feel free to ignore or decline it. However, some individuals have a genuine intent to build a relationship, even if their day job involves sales.
Vet each request carefully. Does the sender share valuable content or seem engaged in the community? If so, they may be worth connecting to. But don’t feel pressured to accept every invitation, especially if your inbox fills up with pitches afterward.
They want to recruit you
LinkedIn is a recruiting goldmine. Over 90% of recruiters use the platform to source candidates. So it’s very likely you’ll get connection requests from recruiters you don’t know.
They want access to your full profile and the ability to message you. Most hope to discuss job opportunities. Some are simply collecting talent prospects for future roles.
Should you connect?
Ask yourself if you could potentially benefit from the connection. Turnover is high in the recruiting industry. A random recruiter today could land at your dream company tomorrow. Maintaining an open network gives you visibility into new roles.
That said, be selective about which recruiters you accept. LinkedIn estimates there are 55 million profiles belonging to talent acquisition professionals. Don’t let your connections get saturated with recruiters you have no interest in interacting with.
They want to bring value
Not every LinkedIn user has an ulterior motive. Some people genuinely want to help others in their field succeed.
They may offer advice, share job leads, or make introductions. They’ll comment on your posts, congratulate promotions, and endorse your skills.
Connecting allows them to proactively support you rather than relying on chance encounters in feed updates.
Should you connect?
If someone takes an interest in your career or offers helpful information upfront, they are likely worth connecting to. But be wary of one-sided relationships where the other person constantly asks for favors without giving back.
Look for indicators that they will add value, not just extract it. Things like volunteering, mentoring others, and creating free resources are good signs.
They’re simply curious about you
LinkedIn profiles offer a snapshot into someone’s work life and career path. When you receive a request, chances are the sender browsed your profile and found you interesting.
Maybe they went to the same university, worked at a company you did, or share a connection. They may be intrigued by your job title or industry.
People are curious by nature. Checking out profiles and connecting with intriguing professionals can feel a bit voyeuristic at times.
Should you accept connection requests from the curious?
Satisfying someone’s curiosity about you likely won’t benefit your career. But if their invite seems polite and they mention shared connections, accepting can help grow your network organically.
Use your best judgment based on how well your careers align and your comfort level with strangers viewing your profile.
They’re trying to validate themselves
The number of connections, followers, and profile views you have somewhat reflect your status on LinkedIn.
Some professionals, especially early-career, connect to people they consider influential in hopes it will “validate” them too. Your acceptance makes them look established.
Similarly, they may want the ability to name drop you or highlight the connection publicly. It can be a strategic image-building tactic.
Should you participate in this behavior?
It’s perfectly fine to be selective about who you connect with, even if they will publicly display it. Avoid enabling behaviors solely driven by vanity rather than substance.
However, if someone seems like a promising up-and-comer in your industry, be open-minded about connecting. With mentorship, they could become a valuable long-term connection.
They think you’re someone else
Mistaken identity happens. Especially if you have a common name or similar profile photo as another user.
People also create “connection requests” by copying and pasting messages en masse. They may misfire by inadvertently including the wrong person.
Should you accept?
If someone clearly thinks you are a different person, it’s safest to ignore or politely decline the request. Otherwise, you risk them contacting you about irrelevant opportunities or discussions.
However, point out the mistake if you do want to connect with them. Write back indicating they may have you confused with someone else and you would be happy to connect personally.
They want to hack your network
Unfortunately, LinkedIn requests aren’t always innocent. Hackers exploit the trust people place in connections.
By connecting to you, they gain credibility. Then they can reach out to your connections under the guise of mutual trust. This gives them access to private information or a chance to spread malware.
How to avoid hacker connections
Be wary of requests from people you can’t trace back to a legitimate profession or workplace. Avoid connecting to anyone who exhibits unprofessional behavior or messages you out of the blue.
Look out for copied and pasted messages, which signal mass connection efforts. And never click suspicious links from unknown contacts.
Conclusion
LinkedIn connections from strangers aren’t inherently bad. Some can lead to valuable relationships, mentorship, and opportunities.
But others have less-than-noble intentions, from hacking to vanity metrics. It’s worth evaluating each request to determine if it will provide mutual value.
Ask yourself, “What tangible benefit will this connection offer me?” If there isn’t one, don’t hesitate to ignore or decline it.
Building a strong LinkedIn network takes time. Be selective and proactive about connecting to professionals you admire. Avoid flooding your network with random strangers who only dilute its value.
Focus on quality over quantity and you’ll reap the full benefits of strategic relationship building.
