By Rowe Leathers
Contributor, Career Services
Recently as I was reviewing my LinkedIn profile, I noticed my feed had a list of suggested “people I may know.” I found the list somewhat puzzling as it included people who seemed outside of my professional spectrum. I became increasingly curious as to what I may have in common with them. Why does LinkedIn recommend them? Moreover, will connecting with the following individuals bring professional value to me?
- Jane Doe, Project Manager – Shown in a wedding dress appears to have missed a few typos in her summary.
- Joe Schmoe, Engineer – Chose a picture of himself at a backyard barbecue holding a can of beer.
As a professional, it is important to assess the benefits of joining networks and determine the value they bring to each individual. Will Jane Doe and Joe Schmoe add professional value to me and the people in my existing network? My answer is “no.”
If my goal is to build a professional network with those who value a high level of professionalism, it is important for me to know with whom I am connecting. Random acceptance of requests without reading profiles would be reckless. While the choices made by my connections are independent from me, ultimately, the decision (to be part of their network and what it represents) is mine.
Building a professional network should be done with purpose. Consider assessing your own approach with your connections to ensure your activities support your colleagues and lends the appropriate credibility. As you evaluate your own network, consider asking yourself the following questions:
- Are my connections helping me present myself as an accomplished professional?
- Are individuals in my network benefiting from being connected to me?
- Where are my connections taking me?
While some people will continue to build networks by randomly connecting with whomever reaches out, those building a career will be strategic and connect only with those who will add to their professional credibility. As a reminder to us all, LinkedIn is a professional social media website and members should practice a level of professionalism and responsibility to their network.
[Related article: How to Tell if a LinkedIn Request is a Scam and What To Do About It]
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