How to Accept LinkedIn Requests and Forward an Introduction

After you join LinkedIn, you may get requests from friends to be connected with other friends. You can accept or decline the request. If you’re ready to accept your friend’s request and forward her Introduction, follow these steps:

Click the plus (+) sign next to the Inbox link in the left navigation menu.

This expands your Inbox options, allowing you to go straight to your Messages, InMail, Introductions, Invitations, and so on.

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Click on any received message to see if you have any Introduction requests.

An Introduction request message is shown here. You will receive and Introduction request from one of your connections on behalf of someone else. Basically, you are the middle man and have the option to decide whether to forward it to the intended recipient or decline the request.

Read the full text before acting on the request. Don’t just skim it as you might miss an important detail.

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Click the Forward Introduction button.

A new window opens where you can compose your message to the recipient, as shown here. The text box in the middle contains the note from your friend to you, which you can supplement with a note to the intended recipient. Be sure to add your own comments to help connect the two people properly.

Click the Forward Message button to send the request.

In this case, Joe Benitez will get the Introduction request on behalf of David Nakayama. David will never see Joe’s direct e-mail address, and Joe can decide whether or not to reach out to David and form a connection.