So you know I am a big fan of FREE networking on LinkedIn and I don’t recommend paying for the premium service. This is why you don’t have to.

How to Get Introduced to a New LinkedIn Connection

You can use an introduction to contact a 2nd-degree connection through a connection you have in common. What I recommend doing is searching who your 2nd-degree connections are. Often the person you want to connect with is just one person away. You may be surprised at how many connections you have available to you at your fingertips!

I know right now I have hundreds of second-degree connections, if not thousands. So first in the search box, type a possible company you are interested in working for. Find someone who is a 2nd-degree connection to you listed in your search results.

• • Go to the profile of a 2nd-degree connection you want to get introduced to.

  • Move your cursor over the Down arrow in the top section of the profile and select Get introduced.

  • If more than one person can make the introduction, choose who you want to make the introduction.

  • Write a message to the person who will introduce you and be clear about why you want to get introduced. This message may get forwarded to the person you want to be introduced to.

  • Click Send Request.

Here is a sample email you can send to your LinkedIn connection:

Hi (name of contact),

How are you?  It’s been great to see how much success you have had in your career lately (or something that is personal that shows you have a personal connection and reminds them how they know you again).

I am interested in setting up an informational interview with (name of person), one of your connections on LinkedIn. I want to ask her about her experience as a (job title) at (target company) and see if I might be a fit for the organization in the future.

If you are comfortable passing along my introduction, I would appreciate it. I am also happy to chat with you more about my intentions and the opportunities I am seeking. You can decide whether to pass my name on from there. Otherwise, I would very much appreciate it if you could forward my message to (name of the other person).

Thanks for your help and please let me know how I can be of help to you too!

Your name

Send off the email and wait for your LinkedIn connection to reply!