Should You Accept a LinkedIn Connection Request from Someone You Don’t Know? A Phoenix Executive Recruiter’s Honest Take
Should you accept a connection request on LinkedIn from somebody you don’t know? The short answer is yes… and no.
Hi, I’m Bernadette. I’m a recruiter in the Greater Phoenix area with over 20 years of experience recruiting talented HR, finance, and accounting professionals. The advice I’m sharing today is based on how I actually use LinkedIn. It’s not on what the LinkedIn trainers say, and not on what AI says. My approach is just a little different. So, let’s get into it.
Should You Accept Connection Requests From Strangers on LinkedIn?
Maybe. Before you accept a connection request from someone you don’t really know, I recommend checking three things. Keep in mind that LinkedIn is a networking platform that’s probably going to be around for a long time. You might connect with someone today who feels irrelevant right now, but you may not realize how valuable that connection is until ten years down the road.
Here is what you need to look at to determine if you will accept or not:
1. Look at Their Profile
When somebody sends you a connection request, start with their profile. Do they have a picture? If not, that’s a hard no for me. I don’t accept the connection.
If they do have a picture, I look at if they’ve filled in the About section, updated their work experience, or listed volunteer activities. Maybe it’s a new grad who only has a recent graduation date under education. The question is: has this person taken the time to give some idea of who they are and what their background is?
Keep in mind, some people, especially accounting and finance professionals, like to keep their information private. They may not have a fully written out About section describing their hobbies or personality, and some don’t have one at all. Don’t rule someone out just because they’re missing an About section if their education and work experience are filled in. Consider accepting the connection.
2. Look at Relevance
If someone in sales sends me a connection request say, a financial planner, I don’t automatically rule them out. I look at what they post.
People in accounting, finance, and HR may or may not be active posters on LinkedIn. But if it’s someone trying to build an influencer presence, often in a sales-driven profession, take a look at their content. If every post is a marketing pitch for what they’re selling, that’s a different story than someone sharing real insight.
If a recruiter is talking about the job market, or a financial planner is breaking down stocks and investing trends and giving you free, useful information, that’s a relevant person to connect with. Even if you’re not actively looking for a recruiter or financial planner right now. You could learn from them, and in five, ten, or fifteen years, you’ll have already built trust with that person just by following what they share.
So, ask yourself: Do they have a picture? Do they have experience or education filled out? And what do they actually post about?
3. Consider Their Location
Is the connection in a geographic area relevant to the network you’re building? I live in the Greater Phoenix area, so most of the people I connect with are local. That said, I’ll connect with people out of state who are looking to relocate here.
I also have a fascination with France, so if someone from France tries to connect with me, I’ll probably accept, even if I don’t know them, just because!
If you live in Arizona but have thought about moving back home to Texas, it might make sense to accept relevant connection requests from people in the Texas area.
Remember: A Connection Is Just a Connection
Here’s the thing about LinkedIn connections. They’re just connections. You never have to talk to that person. If they message you right after connecting, you don’t have to respond. Delete the message, archive it for later, whatever works. Don’t feel pressured to reply to anything on LinkedIn, even from people you’re connected with. Ignore, archive, and move on with your day.
But building your network matters. You never know when someone you connected with today will provide value long-term.
Don't Overthink the Connection Request Message
This is where I really differ from AI and the LinkedIn trainers out there. Their advice is usually: mention something you liked on the person’s profile or ask them a question about what they do.
Here’s my take. As a recruiter, if someone looking for an accounting job sends me a message asking about recruiting, that’s a little strange. You’re not actually interested in what I do as a recruiter; you’re looking for a job.
When I send connection requests, I just want to connect with good people in accounting, finance, and HR. I may or may not have a position for them right now. I’m building long-term relationships. So, my connection requests are simple and to the point.
Don’t be offended if someone sends you a blank connection request, and don’t assume they’re not a real person because of it. Sometimes a long, detailed request like “What do you like best about your job?” actually creates a barrier.
Think about it from the other side: imagine a Staff Accountant sending a detailed connection request to a Controller or CFO. That level of detail can actually give the other person a reason not to accept, because they might feel obligated to respond thoughtfully and it’s easier to just ignore the request altogether. Keep your message short and sweet. Something as simple as “Would you like to accept my connection request?” works just fine.
The Bottom Line
As you grow your career and build your network on LinkedIn, it’s okay to connect with people you don’t know. Just make sure you’ve checked out their profile and feel confident they’re a relevant addition to your network.
If you have questions about building your LinkedIn network, navigating the accounting, finance, or HR job market in Phoenix, or you’re looking for your next opportunity, reach out using the contact information below.
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