How to use Linkedin?
- Thread starter simonvee
- Start date
simonvee -
My experience has been that LinkedIn is a great way to stay in touch with business colleagues and keep track of people I know in the business world who have moved on to other companies/jobs (i.e. networking and staying in touch with people I already know). It's like a business Facebook. However I don't know how useful it is for finding jobs. I am sometimes contacted by people I don't know who are looking for a job and headhunters who want to know if I have any openings in my department. I always ignore and delete these messages. I also sometimes receive invitations from people I don't know who want to connect with me. I ignore and delete these messages as well. In other words, I only used LinkedIn to connect with people I have actually met and already know. The vast majority of my business colleagues use LinkedIn in the same way and don't respond to communications from people they don't already know.
Perhaps others have had different experiences.
My experience has been that LinkedIn is a great way to stay in touch with business colleagues and keep track of people I know in the business world who have moved on to other companies/jobs (i.e. networking and staying in touch with people I already know). It's like a business Facebook. However I don't know how useful it is for finding jobs. I am sometimes contacted by people I don't know who are looking for a job and headhunters who want to know if I have any openings in my department. I always ignore and delete these messages. I also sometimes receive invitations from people I don't know who want to connect with me. I ignore and delete these messages as well. In other words, I only used LinkedIn to connect with people I have actually met and already know. The vast majority of my business colleagues use LinkedIn in the same way and don't respond to communications from people they don't already know.
Perhaps others have had different experiences.
It appears that you are right, Linkedin appears as though it's a scam for job hunters. I was thinking to myself....
1. Yes Linkedin is a site for networking and seemingly to 'find' jobs. People get connected.
2. However, if Jack approached Jill who is a complete stranger, what would make Jill want to introduce Jack to the hiring manager.
Maybe others would like to share any positive experiences or even stories about Linkedin in.... I don't know.
1. Yes Linkedin is a site for networking and seemingly to 'find' jobs. People get connected.
2. However, if Jack approached Jill who is a complete stranger, what would make Jill want to introduce Jack to the hiring manager.
Maybe others would like to share any positive experiences or even stories about Linkedin in.... I don't know.
I dont think anything would make Jill introduce Jack to the hiring manager, "Jack is a stranger"....Its like striking up a conversation with some girl at a bus stand and using her to get to the hiring manager. Very sneaky, manipulative and cunning way of using someone to get into the corporate world. The girl dosen't know this person why should she help strangers. Didn't our parents teach us not to talk to strangers. The answer should be a flat "NO"simonvee said:
LinkedIn is absolutely the number 1 professional social networking site used in North America. It is a must when you are building you're online branding/presence -- it's not like facebook and the average user is a working professional.
Yes - it is used primarily by people to keep in contact with their business associates
Yes - delete anyone you invites you to be connected that you don't know
YES - recruiters actively use it to both 1) perform anymously pre-screening of candidates prior to presenting them to their clients and 2) to search for likely candidates. Recruiters will pay the premium (paid) membership and use the advanced search functions to filter and find solid candidates.
You can use it to search for people you're trying to meet at target organizations and when you have an interview always see if they're on LinkedIn to review their public profile.
Like any site you belong to - you must keep your profile current (and use a current, professional photo).
It's an invaluable tool in todays job market!
Yes - it is used primarily by people to keep in contact with their business associates
Yes - delete anyone you invites you to be connected that you don't know
YES - recruiters actively use it to both 1) perform anymously pre-screening of candidates prior to presenting them to their clients and 2) to search for likely candidates. Recruiters will pay the premium (paid) membership and use the advanced search functions to filter and find solid candidates.
You can use it to search for people you're trying to meet at target organizations and when you have an interview always see if they're on LinkedIn to review their public profile.
Like any site you belong to - you must keep your profile current (and use a current, professional photo).
It's an invaluable tool in todays job market!
I personally know recruiters that will use LinkedIn to search for possible candidates, and yes, they've also used it to do pre-screenings -- this is done before they call you to gather further information. It's not a bad thing, but you need a solid professional profile.