You have hundreds — maybe thousands — of LinkedIn contacts. Hidden among them are people who could change your career: the right headhunter, an upcoming client, a partner you didn't know you had, or a former colleague who knows someone who knows someone.
The problem? No one can make sense of a large network in a CSV file. But Claude can. In 10 minutes, you can have AI analyze all your contacts, find the most important ones, and draft messages you can send right away.
This guide shows you exactly how. Step by step.
What you need
- A Mac or Windows PC
- Claude Pro ($20/mo) or Max ($100/mo) subscription
- An active LinkedIn account
- 10 minutes for setup + waiting time for LinkedIn data
1. Download your LinkedIn contacts
First, ask LinkedIn for a copy of your contact data. It's free and typically takes 10 minutes (max 24 hours).
Here's how:
- Go to linkedin.com/mypreferences/d/categories/privacy
- Click "Get a copy of your data"
- Select "Connections" from the options
- Click "Request archive"
- Wait for the email from LinkedIn with a download link
- Download the ZIP file and extract it — find Connections.csv
- Save the file in a folder you can find easily, e.g., Documents/LinkedIn-data/
> TIP: Also select "Download larger data archive" to get everything including messages, recommendations, and profile views. It takes 1–2 days, but gives Claude more to work with — such as who you have the strongest relationships with.
2. Install Claude Desktop
Cowork requires the Claude Desktop app. It works on both Windows and Mac.
Here's how:
- Go to claude.ai/download and download the app
- Install and log in with your Claude account
- Make sure you have a Pro or Max subscription (required for Cowork)
> TIP: Don't have Claude yet? Start with Pro at $20/mo — it's plenty for analyzing your network. You can always upgrade to Max later if you need more capacity.
3. Start Cowork and give Claude the task
Now open Cowork mode and point Claude to your LinkedIn data.
Here's how:
- Open the Claude Desktop app
- Click the "Cowork" tab at the top of the window
- Check "Work in a Folder" and select the folder with your Connections.csv
- Type your task in the text field (see prompts below)
- Claude creates a plan — approve it and let Claude work
- Results are delivered as files directly in your folder
> TIP: Keep Claude Desktop open while it works. Your computer needs to stay on (not in sleep mode). You can do other things in the meantime — Claude runs in the background.
What's your goal?
Your LinkedIn network can be used for many things. The most important thing is knowing what you're looking for — then Claude can find the right people for you. Here are the most common scenarios:
- Job search — Find headhunters, decision-makers, and "bridge contacts" who can help you advance your career
- Clients and sales — Identify potential clients, leads, and people who can recommend you to others
- Partnerships — Find collaborators, freelancers, consultants, and people with complementary skills
- Industry switch — Map who in your network is already in the industry you want to enter
- Visibility and thought leadership — Find media, podcasts, events, and people with large reach who can amplify your message
> STRATEGY: Choose one goal at a time. Claude works best when the task is specific. "Find headhunters in my network" gives better results than "analyze everything." You can always run more prompts afterward.
Prompts you can copy into Cowork
Choose the prompt that fits your goal. You can customize the text — the more context you give Claude about your situation, the better the results.
Prompt 1: The big picture — who do I actually know?
> Analyze my Connections.csv file. I want to understand my LinkedIn network better. Create an Excel spreadsheet with all contacts grouped into these categories:
>
> 1. Decision-makers (CEO, CTO, CDO, VP, Director, Head of...)
> 2. Recruiters and headhunters
> 3. Consultants and freelancers
> 4. HR and People (HR Director, Head of L&D, People Partner)
> 5. Media and events (journalists, podcast hosts, event managers)
> 6. Other contacts
>
> Add columns for: industry, company type (enterprise/SME/startup/public sector), and a priority (high/medium/low) based on how relevant the contact is for professional networking. Sort high priority first.
Prompt 2: Find people who can help with your career (job search)
> Based on my Connections.csv: I'm considering new career opportunities as a [INSERT YOUR TITLE] in [INSERT INDUSTRY]. Find:
>
> 1. All headhunters and recruiters in my network
> 2. Decision-makers who typically hire people like me
> 3. People in the industry I want to enter
> 4. 'Bridge contacts' — people who know many and can introduce me
>
> Create a prioritized list with name, company, title, and a suggested LinkedIn message for each. The message should be short, personal, and informal. No 'I hope it's okay' — be direct.
Prompt 3: Find potential clients in your network
> Based on my Connections.csv: I'm a [INSERT YOUR ROLE] and I help companies with [INSERT SERVICE]. Find contacts who look like potential clients:
>
> - People with titles suggesting they can buy my service
> - People in industries where my service is relevant
> - People in companies of the right size
>
> Rank the top 30 with justification. Write a personal message to the top 10. Tone: informal, specific, value-focused.
Prompt 4: Find collaborators and complementary profiles
> Look at my Connections.csv. I work as [INSERT ROLE] and I'm looking for collaborators who complement my skills. I'm strong in [INSERT STRENGTHS] and looking for people who are strong in [INSERT WHAT YOU NEED]. Find contacts who:
>
> - Have complementary skills
> - Work with similar target audiences but non-competing services
> - Are freelancers, consultants, or small agency owners
> - Have titles suggesting they're open to collaboration
>
> Create a list of the 20 best matches and explain why.
Prompt 5: Network analysis — strengths and gaps
> Look at my Connections.csv. Create a complete analysis of my network:
>
> - Which industries am I strongest in?
> - Which companies do I have the most contacts in?
> - Where are my 'gaps' — industries or company types where I should have more contacts?
> - Who are my 'super-connectors' (people with titles like Partner, Director, CEO who typically know many)?
> - When did I add the most contacts (show development over time)?
>
> Create a report with specific recommendations: who should I contact first, and who can open doors to new areas?
Prompt 6: Top 20 with week-by-week outreach plan
> Analyze my Connections.csv. My goal is: [INSERT YOUR GOAL]. Find the 20 contacts most likely to help me with that goal. Weight by:
>
> - Relevance to my goal
> - Title and seniority level
> - Industry and company type
>
> Rank them 1-20 with justification. Create a 'weekly plan' so I contact 5 per week over 4 weeks. Write a personal message for each.
Prompt 7: Message templates for 5 situations
> Write 5 different LinkedIn messages I can use. Context: [DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 1-2 SENTENCES]. Write a message for each situation:
>
> 1. To a former colleague I haven't spoken to in years
> 2. To a person at a company I want to get into
> 3. To a leader who can hire or buy my service
> 4. To a person I'd like to have a coffee chat with
> 5. To a person who can introduce me to someone I'd like to meet
>
> Keep them under 300 characters. Tone: professional but informal, direct, confident but not arrogant.
Tips to get the most out of it
STRATEGY: Customize the prompt to YOU. All prompts have [INSERT] fields. The more specific you are about your situation, the better Claude's analysis. "I'm an IT project manager with 15 years of experience in finance" gives much better results than just "project manager."
STRATEGY: Start with the overview. Run Prompt 1 first. It gives you a sense of what your network contains and helps you choose the right prompts afterward.
STRATEGY: 5 messages per week. Make it a habit. Every Monday morning, send 5 LinkedIn messages to contacts from your prioritized list. In 4 weeks, you'll have contacted 20 key people. That's enough to create momentum.
STRATEGY: Use the "warm intro" principle. When Claude finds someone you want to meet, check if you have mutual contacts. Ask Claude to find "bridge contacts" who can introduce you. A warm intro is 10x more effective than a cold message.
TIP: Combine with full data export. If you order the full LinkedIn data package (takes 1–2 days), Claude also gets access to your messages and recommendations. This gives even better analysis of who you have the strongest relationships with.
TIP: Repeat with new angles. After you've contacted the first 20, you can run new prompts with new goals. Were you first looking for a job? Then look for collaborators. Your network is a gift that keeps on giving.
TIP: Pro vs. Max. With Pro ($20/mo), you can get far. If the analysis "runs out" midway, consider Max ($100/mo) for more capacity. Start with Pro and only upgrade if necessary.
What to expect
Claude typically delivers results as files directly in your folder:
- An Excel spreadsheet with your contacts categorized, prioritized, and sorted
- Message drafts you can customize and send directly on LinkedIn
- An outreach plan with week-by-week structure
- A network report with insights on strengths and gaps
You don't need to open the CSV file or dig through it yourself. Claude reads all rows, understands the structure, and does the heavy lifting for you. You focus on what counts: sending the right messages to the right people.
Quick reference: Links
| What | Link |
|---|---|
| Download Claude Desktop | claude.ai/download |
| LinkedIn data export | linkedin.com/mypreferences/d/categories/privacy |
| Claude plans and pricing | claude.ai/pricing |
| Cowork guide (Anthropic) | support.claude.com → "Get started with Cowork" |
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Stefano Vincenti · AI Advisor & Trainer · aitrainer.dk · External Lecturer, IT University of Copenhagen · Cofounder & CTO BotTellMe · Partner, TryZone