LinkedIn provides a powerful platform to connect with potential candidates, expand your professional network, and request or offer networking assistance. It has become a valuable resource for staying informed about opportunities within your industry and, in many cases, can reduce the volume of unsolicited phone calls from recruiters.

That said, many LinkedIn members routinely decline InMail messages or connection requests. Choosing to decline can be counterproductive. When you turn down a request, you remove yourself from a recruiter’s network and may miss future opportunities when you decide it’s time to explore new roles. If you’re not interested, it’s often better to simply ignore the request rather than decline it outright.

In today’s job market, where few roles come with long-term guarantees, being open to networking can be far more beneficial than being perceived as unwilling to engage. After all, LinkedIn is a networking platform. Why join if you don’t plan to participate?