LinkedIn etiquette- HR please help

[Anonymous]

I want to apply for a job at a company where I don't know anyone personally. Would it help my application to connect to someone in the company or does it not matter? Or worse, is it tacky to try to connect to someone I dont know personally, but who comes up as 2nd or 3rd connection? Do HR and hiring managers check people out on LinkedIn? Anyone tried to message an HR person to introduce yourself when applying for a job? Any feedback is appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want to apply for a job at a company where I don't know anyone personally. Would it help my application to connect to someone in the company or does it not matter? Or worse, is it tacky to try to connect to someone I dont know personally, but who comes up as 2nd or 3rd connection? Do HR and hiring managers check people out on LinkedIn? Anyone tried to message an HR person to introduce yourself when applying for a job? Any feedback is appreciated!

Don't try to connect with hiring manager or HR on LinkedIn.

If you have a second connection w someone, have the person in common introduce you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to apply for a job at a company where I don't know anyone personally. Would it help my application to connect to someone in the company or does it not matter? Or worse, is it tacky to try to connect to someone I dont know personally, but who comes up as 2nd or 3rd connection? Do HR and hiring managers check people out on LinkedIn? Anyone tried to message an HR person to introduce yourself when applying for a job? Any feedback is appreciated!

Don't try to connect with hiring manager or HR on LinkedIn.

If you have a second connection w someone, have the person in common introduce you.

The first sentence is bad advice, but I agree with the second one. I'm on the LinkedIn Job Seekers group and all the "experts" who chime in tell you to find the hiring manager and contact him/her. Wherever possible, I tracked down the hiring manager and e-mailed them my resume along with a short summary detailing why I'm the best fit. I've received two job offers doing this. So, if you don't have an inside contact, definitely e-mail the hiring manager.