LinkedIn - Total waste of time

[unixman]

In theory, LinkedIn could have replaced agencies. The problem is that

- a prospective client has no way of knowing whether your LinkedIn claims are true or not.
- recommendations are usually reciprocal. Fred from BT says you are a good programmer. Because you said he was a good DBA.

Having said that I am impressed at people above finding work the linkedin way. Perhaps a profile polish is in order.

[AnotherGuy]

It can work for & or against you. I dislike it immensely as some agencies see your employer history then proceed to contact them without your permission even when your still in a contract & not yet spoken to them about leaving or extending!

Why would they do that? Contact saying what?
Paranoia too much?

[MrMarkyMark]

Why would they do that? Contact saying what?
Paranoia too much?

Errrrrrrrrrrrr, to try and fill your, possibly soon to be vacated, role, maybe? To tout for business in general?

[AnotherGuy]

Errrrrrrrrrrrr, to try and fill your, possibly soon to be vacated, role, maybe? To tout for business in general?

In every job site they can find millions of CVs so LinkedIn is no different in that way. Also, I don't really care if they contact my old employers, good luck with that.

[MrMarkyMark]

In every job site they can find millions of CVs so LinkedIn is no different in that way. Also, I don't really care if they contact my old employers, good luck with that.

Maybe not everyone puts their current role on a CV, I don't, for example.

[uk contractor]

Why would they do that? Contact saying what?
Paranoia too much?

If you cannot work it out for yourself I am not going to tell you!

[WTFH]

It can work for & or against you. I dislike it immensely as some agencies see your employer history then proceed to contact them without your permission even when your still in a contract & not yet spoken to them about leaving or extending!

For that alone I would not use it at all. I know people who have used it to get contracts but also many who like me set everything to private or friends only as so many lazy inexperienced agents misuse it to try & generate leads.

My profile always stays at least 1 contract out of date.
Within a day or two of me changing it, I will get phone calls from agents congratulating me on my new role. When I tell them that I've already left that role, they go away.


But, I accept recommendations (and give them), and I have been offered roles as a result of it. I also use it to see what friends/past colleagues are up to and if a client asks me for a name of someone, I'll provide it and a link to their profile. (along with contacting the person I've suggested)

[diseasex]

had at least few interviews just from linkedin (however ads were advertised on jobserve also). the difference is you have a direct contact with the agent that does recruitment, so you can start selling yourself immediately.. I think it is of big value.

[BolshieBastard]

I personally dont know a single person who has picked up a contract via LI. IMVHO, its a total waste of time.

You just get endless requests to 'link' from agents and people I dont know of and have never heard of before. Good luck to those who have got something from it but I honestly think they would have been contacted one way or another by the people who used LI.

[Snarf]

I hate it and have no idea why I have an account. Every single word on that site is bollocks.

I use mine like an online CV.. So completely agree its all lies and bollocks