Should You Hire a Salesperson with Less Than 250 LinkedIn Connections?

We are often in the market for salespeople and the first thing I do when I get a resume is check them out on LinkedIn. I take a look at a few things but I really focus on how many connections do they have. The number of connections tells me a few things:

1. Are they embracing LinkedIn? LinkedIn is like manna from heaven for salespeople. If you are not using it you are working harder for less results.
2. Have they built relationships or are they selling and moving on?
3. Are they methodical?  When I get a business card from someone, I enter them into our CRM system and connect with them on LinkedIn.

So if a salesperson doesn’t have “a lot” of connections, they already have a strike against them. It isn’t insurmountable, but it is a factor.

Other things I look for when reviewing profiles of salespeople (and in some cases, other positions):

• Connections from me. If they are one person away, I will call our common connection.
• Formatting and grammar—goes without saying.
• Completeness. I like to see people take advantage of all the different opportunities LinkedIn gives them to show off.
• What are they saying about their accomplishments and company? This tells you if they are likely to be a team player. Also, salespeople should talk about how they are helping their clients achieve something.

Is 250 connections the right number? I have no idea. What do you think?