Very few people know how to grab the attention of a busy person. As a recruiter, I get dozens of emails a week from job seekers, and daily requests to connect on LinkedIn. 99% of my LinkedIn inbox requests are the standard invitation, “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.”

Don't do that. Sending the generic LinkedIn invite is a terrible idea.

Now, I'm in the business of placing people, so I'll still make the connection, but lots of other busy people won't. That's why I loved a recent article about how to get important people to respond to your emails. It's a great read, filled with six common-sense and easy to follow bits of advice that should start helping you today. If you want your email or LinkedIn invitations read - and more importantly, responded to - read it.

So if you want help from a busy person:

• Get to the point.
• Provide some context.
• Explain what you want specifically and succinctly.
• Thank them.