Linked In

[Simster]

Despite the fact I have 150 connections or something, I can't honestly say I've found this site particularly useful yet.

I'm envisaging it to be quite useful when job hunting, but hopefully I won't need to find that out any time soon. And I subscribe to 3 groups too, yet rarely need to look at any of the instigated discussions.

I've probably got a dozen connections who themselves have more than 500 connections so these people must find it useful. I'm curious to find out how so.

What are NSC's experiences of this site then?

 

[Common as Mook]

It's good for getting approached for new employment.

 

[maltaseagull]

Much the same. It seems everyone who joins our company asks to be connected and i have got potentially useful contacts through them (If i were job hunting, which I am not)
I keep getting asked to connect to some Canadian Author too

 

[Napper]

There are some good discussion groups on there for new things in your chosen field.

Have had a few approaches for jobs but nothing suitable although my profile is a bit vague

Not really a great place to be grafting birds from experience

 

[Kumquat]

Useful as you say when you are looking for jobs. I need to improve my profile on it as it is only half complete. But it is used by recruitment agencies to find people. It all depends on the information you put in.

At a course at work they recommended the site as the best way to get a job in the private sector. They said the key was to build up the relationships by sharing information and posting a lot on the site, rather tan just relying on being linked with a lot of people. That way people get a picture of what you are like and gives them more info about you to assess your suitability for any vacancy. That's what they told me anyway.

 

[Commander]

I get headhunted all the time from it, but the real reason for using it is so you can see whether people you are working with in other companies are FIT.

 

[Simster]

I get headhunted all the time from it, but the real reason for using it is so you can see whether people you are working with in other companies are FIT.

Correct. I have just connected with a fit ex colleague called Shazia. I had forgotten all about her, didn't know her well enough for Facebookage, and she is unlikely to be able to assist in any professional manner. However she is a HOTTIE so I'm delighted she saw fit to ask for my connection.

 

[Uncle Buck]

How odd.

I was finally going to sort my profile out on Linkedin today.

 

[NickBHAFC18]

I currently have near 400 connections, If you know how to use Linked In to its full advantage, then it can be a really useful networking tool.

 

[User removed 4]

Correct. I have just connected with a fit ex colleague called Shazia. I had forgotten all about her, didn't know her well enough for Facebookage, and she is unlikely to be able to assist in any professional manner. However she is a HOTTIE so I'm delighted she saw fit to ask for my connection.

shazia ? sounds like she could be massively up my street given my penchant for bangramuff ! Anyway, I digress, linkedin is useful for information , clientbase building type purposes, plus I also get callls from headhunters who've found me through it.

 

[Cadiz Seagull]

I get headhunted all the time from it, but the real reason for using it is so you can see whether people you are working with in other companies are FIT.

This from a man who is soon to plight his troth.

I'll tell your missus.

 

[Monkey Man]

LinkedIn is pretty useful as a business tool as it's basically a self-updating contacts book. But I wouldn't bother with any of the other functions, like groups etc.

 

[Kumquat]

I get headhunted all the time from it, but the real reason for using it is so you can see whether people you are working with in other companies are FIT.

So use it to hunt for head rather than headhunt. Or is that the same thing?

 

[Simster]

I currently have near 400 connections, If you know how to use Linked In to its full advantage, then it can be a really useful networking tool.

So tell us how to use Linked In to it's full advantage then...

shazia ? sounds like she could be massively up my street given my penchant for bangramuff ! Anyway, I digress, linkedin is useful for information , clientbase building type purposes, plus I also get callls from headhunters who've found me through it.

I have been offered the odd job, but am fairly sure they are from agents spamming me and many similar skilled people. Shazia is a little minx. Would would would.

 

[User removed 4]

So tell us how to use Linked In to it's full advantage then...


I have been offered the odd job, but am fairly sure they are from agents spamming me and many similar skilled people. Shazia is a little minx. Would would would.

I would demand to see a picture but that would probably unleash a whole can of copyright style worms !

 

[Rugrat]

I get headhunted all the time from it, but the real reason for using it is so you can see whether people you are working with in other companies are FIT.

Well I've got well over 200 connections and have been looking for a job for well over a year .... I'm a member of at least 20 groups and have 7 or 8 top quality recommendations going back over my last 4/5 jobs ... and it's produced the total response of nothing!

I must be doing something wrong so any tips would be appreciated!

 

[NickBHAFC18]

So tell us how to use Linked In to it's full advantage then...


I have been offered the odd job, but am fairly sure they are from agents spamming me and many similar skilled people. Shazia is a little minx. Would would would.

Here we go:
http://faceyspacey.hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Use-LinkedIn-Effectively

 

[Commander]

Well I've got well over 200 connections and have been looking for a job for well over a year .... I'm a member of at least 20 groups and have 7 or 8 top quality recommendations going back over my last 4/5 jobs ... and it's produced the total response of nothing!

I must be doing something wrong so any tips would be appreciated!

I work in recruitment mate, and rec to rec consultants are even bigger sharks than normal recruitment consultants. They'll do anything to get you to move agencies. It's different in recruitment because it's very easy to get rid of someone if they aren't making the company money as it's there in black and white. So there is little risk in taking someone on, you set them targets, if they don't hit them then you get rid. So although it's a cut throat industry to work in, it's pretty easy to move jobs, as long as you are relatively good at it.

 

[Simster]

Here we go:
http://faceyspacey.hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Use-LinkedIn-Effectively

Thanks but there have got to be better ways of explaining how to use it than to simply say "be selective with who you link to" in 500 words.

The uses they list for Linked In seem patchy to me - a couple some seem very good but others are just lame:

Improve your Google Search Rank: yeah, moderately useful in some fields I guess
Make your Meeting Go Smoother: nonsensical, IMO.
Ask for Advice: the most useful advice in that article I'd have thought.
Research the Competition: I can't believe you can't do this any less thoroughly without a Linked-in profile
Perform Reference Checks: I can see that would be useful too

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I do not use LinkedIn. I prefer to be off the radar with my work and private life so I do not use LinkedIn, Facebook and stopped Twitter after 3 tweets. For my work it is useful and I know friends who have found work from it but I am quite proud of the fact in 14 years of being self-employed I have never used an agent and get my work direct through work contacts, colleagues and friends. I also have a good friends who is on LinkedIn and sends me tip offs from the site if he thinks I might be interested in something. I never say never but for now I, personally, do not see its value.