Agents trying to get onto your linked in network

[GreenerGrass]

I've noticed a big increase in agents trying to make contact with LinkedIn in the last 2 or 3 months.
In the process of searching for the last gig I dealt with several agencies outside of LinkedIn (through jobserve and recommendations) and sussed out who was good enough to get me interviews and who were just fishing.
I've linked to a tiny handful of "good" agents, but refused any unsolicited invites from complete strangers who all claim they have "done business with you in the past".

Just keep the emails and if you struggle getting your next contract then contact them. If you work in or have skills in an in demand niche area then these agents may well be genuine, this is where LinkedIn scores.
On the whole I'm confident I can get the next contract either through existing LinkedIn contacts or agents I'm already registered with.

[BolshieBastard]

Cant say Ive had any agents trying to link into me to see my past and present connections.

Think some people are just being paranoid.

[jmo21]

An agent texted me today to see if I was available for work.

Strange one I thought, I've had my CV into them before which is how they got my number, but never actually had work through them.

What happened to email or a phone call?

[Svalbaard]

Cant say Ive had any agents trying to link into me to see my past and present connections.

Think some people are just being paranoid.

I don't think paranoia describes it - I believe that people are correctly letting their own experience guide them as it always pays to question the motives of agents when requests like this are made, and I have had 3 of them in the past month.

It is to be noted that all 3 requests were from agencies that I have not had any dealings with before, or indeed had heard of before. Upon investigation of their web sites I rightly ignored their requests as I had no reason to believe that they had landed large HR supply contracts for SAP professionals with major Oil and Finance companies. Having been in the business for a long time I know who runs these large HR supply contracts and they are all VERY professional agencies, and certainly not based in a backwater street in Portsmouth.

[minestrone]

Chap PMed me yesterday from an agency I had never heard of to say "I found your profile and wanted to see if you are available for work" even though he can only see that I am currently in contract, when I say "I will not be out of contract for a year minumum" he wants to get onto my network.

He never even said "phone me asap", said he would call in a few days which basically said "I want your network not a phone call" Even when agents get a new tool to fish with they still just make a total arse of it.

I think I have decided that they must have hired me previously and are from a reputable ( ha ha ) agency before they get a look in. As said, linkedin is not facebook.

[mobi]

After reading this forum I realized that there is option to hide my connections!

I had quite a few of agencies in my network.

The strange thing is, all of them made their connections private!!

So, they will crawl thru my contacts but won't allow me to do the same on theirs!!

Disgusting.

Now I have made my connections private too.

[SalsaFever]

not only agents.

Taxman in Germany is also extensively tracking LinkedIn and Xing to find your undeclared world wide income.

[Ruse]

After reading this forum I realized that there is option to hide my connections!

I had quite a few of agencies in my network.

The strange thing is, all of them made their connections private!!

So, they will crawl thru my contacts but won't allow me to do the same on theirs!!

Disgusting.

Now I have made my connections private too.

Although hiding your contacts does kind of defeat the purpose for your valid connections. You can drop existing connections, so just drop your agent connections, simples.

[MrMark]

I'm linking to as many folk (including agents) as possible on LinkedIn. Isn't the game to accumulate as many links as possible?

If the agents are chasing my LinkedIn contacts and previous employers, at least they're not wasting my time with fishing phone calls and emails

[Ruse]

I'm linking to as many folk (including agents) as possible on LinkedIn. Isn't the game to accumulate as many links as possible?

Errrr no, I think you need to go back and read the blurb on the site. It isn't about getting as many contacts as possible no matter who they are it's about building a solid business network. There isn't much point IMO in linking to people who you have never met and may have had a 2 minute phone chat with, where is the value in that ?

If your contacts get bombarded with agencies calls as a result of being LinkedIn to you that won't exactly endear you to anyone.