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How to ask a LinkedIn connection to introduce you to someone

LinkedIn, how to use LinkedIn,
The Get Introduced tool
can be useful if used wisely.
LinkedIn used to have a Get Introduced feature, but it was so complicated, it wasn't used often. But LinkedIn is still terrific for getting introduced. Here's how:

Step 1: Find the target person using LinkedIn. 

  • Click the search box at the top of any LinkedIn page. 
  • Select the People option on the left navigation bar. 
  • Type the target company name in the Company box and the target person's probable title in the title box. For example, if you are seeking a financial analyst position, look for the Controller or Director of Finance. Choose whether to include current or past employees in your search or just current employees).
  • If it is a huge company with multiple locations and you only want to search for a local employee, add the company's local office zip code into the postal code box. 
  • Fine-tune your search by adding keywords, such as "accounting" in the Keywords box (optional).
  • Click Search. 

LinkedIn, LinkedIn advanced people search, LinkedIn search,
Find the right person by using LinkedIn's Advanced People Search.

Step 2: Find the right person within the search results. Look to see if the person is a 2nd degree or 3rd degree connection to you or a member of the same LinkedIn group as you. 



LinkedIn, LinkedIn advanced people search, LinkedIn search,
Use Advanced People Search to find the probable boss for the position that you want.

Who should be your target recipient? Here are my preferences (in order): 

  1. The likely boss of the open position
  2. That person's boss or the division or department leader
  3. The company CEO, particularly if it is a small company
  4. The in-house recruiter (although you may want to go around him/her)
  5. Any person at the target company if you cannot find the target recipient

Step 3: Consider who your best 1st degree contact is to introduce you to the target person. For example, if you want to be introduced to a 2nd degree connection, say, Becky Barnes, Vice President of Sales at Mega Corp., consider if your 1st person connection, Lester Milquetoast, is the right person to make the introduction. Is he a reputable, respected person? Is he someone who will follow through with such a request? Does he believe in your abilities enough to recommend you as he passes on your introduction?

If you are in a LinkedIn group with the intended recipient, wimply contact the target person directly through the group. Here's how:


  • Click the group's name from your list of groups.
  • Click the Members tab.
  • Type the person's name into the group's Search box to find the person's name in the list.
  • Click the Send message link.
  • Create your message and click Send Message.


inviting LinkedIn group members to connect, LinkedIn, how to invite LinkedIn group members to connect,
You can send a message to anyone in the same LinkedIn group.

Prepare your 1st degree connection
If you have many 1st degree connections like I do, you may not know them well enough to feel comfortable asking them to introduce you to another complete stranger. In this instance, don’t give up, but do think smart. Before you send the Get introduced request, send a LinkedIn message to prepare your 1st degree connection and/or to get his/her valuable insight.


Write something like, Lester, I notice that you are a 1st degree connection to Becky Barnes at Mega Corp. I am interested in working there. Would you be comfortable if I were to send you a LinkedIn message for you to forward to her? Any information you can pass along about Becky or Mega Corp., or any good word that you can put in for me to Becky or other people who might be hiring, would be greatly appreciated. I am looking for a position as a (TITLE). If you’d like, I can email you my resume so you can speak knowledgeably about me to Becky. Let me know your email address so I can send it to you. Thanks for your help.


Don’t abuse your relationship with your 1st degree connections by sending them too many Get introduced requests. Instead, establish a relationship with them where you can be of help to them in some way. Let them know how their help benefited you and thank them for their assistance.

Related articles
Inviting people to connect
Inviting recruiters to connect and what to say

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