LinkedIn: what is the purpose?

Shropshire Seagull · Oct 26, 2016

As others have said - depends how you use it.
I'm an IT contractor so have 30+ links with IT recruiters I'm regularly in touch with - they can see where I am and what I'm doing.
I've linked with some old work colleagues who I see as future possible hirers but all the request for links where I don't think it can benefit me, I ignore.
Haven't worked out yet how you unlink from someone who has retired or changed jobs and now isn't in a hiring position.
6.5 / 10

hitony · Oct 26, 2016

Shropshire Seagull said:
As others have said - depends how you use it.
I'm an IT contractor so have 30+ links with IT recruiters I'm regularly in touch with - they can see where I am and what I'm doing.
I've linked with some old work colleagues who I see as future possible hirers but all the request for links where I don't think it can benefit me, I ignore.
Haven't worked out yet how you unlink from someone who has retired or changed jobs and now isn't in a hiring position.
6.5 / 10

There is a "Remove" button, just click on that.

Peteinblack · Oct 26, 2016

Facebook (without the trout-pout selfies and cat pictures) for self-important under-achieving middle-aged middle managers called Malcolm who still live at home with their mums

Blue3 · Oct 26, 2016

Driver8 said:
I had it once but was constantly hassled by recruitment agencies so I cancelled it (which is easier said than done).

This was also my experience

AlastairWatts · Oct 26, 2016

SUA Seagull said:
I ..... it allows others to do their due diligence on you (...which is why your profile should be accurate, honest and error free).............

but doesn't that leave you wide open to identity theft scammers?

HastingsSeagull · Oct 26, 2016

I always thought it depends on which sector you're employed in. I can see it being vital for some and pointless for other jobs. Never bothered with it myself as not in that kind of role but you never know.

happypig · Oct 26, 2016

I'm on it. Never been contacted or headhunted from it. My skills are either too niche or shite.

Herr Tubthumper · Oct 26, 2016

AlastairWatts said:
but doesn't that leave you wide open to identity theft scammers?

No one would want to pretend to be me.

dazzer6666 · Oct 26, 2016

HastingsSeagull said:
I always thought it depends on which sector you're employed in. I can see it being vital for some and pointless for other jobs. Never bothered with it myself as not in that kind of role but you never know.

Think you're right - it's very heavily used in banking/financial services.....

SUA Seagull · Oct 26, 2016

AlastairWatts said:
SUA Seagull said:

I ..... it allows others to do their due diligence on you (...which is why your profile should be accurate, honest and error free).............

but doesn't that leave you wide open to identity theft scammers?

Click to expand...

Not if you don't quote chapter and verse on your personal details in your profile, which you should never do. In terms of accuracy, I was referring to what you say in any summary of your work experience because if you tell someone at interview or in a business pitch that you've worked on X, Y and Z the chances are they'll check that via their own research and if your Linked-In profile conflicts with what you said then it may raise doubts in their view of your credibility. I have a friend who works in HR and she told me that nearly all HR departments do a candidate cross-check against Linked-In, Facebook etc to validate what a candidate may have said at interview....and on many occasions discrepancies arise which then have to be investigated/clarified.

tinycowboy · Oct 26, 2016

I think we're agreed: if you're selling something or are looking for a new job or want to keep in contact with colleagues/random people you've met over the years, it can be a useful tool. If you don't want to do any of these things, it's pointless. I use it only for the latter of these reasons and it does the job. I get daily emails from linkedin, but I don't mind as I just ignore them and I can't be bothered to switch them off. A lot of the articles on there are a bit generic, but it's free, so I can't get too bothered about it. And I can't help but be pleased when I receive an invitation to connect with someone - so, NSC linkedin people, feel free to make my day....

Cheshire Cat · Oct 26, 2016

Driver8 said:
I had it once but was constantly hassled by recruitment agencies so I cancelled it (which is easier said than done).

Very this about recruitment agencies - they seem to think we have vacancies, which we don't, so I keep getting e-mails and CVs sent for people I have no intention of employing. None get read, all get deleted which is quite sad given the effort some put in to look for jobs.

Springal · Oct 26, 2016

I use it for work daily as a sales person. I pay for the premium edition which makes it very valuable for new business hunting, prospecting etc. My employer pays for this

JCL666 · Oct 26, 2016

I've been contacted by companies via Linkedin.

You do have to deal with (ignore) a lot of agencies though which can be annoying.

GOM · Oct 26, 2016

Biscuit said:
I've made many contacts and secured my current job off the back off it. I've also used it as a recruitment tool when looking for hiring a specialism into my team. For me it's a very useful tool. Like most things you get out what you put in.

Now there's a word that should never be seen or heard in polite society - Specialism, wtf is that ?

BBassic · Oct 26, 2016

I got my current job through being head-hunted on it but apart from that it's been utter tosh.

Just seems to be full of people posting the same bullshit inspirational clickbait bollocks you get all over every other social media platform.

Stumpy Tim · Oct 26, 2016

When I did a startup I used it a lot and made some great contacts on it. I've also used it to hire people for my team, and then found my current job through it. The people who say it's rubbish either don't understand how to use it or have no need to network professionally

Biscuit · Oct 26, 2016

GOM said:
Now there's a word that should never be seen or heard in polite society - Specialism, wtf is that ?

Specialism: a particular subject or area of study or practice.

smeg · Oct 26, 2016

I work in IT and have over 500 connections, let's be clear most are not friends and i don't use it like Facebook or anything, although i do have some banter with mates i've worked with. As a contractor it's really useful, very cheap and has definitely got me work, so yes, it's good.

Stumpy Tim · Oct 26, 2016

GOM said:
Now there's a word that should never be seen or heard in polite society - Specialism, wtf is that ?

Do you seriously not know what specialism means?

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LinkedIn: what is the purpose?

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