The Difference Between the Friends and Classmates Classification on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is about building a network of connections, and all connections are qualified by a classification. When adding a connection, that connection must be classified as a colleague, classmate, business partner, friend, groups or association or "other." There is also the option to select "I don't know" followed by the connection's name, at which point you will be barred from sending the connection invitation. Choosing the appropriate classification can add strength to your profile -- people will know that your connections aren't merely all personal associations or connections otherwise considered unimportant for professional purposes.

The biggest difference between the "Friend" and "Classmate" classifications is the level of familiarity. Friendship is a social relationship, involving at least some degree of personal interaction and knowledge. In contrast, a classmate can be someone you hardly know at all -- all that they need to qualify as a "Classmate" is having attended an educational facility at the same time as you, and potentially having shared a class. While your classmates can be your friends and vice versa, the purpose of the different classifications on LinkedIn is specifically to denote the degree of the connection as either personal or merely by association.

Another key difference is the specifics of the connection. Friends can come from virtually anywhere, including prior business associations, educational institutions, leisure time activities and more. Classmate associations are strictly location-based -- you have to have attended the same educational institution at the same time to qualify as "classmates." With such a specific requirement, the use of the "classmates" classification can be highly inappropriate if you attended differing institutions or attended at different times.

Another key difference relates to adding the connection directly. Adding a connection as a classmate requires no further input -- simply designate that the invitation is to a classmate, and it can be sent along. The "friend" option, as well as the "other" designation, require you to also enter the connection's email address. This simple step is designed to prevent people spamming others for connections or creating connections with "friends" who may have only a very limited personal relationship with them, if any at all.

Adding connections to your LinkedIn profile is about more than having a high friend count or otherwise amassing large numbers of connections -- LinkedIn is primarily used by professionals, and associated connections weave together to form a cohesive profile of an individual. These associations can indicate levels of experience as well as provide a list of personal and professional references for potential employers. As a result, there is a level of etiquette to LinkedIn invitations as spelled out by Don Chance, Louisiana State University Professor of Finance. In "Some LinkedIn Etiquette and Advice" published on LSU's website, he points out that it's best to not send invitations to individuals you don't actually know, and to limit "friend" invitations to actual personal, social friendships -- other classifications are there for a reason. You'll also want to personalize the invitation message to indicate how you know the recipient, if only to prevent her from mistakenly assuming you are a spammer or other unknown individual. You should also not send invitations to people you have not met in some capacity, and should always send a follow-up thank you note when an invitation is accepted.