Who really *uses* LinkedIn?
GeneralFrom time to time I get requests to be added to people's networks in LinkedIn. Each time I get one of these I go out there and approve it (well, most of the time!). I then spend about the next 4 seconds looking at the requester's immediate network and leave. I then proceed to forget that LinkedIn even exists until they happen to send me a message telling me that their are 45,000 in my extended network or something, or someone else happens to request to add me to their network.
I assume that I am missing something here, but is there anything of more value that people are doing with it? Earlier it was pointed out to me that they are one of the current nominees for the Social Networking group of the Webby Awards. This would indicate that either they have a powerful marketing force or someone actually finds it useful. What is it that I am missing about LinkedIn? I will add anyone with a good answer to my LinkedIn network... since I am assuming that is a good thing!
Jacob Robinson said:
Heh, funny you should post this, this morning! I just posted about how valuable LinkedIn has been for me last night. I've been using it for about 3 years now and have been checking it more and more regularly than before. It becomes more valuable the larger your network is (I have approx. 900,000 in my network right now). The first use for me has been the obvious - keeping in touch with your old colleagues who you'd probably otherwise lose track of or forget about.
A few other uses I've had for it (so I don't drag on here):
- Searching for candidates to fill a position whenever I need to fill it.
- Meeting new people from the industry you're in.
- Utilizing the new "Answers" system, which is similar to a forum, but much better and relevant IMO since it's essentially only for "your network".
- Great for receiving recommendations from old colleagues, clients, employers, etc.
- Finding freelancers/advice from others.
Though it depends on who you are, what you do, and are interested in. I think it's really weighted towards recruiters than anything, but I see that they keep adding new features every few months.
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A few other uses I've had for it (so I don't drag on here):
- Searching for candidates to fill a position whenever I need to fill it.
- Meeting new people from the industry you're in.
- Utilizing the new "Answers" system, which is similar to a forum, but much better and relevant IMO since it's essentially only for "your network".
- Great for receiving recommendations from old colleagues, clients, employers, etc.
- Finding freelancers/advice from others.
Though it depends on who you are, what you do, and are interested in. I think it's really weighted towards recruiters than anything, but I see that they keep adding new features every few months.
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JohnEric said:
Well, I use it to keep track of former classmates and colleagues. It's also another possible avenue to find a new position.
Dave Shuck said:
So in your regular use of it, do you visit it often? Do you depend on notifications?
Jim Collins said:
Ive gotten a full-time job and two consulting assignments through it from people contacting me after seeing my LinkedIn profile. I LinkedIn.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimcollins
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimcollins
Charlie Arehart said:
I'm with you, Dave. I kept ignoring the requests for a couple years, and felt a little guilty, but I never felt they (LinkedIn) did an adequate job on the site to tell me why I should accept such invitations.
I finally bit the bullet and did it a few months ago, and proceeded to gather up contacts from either those past invites or contacts I saw others had who I knew, and so on.
I now have 101 connections, but like you, nothing has come of it other than an occasional request from someone to add to each others' network. I've had no real benefit from it, and I've wondered too if I'm missing something, either by doing more with it or being aware of features I've not noticed. I'll look forward to thoughts from others.
I finally bit the bullet and did it a few months ago, and proceeded to gather up contacts from either those past invites or contacts I saw others had who I knew, and so on.
I now have 101 connections, but like you, nothing has come of it other than an occasional request from someone to add to each others' network. I've had no real benefit from it, and I've wondered too if I'm missing something, either by doing more with it or being aware of features I've not noticed. I'll look forward to thoughts from others.
Rob Wilkerson said:
LOL. I just did that very thing 2 days ago. Unless I have an email from the service, it's so far off my radar that its existence is completely moot.
I find it moderately interesting to see who's doing what when I do visit, but that's the extent of any benefit I've seen thusfar.
I find it moderately interesting to see who's doing what when I do visit, but that's the extent of any benefit I've seen thusfar.
Christopher Wigginton said:
It depends on how much of a "People Person" you are. It has some great potential for getting your foot in the door for any number of reasons. Maybe you'd like to meet an individual and their schedule is so full or the noise level around them is so high that you wouldn't even be considered until you used that 2nd level contact to set up the initial meeting. I only have the basic account which is enough for me. Here's another perspective on "It's Who You Know", called "They Rule", a Flash site that connects corporate board of directors between companies.
http://www.theyrule.net/2004/tr2.php
http://www.theyrule.net/2004/tr2.php
Adrian J. Moreno said:
I've been using LinkedIn since at least 2003. I've found many current and former coworkers there, but no classmates yet. Sometimes it's just fun to see who's working where now, but it also helps when people change their contact info.
I get a lot of contacts from recruiters because of it, but lately they're more "do you know anyone who fits this job description".
http://www.linkedin.com/in/iknowkungfoo
I get a lot of contacts from recruiters because of it, but lately they're more "do you know anyone who fits this job description".
http://www.linkedin.com/in/iknowkungfoo
jim collins said:
Adrian your profile is a little...dry. Maybe put something in there about hobbies or non-work interests or something? just a thought.
jonese said:
I've been using it for a long time now. It use it for networking and have found a few freelance gigs and employees from it. I've also used to reconnect to past friends, co-workers and classmates. It's like any other system out. the more you use it, the bigger your network the better the output.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonese
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonese
Jason Crow said:
I've gotten contacted by recruiters and a couple of interviews as a result. I've gotten back in touch with former co-workers and friends. It's also a good place to dig up current contact information for people you haven't spoken to in a while. Recently I landed a new client that found me on linked in. I think it has it's value, but like any other social network some people abuse it and are just concerned with getting as many connections as possible rather than truly networking.
Charlie Arehart said:
Good point, Jason. I, too, filled out the former employee info hoping that it might enable contact with various old colleagues. After 25 years of work, it's easy to have lost touch and this could certainly be a unique and perhaps rare way to be reconnected.
Beyond that, though, it's the aspect of connections among current colleagues (and people more distantly connected) where I (and perhaps others) feel we're missing the boat, in terms of what it's doing for us all.
As for recruiters using it as a way to reach us, I suppose that's a good thing for some. For others, that's an annoyance. :-)
Beyond that, though, it's the aspect of connections among current colleagues (and people more distantly connected) where I (and perhaps others) feel we're missing the boat, in terms of what it's doing for us all.
As for recruiters using it as a way to reach us, I suppose that's a good thing for some. For others, that's an annoyance. :-)
kola said:
I was signed up to linked-in a few years ago and forgot about it for about 3 years but over the past year I've had tons of people I know surface on it and add me to their network. What it is useful for is keeping intouch with people you used to work with or have lost contact with. I have had few people I used to work with and lost touch with get in touch with me via Linked-in. Beyond that I'm not sure how much weight (if any) is put in the recommendations?
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