Etiquette for Recruiters using LinkedIn requests

Since I did a bit of work to increase my LinkedIn network I've been getting a lot more requests to forward invitations.  Most of these are from recruiters to potential candidates. This is great - as I'm more than happy to help anyone within my network.  However, I've noticed two things about some of the invitations (and this has happened so often that I know I'm now getting annoyed out of proportion so excuse my mini rant!):

a) Some people don't seem to possess even basic manners when requesting an introduction.
b) Some recruiters are REALLY wasting an opportunity when they make contact with their potential candidates.

Taking the manners point first - if you want someone to forward an introduction for you try asking nicely!  I got a request the last week that said simply "can you forward this".  How much effort would it have taken the guy to add please and thank you? 

In this case the introduction to the candidate wasn't much better "Hoping we can speak soon - Luke".  What is the incentive here for the potential candidate to contact Luke?  Unless the person was desperately seeking a new role I can't think they'd bother making contact.

If you are going to search LinkedIn for potential candidates please make sure your introduction counts.  Explain to the candidate why you are emailing and what the opportunity you have is (features and benefits anyone?) and give them your full contact details. 

I love LinkedIn for recruiting but wouldn't want to miss an opportunity on a schoolboy error.

Comments

[Jason]

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[Michael Wright]

I couldn't agree more Louise - that's the main reason I deleted all the recruiters out of my network of 900+ on Linkedin. I even wrote back to some of the guilty suggesting that they work on their pitch... one was so bad I ranted back at him about how he was in need of some social etiquette lessons, and should obtain some 'social skills' before he joins his next 'social network'. No reply mindyou :)

Hope to see more rants and post xmas 'bah humbug' from you soon.

[Louise Triance]

@Michael, Since I made this post I've mainly had nicely written LinkedIn requests. However, I still get the downright rude ones - which I reply to with the url of this blog post!

[Julius]

Hi Louise,

I am not a recruiter but a job hunter which makes me a newbie with the introduction process.

I recently started the Event Planning & Management Group on Linkedin which suddenly got from 0 to 570 top of the industry members (don't ask me how)

I am suddenly receiving introduction requests.

My question: how do you politely decline the request?

[Louise Triance]

@ Julius. My solution would be to simply "archive" them. I never click "don't know" as that can give the sender a bad rating.

I'm pretty sure that most people don't keep a record of who they are trying to connect with and won't be upset that you've ignored them.

However, in my case I connect with just about everyone who makes the request. Apart from one hideous ex-colleague there is no-one I've needed to decline to connect with.

[Julius]

Louise,

that's very true, I had to accept my toughest competitor on the group. Keep you friends close and your enemies even closer, right?

I tend to accept most of the requests as well even though the quality vs. quantity network question is always in my mind.

Thanks for your answer!