What linked in strategies do you use?

[suityou01]

Got a message on LI this morning from one of the managers at a previous gig. A pimp had contacted him asking him if he knew of anyone for a gig with xyz skills and experience so he tapped me up. All nice.

I read the email trail a little further and found out that first contact was actually made by him to the pimp, even though he is in a gig.

It went like this

Hi blah,

Noticed you viewed my profile, did you find what you need, or can I be of any help?

Stay in touch

Suity's ex manager

This set me thinking. This "play" is not something I would have thought to do. What LI strategies do you employ, or have employed to any successful effect?

Do you write longwinded me me me look at me posts like some of my connections? Seriously one guy spouts utter bollux and can't spell or punctuate and tries to "biggup his spoon" and look all clever by spouting industry jargon.

Thoughts? I posted here so you have to be nice to me

[quackhandle]

One guy who looked at my profile worked for a car company so I contacted him and said I'd love said car company as a client.

Turns out he didn't work for them (hadn't updated his profile) but was still interested. Four weeks of going direct, with the promise of more to come.

Can't see this happening again but you never know, been nice not having to dip into to the warchest.

qh

[yasockie]

The main strategy I have is not to allow pimps in my network - they bother my contacts too much.
The other strategy is to try and get as many connections as you can, if they seem to make any reasonable amount of sense.
I've not yet been desperate enough to openly advertise looking for contracts - from what I've gathered some people who did so many months ago are still looking.

[TheFaQQer]

I accept most requests, and hide my contacts.

Keep the profile up to date. Update your headline periodically, particularly when looking for new roles.

Make sure that your LinkedIn profile isn't just a regurgitation of your CV (guilty, but on the "to-do" list).

Get as many relevant recommendations as you can - not from pimps (someone I know - all his are from agents), preferably from clients, or from co-workers as well.

Join relevant groups.

[Antman]

Pet hate about the discussions is the lack of real debate.

Everybody wants to appear eminently hireable so you get very anodyne comments.

As I'm not in a hiring position I don't suppose it matters though.

[The Spartan]

Make sure that your LinkedIn profile isn't just a regurgitation of your CV (guilty, but on the "to-do" list).

Hmm mine is more or less a regurgitation of my C.V. I'm not sure what I would put in it's place mind

[BolshieBastard]

Hmm mine is more or less a regurgitation of my C.V. I'm not sure what I would put in it's place mind

Problem with that is, I've noticed a number of agents viewing my LI profile literally minutes after I've submitted my cv to them. The other day, one agent had looked at LI 15 minutes after I sent him my cv.

If \ when you need to, ahem, tailor your cv for a role and that then doesnt match with your LI profile, well, draw your own conclusion.

My LI profile has now been updated with a generic 'Service Provider' rather than a specific title. I also just say what the project aims and objectives were instead of saying 'I did this, I was responsible for that' etc.

[The Spartan]

I also just say what the project aims and objectives were instead of saying 'I did this, I was responsible for that' etc.

Oh gosh those lines are on my LI

[TheFaQQer]

Problem with that is, I've noticed a number of agents viewing my LI profile literally minutes after I've submitted my cv to them. The other day, one agent had looked at LI 15 minutes after I sent him my cv.

If \ when you need to, ahem, tailor your cv for a role and that then doesnt match with your LI profile, well, draw your own conclusion.

My LI profile has now been updated with a generic 'Service Provider' rather than a specific title. I also just say what the project aims and objectives were instead of saying 'I did this, I was responsible for that' etc.

Bizarrely, I get agents sending me a LinkedIn message asking if they can see my CV. Since mine is a regurgitation, I fail to see the point.

[The Spartan]

Bizarrely, I get agents sending me a LinkedIn message asking if they can see my CV. Since mine is a regurgitation, I fail to see the point.

Probably so they can forward it on to a client (without your knowledge of course), otherwise I doubt clients would use them if they could use LI properly to find contractors