Dear NIC Online:
I want to grow my professional network before arriving in Canada. I have sent LinkedIn invitations to hundreds of people in Canada, and I’m not getting any responses. Please help me understand why people ignore my LinkedIn invitations.
-Eager Networker
Dear Eager Networker:
Congratulations on your initiative to grow a professional network in Canada before your landing date. Having a relevant professional network is crucial to secure employment in Canada.
Most people are becoming more careful when selecting the people they include in their professional network. Why? Because having a massive network of people they don’t know and can’t vouch for them isn’t useful. Here are 3 reasons why people ignore your LinkedIn invitations.
Your LinkedIn profile is incomplete
Is your LinkedIn profile making a powerful first impression? People often want to connect with other like-minded professionals they can learn from. Your profile should communicate who you are, what you do for a living, and what makes you stand out.
Make sure you have a 5-star profile before you start reaching out to potential LinkedIn connections. According to LinkedIn, members with a 100% complete and up-to-date profile are about 40x more likely to receive opportunities. Attend our live webinars to discover how to craft an 5 star LinkedIn profile.
You are sending a generic LinkedIn invitation
When you invite people to your network, you have the option of sending the generic “I’d like to connect with you on LinkedIn” invitation or writing a personalised note. It is often better to do the latter.
To include a personalized invitation to potential connections, follow these steps:
- Visit the LinkedIn profile of the person you would like to invite to your network.
- Click on Connect. A window will pop up.
- Click on Add a Note.
- Write a personalised invitation. Make sure you mention why you want to connect with that person. If you don’t make clear why you want to connect, you make it harder for the person to accept your invitation. Your intentions might be the second reason people ignore your LinkedIn invitations.
You are asking the person to do something for you right away
Networking is about building long-term relationships. If your personalised note indicates you want to ask for something right away, people could perceive you as pushy. You need to nurture the relationship first. The focus of your message should be to get to know the person you want to connect with. The Muse published 10 templates you can use as a start point to customize your LinkedIn invitations.
Remember:
Complete your LinkedIn profile before you start reaching out to potential connections.
Ensure that your LinkedIn invitation is personalized whether or not you know the recipient personally.
Focus on building relationships rather than asking for favors.