LinkedIn’s new feature will help you reconnect with your ex-boss or colleague

Reconnecting or reaching out to your boss, colleague, or an employee often becomes cumbersome, especially when there's an 'ex' added before their names. Well, LinkedIn could help you to start the conversation if you wish to seek some professional advice from them. Here's the icebreaker, "Conversation Starters."

“We know that reaching out to reconnect, ask for advice or network for potential job opportunities can be intimidating, so we’ve added personalised conversation starters in LinkedIn messaging to give members authentic ways to break the ice,” the company said in a blog post.

Conversation Starters, the feature launched yesterday will display multiple template options to start the conversation. However, unlike template module, LinkedIn will provide you options based on that person’s profile and history.

With the help of machine learning, once you tap the new lightbulb icon located just above the virtual keyboard, you will get options, customise it based on how you speak and hit send.

"Our members have a lot of connections they aren't necessarily talking to on a regular basis. Maybe they want to reconnect with an old boss or a former co-worker. We think this helps," said Mark Hull, LinkedIn's director of product management. "We're just providing ways to have even smarter and more productive conversations."

In addition, updates around professional activity, such as when the person started their job, celebrated a work anniversary, will be featured. In case you want to bring up the previous charm in your conversation, you can find out shared experiences between you two such as school, employers, or groups, along with any mutual connections.

“Now, members can spend less time figuring out what to say, and more time having conversations that help them get ahead and reach their professional goals,” the company remarked.

The latest feature is launched in an attempt to increase usage of the LinkedIn Messaging that is currently being used by half of its 467 million members. “People are using LinkedIn Messaging to have great conversations with recruiters and their connections. They’re doing it faster than before, and it’s giving people a great reason to connect with their networks,” said Hull.

More than 500 million InMail exchanges have been made in the Messaging service since its inception.