Reply to: LinkedIn - Total waste of time

[Boo]

The ability to search the profiles, obtain contact details and some alerts is my understanding.

Even stuff that is normally private ?

Boo

[fool]

I got two direct to client jobs on LinkedIn back to back. Both were average rates and both turned out to be struggling companies who couldn't afford to pay.

I do get lots of recruiters contact me on linkedin for jobs I may be interested in, but every other contract I've actually taken has been from JobServe.

[Glencky]

I'm really astonished by the number of people on here saying confidently they don't know anyone who has ever got a contract via LinkedIn. As others have said, first and foremost it's a great way of keeping in touch very easily with former colleagues and business contacts. For me, that would be worth paying (a small amount, not £40 a month!) for in itself. I wasn't really interested in it as a permie, but then my CV was 12 years old and on paper at that point..! When I took redundancy, part of the package was 'outplacement' (transition) support from Lee Hecht Harrison. I was sceptical, but my consultant was great. One of the things they really push is getting you to fill out a LinkedIn profile. They explained that the more complete your profile, the higher up anyone's search results you will come. I would never have completed as much on there as I have done without knowing that. Also, having a profile picture (and yes, one where you look normal and professional) massively increases the chance of anyone searching looking at your profile.

I started contracting 18 months ago. First contract I went direct for a former boss of mine, nothing to do with LinkedIn. Second contract I got directly from an agent approach from LinkedIn and ended up with a major competitor of my former employer i.e. a desirable name for my contract. Third contract, I am working for somebody I used to work with in my former employer but who I would never have been in contact with, without LinkedIn. That's 1 out of 3 contracts entirely due to LinkedIn, and another 1 out of 3 I probably wouldn't have known about but for it.

And I don't post anything on there. I literally have never done anything on LinkedIn other than complete my own profile comprehensively, connect with people I know or have worked with and only a tiny handful of agents who I have been introduced to through somebody I know, endorse skills for various people I've worked with (whose skills I genuinely endorse), and sit and wait. I get at least a couple of approaches a week and on average at least one approach a week where I think the agent likely has a credible offer. I have never attempted to contact any agent myself, or ever search for any roles on any site, and whilst the job market is as buoyant as it is, and whilst I continue to get the same number of approached from LI, I don't ever expect to have to.

Pretty good value for money for a total freebie, I'd say.

[Draco]

What does that buy them, does anyone know ?

Boo

Fewer search limits. There are those, you just don't notice some of them until you've used LinkedIn a bit too much.

And more functionality.

[clearedforlanding]

What does that buy them, does anyone know ?

Boo

The ability to search the profiles, obtain contact details and some alerts is my understanding.

[Boo]

LinkedIn is basically a recruitment platform. Recruiters can pay thousands of pounds per year at the highest membership level ...

What does that buy them, does anyone know ?

Boo

[VillageContractor]

I got my current contract from linkedin so it's worked me. But I put the effort in add new contacts, update roles and increase recommendations.

You can argue the value but if a recruiter is using linkedin then they're more likely to contact those with upto date profiles. It's essentially another version of our CV.

VC

[dynamicsaxcontractor]

I find it to be more and more rubbish. I used to have lots of details on it but I have stripped it down to bare minimum. I am fed up with getting at least 2-3 connection requests a week rom random agents (with no introduction) and another 2-3 connection requests from people in countries in Africa/Asia that I have never met or spoke to. I am also fed up with people using it as a social site, a few weeks ago I saw someone posting a photo of their newly born kid.

But its what you use it for, when I am looking for contracts I post an update saying I am available - that normally generates 1-2 messages from my contacts followed by 10 from all the recruiters.

[clearedforlanding]

I have 1000's of connections to agents, I will add anyone. Then when I need a contract I just post it and then agents are all over me like andyw's mum at an orgy.

That is a good strategy. Just remember to change it when you get a job. I know a programme director will a team of several hundred who has been "currently looking for his next position" for over a year now. We really should tell him, but it's cute.

[Unix]

I have 1000's of connections to agents, I will add anyone. Then when I need a contract I just post it and then agents are all over me like andyw's mum at an orgy.

[SlipTheJab]

Got a contract though LI at a place where I applied via an agency first only to be told by the pimp that my CV wasn't a good fit. Contacted the client HR on LI and got the role direct, was there for 3 years. I took great delight in informing said pimp about the role when he contacted me again a few months after I started with 'an excellent opportunity'

[clearedforlanding]

LinkedIn is a wonderful tool to find out what your competitors are up to, and who their clients and suppliers are.

The amount of information that employees divulge in their "on-line CVs" is astounding. Contractor profiles can be even worse as they feel a need to reveal in exhaustive detail everything they are doing to increase Pimp hits.

I have passed on hiring people because their LI profile told me too much information about their previous client and was not prepared to assume this risk.

I haven't encountered it myself, but I am sure we are going to see an increase in HR policing of LI.

[SpontaneousOrder]

I get quite a lot of leads from it. One internal recruiter messages me every single time, on the dot, when my current contract expires (she must be organised and put a reminder in her calendar or something).

Plus other contractor pals get in touch looking for / advising of opportunities.

Plus it's handy just to see if a particular potential client actually uses Java (for example) contractors. If they do there will very likely be a load of them stating as much on linkedin.

[Bluespider]

I've had leads, interviews, speculative requests, interest in my cv etc all from LI.
It's an important part of my arsenal in finding new and interesting contracts plus it also provides an easy way to find out who people are and what they are currently working on.

Yes agencies can use it for their own ends, but nobody said it was a one trick pony! Why can't it work both ways and be mutually beneficial for both sides of the equation?
It is definately a case of you get out of it what you put in, my experiences have been positive.

[achilles]

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.

LinkedIn is basically a recruitment platform. Recruiters can pay thousands of pounds per year at the highest membership level and use it as their main tool.

But for us contractors, I agree, it is next to useless.