Linked-In Question

kelbel527 · August 2013

Social media & the workplace...I might be too old for this. My question for you ladies: Would you connect via linked-in to a hiring manager that you interviewed with?

Best case, you get the job and then you're already linked into your new manager. Worst case, you don't get the job. Then is it awkward? Do you "unfriend" via linked in?

What say you S12?

(FYI - I am interviewing to fill a position on my team and someone sent me a request to connect via linked in. I think it's weird.)

melody921 · August 2013

I would do it. It's not like FB. I think it's good to be connected in the workplace. And I don't think I've ever unlinked someone.

JulesDiane · August 2013

I think it's weird. It should be done after the decision has been made, even if you don't go with the person. Maybe she/he is just hoping you will check out their linked in profile.

LyndseylovesHugh · August 2013

I was a corporate recruiter prior to SAH and I would not find it weird at all if a candidate connected with me. In fact, it shows me that they are trying to learn as much about the company and me as possible. I am of the belief that you should connect with as many people as you can on Linked-In, I accept every request because it never hurts to have a wide network. PP is right, it is not like FB, the entire reason for Linked-In is networking. Keep in mind though that I worked for a very tech-y company who loved social media. Maybe see how many connections the interviewer has, if they have like 20 I may not do it, but if they have hundreds I would say go ahead and connect with them.

kelbel527 · August 2013

LyndseylovesHugh said:

I was a corporate recruiter prior to SAH and I would not find it weird at all if a candidate connected with me. In fact, it shows me that they are trying to learn as much about the company and me as possible. I am of the belief that you should connect with as many people as you can on Linked-In, I accept every request because it never hurts to have a wide network. PP is right, it is not like FB, the entire reason for Linked-In is networking. Keep in mind though that I worked for a very tech-y company who loved social media. Maybe see how many connections the interviewer has, if they have like 20 I may not do it, but if they have hundreds I would say go ahead and connect with them.

That's a good point. I just thought it might be weird if we didn't bring him back for a second interview, or if I accepted, if it looked like he was going to get the job. KWIM? But again, I'm probably just a bit behind on the times.

@thechimichanga - I also agree with your point - I have people here who watch linkedin, so I wouldn't connect to someone if I was interviewing either.

BPer · August 2013

What @lyndseyloveshugh said. Definitely not weird.

LyndseylovesHugh · August 2013

kelbel527 said:

LyndseylovesHugh said:

I was a corporate recruiter prior to SAH and I would not find it weird at all if a candidate connected with me. In fact, it shows me that they are trying to learn as much about the company and me as possible. I am of the belief that you should connect with as many people as you can on Linked-In, I accept every request because it never hurts to have a wide network. PP is right, it is not like FB, the entire reason for Linked-In is networking. Keep in mind though that I worked for a very tech-y company who loved social media. Maybe see how many connections the interviewer has, if they have like 20 I may not do it, but if they have hundreds I would say go ahead and connect with them.

That's a good point. I just thought it might be weird if we didn't bring him back for a second interview, or if I accepted, if it looked like he was going to get the job. KWIM? But again, I'm probably just a bit behind on the times.

@thechimichanga - I also agree with your point - I have people here who watch linkedin, so I wouldn't connect to someone if I was interviewing either.

I did not read your first post properly, I thought you were asking for yourself and not because you were the interviewer. I still say not weird at all, but it is your Linked-In profile so if you are not comfortable connecting with him you don't have to. But don't worry about it sending the wrong message to him, it shouldn't. I have dozens of connections that were people I interviewed and did not offer a job too, and some of them ended up getting jobs at companies I may be interested in working at in the future. As long as I ended the process with them on good terms I see them as a potential "in."

tinyhumantoe · August 2013

I don't think it's weird. I think it's pretty standard. No need to un-link unless you had a very bad experience with them.

eshee8198 · August 2013

I think if they requested you, it means they were impressed with you - which means they're a good connection to have, regardless of whether or not you get this job. It's a small world, and who knows when they might be able to help you in the future!

kelbel527 · August 2013

@eshee8198 - I wasn't the one applying for the job, this is a position I am hiring for my team. It's a candidate that I interviewed this week.

eshee8198 · August 2013

Reading comprehension fail. I don't think it's weird, but I wouldn't universally accept in that case. Did you think he was a decent candidate? Then sure. Was he a wackjob? No way.

hmp1 · August 2013

I connect with everyone that sends me a request if we are in the same LOB, and have never unlinked someone. I don't really use Linked In except to read articles posted in the groups I am a part of. I wouldn't think it was odd for a candidate to link with me. Regardless of if they get the job this time, they are in the same business as me and it makes sense for us to be linked.

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