LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that classifies users based on their distance from you within the network. This tiered system organizes connections into distinct degrees, which dictates how you can interact with other users. This article defines the meaning and practical implications of the “3rd” connection designation for expanding professional reach.
Understanding LinkedIn’s Connection Hierarchy
The platform categorizes your network into three primary tiers to indicate the proximity of your relationship with another member. The closest tier is your 1st-degree connection, which includes any user who has directly accepted your connection request or whose request you have accepted.
People in your 1st-degree network are your direct contacts. This allows you to message them freely and view their full profiles, including any contact details they have chosen to share.
The next tier is the 2nd-degree connection, representing people who are connected to one of your 1st-degree connections. These are essentially friends of friends, serving as a bridge to a broader professional circle. While you can view their profiles, direct messaging often requires sending a connection request first or utilizing a paid feature like InMail.
Defining the 3rd-Degree Connection
A 3rd-degree connection is a user connected to one of your 2nd-degree connections, placing them two steps removed from your direct network. The “3rd” label appears next to their name in search results and on their profile, indicating they are at the outer limit of your immediate extended network.
These users represent the furthest extent of the network that LinkedIn actively displays as a numbered connection. Their presence in your search results signifies a potential link, but one that is significantly more distant than your 1st or 2nd-degree contacts. Understanding this distance is the first step in strategizing how to establish a closer relationship.
Profile Visibility and Access for 3rd-Degree Connections
The visibility of a 3rd-degree connection’s profile is restricted compared to closer connections, depending largely on their individual privacy settings. By default, you can view their public profile, which usually includes their full name, professional headline, and summary.
Restricted information often includes contact details such as email addresses or phone numbers, which are typically hidden from 3rd-degree contacts. If a user has high privacy settings, their full last name may be truncated, showing only the first letter. This restriction prevents a direct connection request from being sent, requiring alternative methods for outreach.
Strategies for Connecting with 3rd-Degree Users
Connecting with a 3rd-degree user requires a strategic approach to bridge the network gap. One of the most effective methods involves leveraging a shared 2nd-degree contact to request a warm introduction. They can vouch for your credibility and facilitate a more favorable initial interaction.
Another direct approach is to send a customized connection request, which allows for a brief, personalized note of up to 300 characters. This note should clearly state why you are reaching out, perhaps mentioning a shared interest or a reason their profile stood out, increasing the acceptance likelihood. Avoid using the generic connection request, as a personalized message demonstrates genuine intent.
If a direct connection request is not available, you can use LinkedIn’s InMail feature, which allows you to message any user regardless of their connection degree. InMail often requires a Premium subscription, but the messages land directly in the recipient’s main inbox. A cost-free alternative is to join a LinkedIn Group that the 3rd-degree user is also a member of, enabling you to send a direct message without being connected.
What “Out of Network” Means
The designation “Out of Network” refers to profiles that fall outside the three-degree sphere of your network, often referred to as 4th-degree connections and beyond. These users have no direct or indirect connection to you through any of your existing contacts. Consequently, their profile visibility is severely limited, often displaying a generic title such as “A LinkedIn Member” instead of their name and professional details.
When a profile is “Out of Network,” you cannot send a standard connection request, establishing the boundary of your free, visible network. Accessing these profiles usually requires utilizing advanced search filters or purchasing a Premium account feature like InMail to initiate contact. Limited visibility emphasizes the value of expanding your 1st-degree network to pull more distant connections into your accessible 3rd-degree range.