[arclight610]

Everyone is telling me I should get a LinkedIn profile. Who here has one, and is it all that its cracked up to be?

[Green_Manelishi]

Who is "everyone"?

Done well, i.e. profile complete, active participant in groups, etc. it is said to be a very effective business/professional networking tool. Done poorly it's Facebook with a nice finish, minus the stupid "I went to the store today" twaddle.

There are many groups that you can join, and you can start one if you like. You will be able to "chat" with folks who share similar professional interests, connect to them, and who knows to what that will lead.

What type of business are you in?

[Adjuster]

I can tell you as someone who is not a LinkedIn member I get very annoyed at all the constant email invites.



/

[KalashniKEV]

What is it cracked up to be?

[arclight610]

Originally Posted by Green_Manelishi

Who is "everyone"?

Done well, i.e. profile complete, active participant in groups, etc. it is said to be a very effective business/professional networking tool. Done poorly it's Facebook with a nice finish, minus the stupid "I went to the store today" twaddle.

There are many groups that you can join, and you can start one if you like. You will be able to "chat" with folks who share similar professional interests, connect to them, and who knows to what that will lead.

What type of business are you in?

Everyone as in the career services office at my college, professors, and advisor. I'm still a college student, but I'm starting getting to the point where I'm starting to look for internships and subsequent employment. I'm in the area of industrial/manufacturing engineering.

[arclight610]

Originally Posted by KalashniKEV

What is it cracked up to be?

It's suppose to be like a professional networking tool. Sort of like Facebook, but more professional and with the goal of connecting to people who can get you in to places (or being the person that gets people into places).

[KalashniKEV]

Originally Posted by arclight610

It's suppose to be like a professional networking tool.

Yup. That's what it is.

Originally Posted by arclight610

...with the goal of connecting to people who can get you in to places (or being the person that gets people into places).

It is what you make of it.

It could be nothing more than a Rolodex that keeps itself updated, it could be the key to teaming your way into business success, it could be a lifeline to jump ship at your current business and start somewhere new.

[ron59]

I have a LinkedIn account, and it's a bunch of ****e to be honest.

At the same time... I still have it.
LOL

[vafish]

I have an account, check it about once every 6 months. It might come in handy if I ever have to look for a job but I've been with the same company for almost 22 years.


Outdoor Hub mobile, the outdoor information engine

[OctoberRust]

not a fan of social networking but I have one.

For a lot of work and jobs it's not what you know, but who you know.

[Woofie]

I was blessed with an account when I started working my current job. One of the other guys signed up everyone in our branch with a profile using our company email addresses. I'm more connected to the professional world now than I ever was. I now receive several dozen offers for ***** performance pills every week through LinkedIn where before I only received correspondence from the corporate office.

[X-ray 4N6]

LinkedIn is for those who want to make career or academic links with people in the same or similar fields. The proper way to use it is to only make connections with people you have worked with before, or people involved in work groups or academic projects who have at least the same objectives as you. It isn't Facebook, it's not for socialising.

Is it all it is cracked up to be?

Depends on two things:

1) Your profile. This is very important, this is a concise summary of your employment history, skills and interests. If you are looking for a job this has to be good. That means it is spell checked, properly formatted and accurate. Treat it like a CV or resume.

2) Your career or job. For example if you are a system administrator, a programmer, a medical professional or somebody who falls into the category of a wanted employee in an agency's eyes, you will get connection invitations. Agencies and potential permanent employers headhunt folks off LinkedIn.

Three out of the last four jobs I got were directly because of LinkedIn. In two cases an agency found my profile and sent an invitation to connect, which included their email address. I don't connect with people unless I know them AND I can recommend them as a person or a company. So I although I didn't connect, I contacted these people off-line and scored some work. The third one was a recruiter who placed me in a permanent job. he found my profile and put me in touch with the employer who gave him a finder's fee.

So yes, it is well worth it but you have to keep your profile accurate, be professional and watch who you connect with.

Again...this is not Facebook.

[certifiedfunds]

It is as powerful and useful as you make it. Many angles to it.

[LoadToadBoss]

Besides serving as an online resume, the groups are the real benefit. Join a professional group and post discussion issues of interest to the professionals within the group. Since there is less anonymity then GlockTalk, posters stay on subject, are generally more helpful and do not get pissy.

[Halojumper]

I went to the store today.

[tehan2]

I'm in sales and have opened dozens of accounts through it. for example a "peer" links in with someone I've been trying to get in front of to make a sale, unsuccessfully. I throw an email to peer and ask for an introduction, introduction leads to appointment, which leads to sale....

I've also been offered jobs, some good, some crap, just from my linked in profile.

A have another peer, she works linked in better than anyone I've ever seen. she networks constantly and knows stuff weeks before others in our field. She's really tied into what's going on in our industry....BUT she spends a few hours a day on linked-in, time that could be better spent on glocktalk

[RWBlue]

Originally Posted by arclight610

Everyone is telling me I should get a LinkedIn profile. Who here has one, and is it all that its cracked up to be?

I have one. I use it to keep track of people I have worked with, recruiters, vendors.

I get a call from a recruiter about once a month because of it.

I don't see any down side.

[theAlgorithmist]

I only use it once or twice a year, but for something that I don't pay for or invest much time in promoting, it's a good payoff.

[TangoUniform]

I have a Linkd-In account because, as it seems more and more 'professional folks' are starting to use it to some degree, I have recognized that I have an ex-wife who likes to make fake online profiles/accounts for/of me...

This is also the only reason I created a facebook account in the first place.

[Jake514]

I have an account and check it monthly or so. I did recieve correspondence from a past boss who I worked with almost 30 years ago, and wondered what ever happened to him.

It is not a lot of value to me since I am not in sales, but it does not hurt either.

[Tackle]

I've had one for a couple years and so far it's been useless. My profile is up to date, I've joined groups, 100+ connections, it looks very professional. I work as Network engineer.

Nothing has come from it besides another login to remember. If it's required by class you should set one up. If it's not required you should set one up anyway. You have 0% chance of getting offered a job through it without a profile.

[Morris]

I have one. It's a tool in a toolbox. It has a place and allows for faster interaction between peers.

It's the closest I will ever get to "social media," save here.