There are several people working at a company that I have mutual connections with on LinkedIn, but haven't actually met. (Also, I'm engineering an introduction in real life, too....) I'm applying for a position there, and was wondering if it would be unwise to invite them to connect now. My thinking is that it would raise their awareness of me when they get my application.

I literally have nothing to lose--except this question has been bothering me:

If the person you invite to connect rejects you, can you ever invite them again? I did some research and it seems like you'll be stuck in the "pending" mode if they reject your invitation, but I was wondering if any of you have any further knowledge of this.

How often do you reject or ignore invitations on LinkedIn?

I would be really happy to hear what you think.

Thanks!
-empty

[Perna]

Empty, I would not personally use LinkedIn like I would Facebook, and invite people who do not know me to connect. I would not be interested in someone I did not know asking me to link; I would not see any connection, it being a "business" sort of networking site instead of a social one and if they then applied to my company for a job, I would think they were trying to use me and would not see how they could help/benefit me as much as I might them? But that might just be me.

[JanusunaJ]

On LinkedIn, couldn't you consider making an invite connection to be similar to handing them a business card or resume? If you bumped into them in person at a professional/semi-professional event, wouldn't it be socially, and even professionally, acceptable to hand them your business card? ...just something to think about.

[TishaBuv]

I'd follow them on twitter instead. They don't have to follow you back if they don't want to. This way, they'll see your name, and think you are a mover and shaker. Just make sure your twitter is how you want them to see you.

I don't accept friend requests from anyone I don't know.

[hvert]

I would wait until you meet them and then connect.

I believe LinkedIn lets you invite again unless they block you. I have noticed that LinkedIn will suggest I connect with people I've already sent invites to. I sometimes leave invites in a pending state for many months before accepting or rejecting.

Thanks all--I've handled this particular situation. Depending on the job I'm appplying for I think Twitter or Instagram would definitely be the way to go. It's interesting when you think about "personal branding" and all that. It really is a whole separate job--especially as I instagram books for fun and meet people that way as well. I'm not sure how much I should value this kind of connection outside of instagram/social media as an entity unless I have a connection we've both met in real life. I'm not going to suddenly devote a ton of time to fake platforms unless I'm going into social media marketing or something....