LinkedIn and Recruiters

[Anonymous]

I'm a lawyer and work in-house at a large corporation. I'm mostly happy with my work. I am connected to many of my work colleagues via LinkedIn.

I got a LinkedIn invitation from a recruiter at a well-known firm. I don't know her, but I know the firm.

Do you accept such invitations? Is there any downside to doing so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a lawyer and work in-house at a large corporation. I'm mostly happy with my work. I am connected to many of my work colleagues via LinkedIn.

I got a LinkedIn invitation from a recruiter at a well-known firm. I don't know her, but I know the firm.

Do you accept such invitations? Is there any downside to doing so?

I don't accept LinkedIn invitations from people I don't know in a professional setting because I consider a connection to be a minimum level endorsement that the person is competent and not a dirtbag. The downside is she's probably going to try to connect with your colleagues and if she turns out to be annoying they're going to look to you.

[Anonymous]

I accept every legitimate invitation...there is really no downside. I have accepted several recruiters as well, but only ones with legitimate firms or who I have spoken to in the past about prospects or referrals. I see no downside - they are going to find your colleagues anyway and they can make a decision whether or not to accept. And having recruiters in your group is de rigueur these days. That said, if your list is only people you work with closely, maybe this would stick out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I accept every legitimate invitation...there is really no downside. I have accepted several recruiters as well, but only ones with legitimate firms or who I have spoken to in the past about prospects or referrals. I see no downside - they are going to find your colleagues anyway and they can make a decision whether or not to accept. And having recruiters in your group is de rigueur these days. That said, if your list is only people you work with closely, maybe this would stick out.

This is a legitimate firm and I worked with them a VERY long time ago (more than ten years ago). I doubt that this ancient connection is the basis for the invitation; I think she is likely just fishing.

My network includes people from all areas of my life, not just colleagues.

I dunno, I am inclined to ignore it. I am really just a worker-bee lawyer, and in this economy I strongly doubt that a recruiter would be genuinely interested in me.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I don't accept recruiter invitations unless I have personally worked with them. In my experience, if they have an opportunity that they are actively recruiting for, they will just send a mesage about that opportunity. Blind invitation from a recruiter, to me seems just a fishing thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a lawyer and work in-house at a large corporation. I'm mostly happy with my work. I am connected to many of my work colleagues via LinkedIn.

I got a LinkedIn invitation from a recruiter at a well-known firm. I don't know her, but I know the firm.

Do you accept such invitations? Is there any downside to doing so?

I don't accept LinkedIn invitations from people I don't know in a professional setting because I consider a connection to be a minimum level endorsement that the person is competent and not a dirtbag. The downside is she's probably going to try to connect with your colleagues and if she turns out to be annoying they're going to look to you.

How so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a lawyer and work in-house at a large corporation. I'm mostly happy with my work. I am connected to many of my work colleagues via LinkedIn.

I got a LinkedIn invitation from a recruiter at a well-known firm. I don't know her, but I know the firm.

Do you accept such invitations? Is there any downside to doing so?

I don't accept LinkedIn invitations from people I don't know in a professional setting because I consider a connection to be a minimum level endorsement that the person is competent and not a dirtbag. The downside is she's probably going to try to connect with your colleagues and if she turns out to be annoying they're going to look to you.

How so?

When OP's colleagues see the invitation from her they'll see she's connected to OP.