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Linked In, yay or nay?

B

ballmode

Lifer
Does it help network the business folk as it tries to make it seem?

Do employers really look into it for hiring purposes?
Just seems like a professional adult facebook that is just a waste of time.


I had one, deleted it, it's been a few years and now I keep hearing people ask me about wanting to add me on there.

Worth my time, worth yours, worth anybodys?
 
Waste of time. Had somebody give one of my management classes a presentation and he was all about Linked In, but despite creaming himself over it he wasn't able to convince anybody it's worth a shit.
 
I have a profile there, never asked anyone to hook me up. Since I've had my profile up, I've gotten three calls from recruiters asking if I knew anyone to fill an opening they were recruiting for. In addition, I've gotten 4 requests for LinkedIn connections from other recruiters.

I will also add that a former co-worker got a spectacular executive job at another company due to a LinkedIn profile bubbling over with business doubletalk and inflated accomplishments that made him sound like the second coming of Jack Welch. Of course, he still had to interview and all that, but the LinkedIn profile definitely opened the door. He probably won't be there more than a couple years until they see through his BS, but now he has an executive level position on his resume and can spend the rest of his career bouncing around from company to company at high pay.
 
Extremely useful and helpful. I wish it had been around sooner. Great tool for maintaining your network of professional colleagues/friends. I have consultants that I've worked with from 10+ years ago that I still will run something by them if I have a question on something.

Another former colleague recently posted numerous job openings for an internet start-up, that I may have some interest in pursuing.

There are also numerous professional organizations that you can join and network in.
 
I have found it useful to look up people I'm interviewing. I've also been contacted by a few good recruiters via it. I think it's essential to have a presence there today.
 
I know headhunters use it to find experienced people. In my experience they try to pluck people who are employed to work in a similar role at another company. I assume headhunters love it. Company may be quicker to hire, and pay more for, someone they know is actively working and doing well. Turnover = $$, plus more salary probably means higher commission. It's a group of potential hires that was probably tougher to find before linked in.
 
They drill it into the college kids about the virtues of LinkedIn. I've gotten zero out of it though. It's only useful to look up who to address cover letters too. Nothing else beyond that.
 
My employer seems to like it... I found that they added a link to my LinkedIn profile in our corporate directory one day without asking me.
 
mmntech said:
They drill it into the college kids about the virtues of LinkedIn. I've gotten zero out of it though. It's only useful to look up who to address cover letters too. Nothing else beyond that.
Click to expand...

Doesn't sound like they taught you how to use it. If you're looking for work, join one of the professional organizations in the discipline you're looking into, many people will post openings and also a great opportunity to ask questions and get greater insight of the discipline/particular companies/etc...
 
All the top execs I deal with are on it so I joined. I get numerous calls per week with potential job leads.
 
I do wish there was a category for adding people as "acquaintance". People you've met while attending social functions and stuff. But not quite a friend, and selecting "other" prevents the invite from going through.

Mine could use alot of beefing up, but I can't really work it out the wordplay how I'd like.
I should ask some of my previous employers for recommendations. But I don't really want to speak with them again.
 
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I use it to look up "friends" and coworkers, kind of like Facebook stalking - to see how pretentious people are.
 
It's all about how you use it.

If you are using to try to find a job while unemployed and as a sole networking tool, you are doing it wrong.

If you are in a really specialized field, yeah, it helps alot because people can seek you out. However, if you are just your avg 9-5 worker, it really will not do you any good.
 
mmntech said:
They drill it into the college kids about the virtues of LinkedIn. I've gotten zero out of it though. It's only useful to look up who to address cover letters too. Nothing else beyond that.
Click to expand...

That is the problem. You are not supposed to use it as a your sole networking tool. That would be too easy. In fact, lots of recruiters no longer accept mail from random people because half the "inmails" they get are people asking if they have any jobs at the company they work for. People think it is a way to circumvent posting your resume in the database. Well, it could be, but that does not work when everyone begins to do it.

LinkedIn is a supplement to try to get in contact with people. HOwever, if you do not have any type of connection to the contact, it's the same as cold calling a person. The point is to see if anyone in the company has any connection to you. If there is someone who is a 2nd connection, you ask the person who is connected between you two to put in a good word for you or to request that you two meet. That is how networking is done. LinkedIn just makes it easier to find this info out.

Last, but not least, put yourself out there. I do not mean just particpating in those dumb linkedin group discussions or posting "I need a job" on a linkedin group. I mean work on stuff on the side and out those skills in your profile.
 
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Very useful. I've been contacted about four different job opportunities in the past five months by recruiters that found my LinkedIn profile.
 
DAGTA said:
Very useful. I've been contacted about four different job opportunities in the past five months by recruiters that found my LinkedIn profile.
Click to expand...

I get contacted by fake Google recruiters. I'm wary about anyone contacting me on linkedin.
 
yes, i worked at LinkedIn for the last 3 years and now that I'm at a really small startup its super useful for reaching out to experts at other companies. I use it much more than I ever did when I worked there.

Primarily the value is for recruiters and out bound professionals (sales, bd etc) but its also very important to control your own brand and many people I know receive good job opportunities through the site. Think about it, the first thing I do when I meet somebody (partnerships, ppl interviewing etc) is look them up on facebook, linkedin, and twitter. This tells you who you know in common, what they do, and what they are interested in.

go go LNKD stock!
 
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I made a quick profile on it, figure it does not hurt, but I'm not really super hardcore about it either. Some people will go all out and constantly update it and such. If you are actively looking for a job it may not be a bad idea though, along with other similar sites.

Remember that not everyone knows about it (or any other site you may put yourself on). One of those people may be a future employer at some really awesome company. So do not depend 100% on it.
 
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