Another common question – what’s up with that block in the top right section that says “People You May Know”.
Who are they? Why Does LinkedIn think I know them? What should I do?
Let’s look into that a bit more…
Friends of friends
As keeper of the database, LinkedIn has access to everyone’s connections and can put together information.
They can see that you connect to a group of people that all connect to Mary Smith – and make the inference that you too may know Mary Smith.
Common past
And if LinkedIn knows who you connect to, where you worked, and who else shares that work relationship, they can probably infer that you might know some other people with that background too…
Veiled in secrecy…
Is this completely accurate – absolutely not!
I have no official tie to LinkedIn, just a keen observation of what happens on the site and insight about how they might go about doing what it is they are doing.
To the best of my knowledge, they don’t share their logic with the world – and that’s fine.
Does it matter?
Probably not.
If they offer you a few names and you happen to recognize some people that you know and trust – by all means, reach out to them and try to connect.
If the names are meaningless to you – or they are simply people you’ve heard of, just ignore them. Eventually LinkedIn will offer you some new names;-)
A better experience
And why does LinkedIn do it? Because if you connect to more people you know and trust, you’ll get a better experience with LinkedIn – and that’s what they’re all about;-)
To your continued success,
steve
—
Steven Tylock
http://www.linkedinpersonaltrainer.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/stevetylock
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