When you go to send a message to someone, LinkedIn sometimes provides automatically-generated greetings. Don't even think about using these templates, LinkedIn experts say.
"Always, always, always type something personal," LinkedIn consultant Loribeth Pierson told Business Insider. "Personal will get you so much further that an automatically-filled form that so many other people are doing. You want to stand out from the crowd."
A short note is better than typing out an entire cover letter, Pierson said.
"Keep it short, sweet, and to the point of what you want," she said.
Decembrele said you should tell the person why you would like to connect and look through their LinkedIn profile to find a personal detail or shared connection that you can reference.
"Nearly 70% of LinkedIn members have found a job through a mutual connection," Decembrele said. "Mentioning a personal detail is important, as it may jog someone's memory for how you met, reinforce a mutual interest, or even solidify a way you might work together."