LinkedIn Connections with Interviewers

Wade S. asked me two questions today about:

LinkedIn Connections with Interviewers and Recruiters

#1 – Before an interview should I send a LinkedIn connection request to the hiring manager, interviewer or recruiter?

#2 – After an interview should I send a LinkedIn connect request to the interviewers?

The answer to both questions is Yes, make LinkedIn Connections with interviewers, recruiters, hiring managers and HR professionals, under the standard conditions of connecting on LinkedIn.

First of all, I encourage you to connect with anyone you meet in life, career, business or community who are relevant to you and what you do or want to do. All of the people you meet during your job search, including recruiters, interviewers and hiring managers are relevant to you, therefore they should make good LinkedIn connections.

Often I hear this, “I did not get the job, they won’t want to connect with me.” This is not completely true. It could be true, but only if you and the interviewer did not get along at all during the interview. However, if the interview went well and you were a good candidate the interviewer, recruiters and/or hiring managers would likely want to connect in case another opportunity arises.

Making LinkedIn Connections

Therefore, I encourage you make the LinkedIn connections in this way:

#1 – Before the interview, if you know the email addresses of the individuals you are interviewing with, send them a LinkedIn connection request. Let them know in the Personal Note box that you look forward to meeting them during the interview process.

#2 – After the interview, if you know the email address of the individuals you met with, send them a LinkedIn connection request and thank them for the opportunity to discuss the position.

In both instances, ask for nothing beyond the connection. LinkedIn connection requests are only to be used to make connections.

Who knows, you may be able to help the recruiter, interviewer or hiring manager in some way, despite not getting the job. Be focused on making connections that are mutually beneficial and you never know what could happen.