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Hi,

I recently got a connection request by a recruiter I do not know. Generally, I do not accept requests from people I do not know.

Should I accept the request?

Many people from my company are connected to me - the would get a notice that I am now connected to a recruiter.

Thank you for all your answers,

Jochen

pmoriarty's picture
Training Badge

I am connected to many recruiters - not because I am actively looking for a job, but because I have met and worked with many over the course of my career.  Sometimes I will search my network on their behalf if the opening sounds particularly interesting as it's a win for everybody concerned.

As you can see, the reasons for being connected to a recruiter extend beyond one being involved in a job search.

 

asteriskrntt1's picture

I suspect most if not all of them have recruiters in their networks.  Also, if anyone thinks that the only people you know are the ones connected to you on Linked In, they are not thinking realistically.  I have roughly 250 connections on LI, but 3500 or so in my Outlook.  And I know a ton of people beyond that.  You are allowed to know recruiters.

cjp147's picture

I personally do not like accepting connections from people I do not know, regardless of their title.  I think it devalues the network.  Sure, if you can help someone down the road by putting them in contact with this recruiter, that might help a little.  But a blind connection like that...how much 'help' is it? 

Like I said, I wouldn't accept the invite for no other reason than I do not know the person and I prefer my network be comprised with individuals I know in some capacity.

ken_wills's picture

These are great posts.  I suggest you regard ALL THREE very highly:

 

1. As RNTT says, it's OK to know recruiters.

2. CPJ is right about not letting strangers in - if it were me, I'd try to reach the recruiter and initiate enough conversation to see if he ought to be in my network.

3. And PMoriarty gives great reasons why, yes, you should include recruiters even when you're not actively looking.

 

This thread is a real nugget of goodness..nice going!

refbruce's picture

I don't accept LinkedIn requests from people I haven't had some interaction with, and that includes recruiters.  I have helped a couple of friends get jobs through recruiters and that's been very beneficial to have friendly contacts in those other organizations (and I love being able to help a friend out).

twinsen's picture
Licensee Badge

I only started using LinkedIn 2 months ago and built a ~65 connection network - mostly from my business venture, current and ex coworkers.  Immediately, I've gotten pinged by at least 3 recruiters who seem to search for people just based on the title of the job I hold now.  I did a reverse search on them and found they were separated from me 3rd degree. 

I've been at my current job for a relatively long time (7 1/2 years), use recruiters to recruit for people but never had more than 1/year approach me (yes I'm a terrible networking person) so LinkedIn does seem to attract a lot of recruiting activities.

 

Sulmi's picture

Thank you, I have accepted the invite now, as I checked the background and found out that some of my collegues have been contacted, too. So they were 2nd degree.

That might not be the best methodology, as it is likely that good and bad recruiters alike will see who are contacts of contacts they have already made. However, I did not see what I could lose by accepting the invite.

 

Sulmi's picture

Thank you, for all your help and comments!

I have accepted the invite now, as I checked the background and found out that some of my collegues have been contacted, too. So they were 2nd degree.

That might not be the best methodology, as it is likely that good and bad recruiters alike will see who are contacts of contacts they have already made. However, I did not see what I could lose by accepting the invite.

 

RichRuh's picture
Licensee BadgeTraining Badge

I'm a bit late to the party here, but I would NOT accept the request if it wasn't someone I knew well already.  That being said, I would treat this the same way I would treat a phone call from a recruiter, and contact him or her through other means.  There's a cast on how to respond to Recruiter phone calls.