Asking a professor to connect on LinkedIn can seem intimidating, but it’s a great way to stay in touch and build your professional network. As a student or recent graduate, connecting with faculty members on LinkedIn provides valuable contacts in your industry that can help with career opportunities down the road. When done thoughtfully, most professors will likely accept your request to connect.
The key is to personalize your request and remind the professor who you are. Professors interact with many students every semester, so it’s understandable if they don’t immediately remember everyone. Provide details on when you were in their class and your contributions so they know you weren’t just another face in the crowd.
Determine if you should send a request
Before reaching out, think about the nature of your relationship with the professor. Did you regularly engage with them during class or office hours? Did you complete a capstone project, thesis, or other notable work under their guidance? Professors are more inclined to accept requests from students they remember and had positive interactions with.
Also consider when you last had this professor. Requests from students who took their class recently are perceived better than students reaching out long after graduation. The professor will better recall you if less time has passed.
Look at your existing connections on LinkedIn. Do you and the professor have any 1st-degree contacts in common? Having a mutual connection provides a natural reason to connect and makes your request appear more relevant in the professor’s network.
Customize your connection request
When sending your request, avoid using LinkedIn’s default message which reads something like “I’d like to add you to my professional network.” This impersonal message will likely get ignored. Instead, write a custom note reminding the professor who you are.
Your message only needs to be a few sentences.Mention the specific course(s) you took with them and any major projects, papers, or presentations you completed. Share highlights from the class that made an impression on you or shaped your career interests.
Let them know you enjoyed your time in their class and are interested in staying connected. Mention you are building your professional network as you embark on your career and would appreciate if they would accept your invite. Keep the focus on your desire to stay in touch versus asking for an endorsement or other favor upfront.
Include your full name
Since it’s been awhile since you were in their class, there’s a good chance the professor will not immediately recognize your name. Make sure to include your full name in the request so they can best match you to their memories.
Consider adding some variation of “I was in your [Course Name] class in [Semester, Year]” after your name to provide helpful context upfront.
Send individual requests
Avoid sending mass connection requests to all your professors at once. Take the time to personalize each request with details on their specific course and why you valued your time in their classroom. Individual requests demonstrate you took the care to reflect on how each professor shaped your educational experience.
Follow up if needed
Give your professor time to respond to your request. One to two weeks is reasonable, considering professors have busy schedules and likely connect on LinkedIn sporadically. If you still haven’t received a response after two weeks, consider sending a friendly follow-up message.
Include your original request message and gently reiterate your interest in connecting on LinkedIn. The professor likely just overlooked your initial invite and another polite nudge may do the trick. However, don’t badger them if they choose not to accept. Just let it be and connect with other professors.
Add a reminder of who you are
To increase your chances of a professor remembering you, attach your resume or LinkedIn profile to the connection request. Seeing your background, education, and experience can help jog their memory of having you as a student.
Briefly explain that you’ve attached your resume/profile to refresh their memory of you taking their course. This extra context can persuade the professor to accept your invite despite the time elapsed.
Offer to connect in person
If feasible based on location, offer to meet up with the professor in person to reconnect. Suggest grabbing coffee or lunch near campus one day to catch up. This shows you’re willing to put in the effort for some face time.
Professors build connections during office hours and real conversations, so extending this invite demonstrates your sincerity. If they prefer keeping the meeting virtual over video chat, that works too.
Say thank you
Always say thank you when a professor agrees to connect on LinkedIn. Express your appreciation for them taking the time to accept your request and write back. This graciousness leaves a positive last impression.
Consider adding how you look forward to staying in touch and potentially collaborating in the future. With your foot in the door, you can nurture this new connection over the years ahead.
Engage with their content
To continue building the relationship after connecting, engage with your professor’s LinkedIn activity. Like and comment on their posts to establish a social media rapport. This shows you follow their work and value their professional insights.
Share relevant articles or opportunities you think might interest them as well. But avoid constantly peppering them with messages or asking for favors right away.
Request an endorsement
Once you’ve developed your LinkedIn relationship for a few weeks or months, consider asking your professor for an endorsement. Given their first-hand experience with you in the classroom, they can provide a recommendation to strengthen your LinkedIn profile.
When making the request, specify which skills you’d like them to endorse and detail projects or assignments that demonstrated these abilities. The professor will appreciate the easy prompts when writing something meaningful.
Follow up after graduation
If you connected with a professor shortly before graduation, check back in with them once you start your new job. Update them on your career path and how their mentorship helped lead you there.
Let them know how you’ve applied learnings from their class in the workplace. Seeing their teaching make an impact will mean a lot.
Stay in touch
After establishing an initial foundation, put effort into maintaining your professor connections over the long run. Check in periodically to ask for career advice or share exciting updates. Professor relationships can evolve into valuable mentoring bonds.
Congratulate them when you see promotions or new accomplishments posted. Comment on their articles in your field. Little gestures to stay engaged nurture the relationship so you can rely on their guidance as alumni.
The connections you build in college can truly last a lifetime when given care and attention. Professors you meet along the way can make great lifelong mentors, collaborators and friends.