The power of adding Linkedin connections - Part 1

Hi guys,

Hope I didn't make you wait so long for this post. I'm starting with the first part of a major topic "The power of adding connections". This would be mostly beneficial to a job seeker. Nonetheless, people in business looking for clients can also learn from the same as it works pretty much the same way for them.

Essentially, today I would be focusing on benefits. Ways of expanding your network to reach the targeted job would be discussed in my later posts. I'm sure every one's aware what is adding a connection on Linkedin. In a layman's language its adding your friends, colleagues and other influential people on your network you can access their details, profile and personal information at the time of need to improve your career prospects. Many people confuse linkedin with just another social networking site and add have a craze of adding friends and colleagues at the beginning stage and within a few weeks or months the craze dies and the activity becomes real slow and the number of connections either become static or change very very slowly.

However, there are a number of benefits of adding connections and expanding your linkedin network and I would like to list a few important ones.

• The most important benefit is that once your network has reached a certain number of connections your linkedin network goes on a autopilot mode and grows automatically. This benefit is connected with all the other benefits


• The people you add on your network, you can access their personal details like personal email address, mobile number, etc which give you a chance to become personal with the targeted individual and increase your job prospects


• If you have a large network (large number of connections) you come in the active member list of linkedin search and you're almost certain to be among the top few searches when somebody types your name in the search box even if there are a thousand people with your name.


• The more connections you have, the more you come in the eyes of the recruiter. In linkedin, whenever you search for people linkedin search first shows all the 1st degree (your direct connections) and 2nd degree connections (your direct connection's connection). Your visibility increases and your chances of getting connection requests and job notifications increases. Even recruiters use linkedin as a very important potential employee search tool. You never know what flows from which direction, hence just keep expanding.


• Another important aspect of having more connections is getting updates from all your connections on a regular basis. When you login to your linkedin account, you can see "Shares" tab where you get to know updates from all your connections. Most recruiters prefer posting about vacancies by using the update status feature of linkedin. Hence the more connections you have, you're more likely to get updates about job openings. Its just like following somebody on twitter.


• You have a easy access to 2nd degree connections.


• In this fast paced world you never know when a person leaves a company and advances his career/profile to your dream company/profile. For example today you have a connection who is a Software Engineer at a start up company. After 3 years he is an MBA from an ivy league institute and joins an HR role at your dream company. What could be your future prospects. Just think about it :)

I think I have talked about some of the important benefits about adding a connection. Please free to reach out to me if you have any suggestions so I can update my post.

In my next parts I would discuss the following most effective ways of adding connections. Don't bother if you don't understand what I'm talking about because I'll take each one in detail.

• Adding connection's connection


• Adding Job consultants


• Adding LIONs


• Using the common groups feature


• Using introductions wisely

Remember, you can't simply add anyone on linkedin. The website is very strict and if linkedin gets to know about even small number of "I don't know" responses, it may block or restrict your account. Not to say, but linkedin customer service is really poor.

That's it for now folks. Watch out this space for more.