If you for instance are planning to change jobs, but have not yet divulged this intent to anyone within your company, is it acceptable to connect with clients and colleagues in partner companies in business-oriented social/professional networks (e.g. LinkedIn)?
Assumptions:
- As a result of your increased activity, your clients and colleagues would be able to figure out that you were planning to change jobs before your home company.
- You are not connected to anyone within your home company, so they would be oblivious to your activity on LinkedIn.
The intent of connecting would be to expand one's network and hopefully get skills endorsed, and perhaps a few favorable reviews. The intent is not in any way to get a job with clients or partners.
This question is not a duplicate of the linked question "Do managers monitor employees' LinkedIn connection activity?", as it asks about connecting with recruiters, whereas this question is asking about connecting with colleagues and clients.
This question is also not a question whether or not the home company would realize any intents to change jobs. It is assumed that they will.