Etiquette for adding people on LinkedIn

Freshman at HYPSW. Last week I interviewed for a search fund internship with the founder. I got the job and I started this week. Can I add the founder on LinkedIn already? I haven't had any prior contact with him on LinkedIn before this so I'm wondering how well you have to know someone to add them on LinkedIn. Can someone tell me the etiquette for adding people (not only for my specific situation but in general)?

17 Comments
 

Do you just randomly add or do you drop a note first? If you met me briefly for 20 minutes at an event ~ 12 months ago and you run across my profile, would you add

 

I don't randomly add people. I include a note after I meet them "Hey nice to chat with you last week........Look forward to staying in touch..." I try to do this within a week.

If I talked to them for 20 minutes and haven't added them in 12 months, then I probably wouldn't. I would be surprised if I even remember the conversation at that point.

 

Since you now work the company, I would wait to meet him first.

The only time I connect with people I do not know is if:

I see a person with 10+ mutual friends. I always send a note to connect saying we know the same folks so let's get coffee/lunch. 

When I was trying to move cities, I connected with people in my same industry. I always sent a note that I was looking for a potential move and would love to talk about the market and culture, etc.

Worst case I got ignored, best case I made a great connection. 

 

I have only specifically requested to add people that I actually know and that know me; I have never tried to add someone that I don't actually know. If you know the person, add them and, if not, then don't. Also, you do know that being connected with someone on LinkedIn doesn't mean anything right? I have plenty of great contacts that I can call or email, but we aren't connected on LinkedIn. The opposite applies as well.

 

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