Reply to: LinkedIn .. no contract jobs

[SlipTheJab]

So you actively contact past clients or contractor colleagues on LinkedIn?

No because they are ex clients/colleagues so I already have their contact details, an important part of contracting is building up and maintaining your network as you move from role to role.

[hgllgh]

Used an agent for my 1st 2 gigs as a contractor when i started out many moons ago, got my 3rd via LinkedIn and subsequent ones via my network which I have built up since, all direct, plan to stay pimp free if I can

So you actively contact past clients or contractor colleagues on LinkedIn?

[SlipTheJab]

Used an agent for my 1st 2 gigs as a contractor when i started out many moons ago, got my 3rd via LinkedIn and subsequent ones via my network which I have built up since, all direct, plan to stay pimp free if I can

[TheFaQQer]

Has anyone secured contract roles through LinkedIn?

Current gig was through LinkedIn, with no agency.

3 1/2 years later...

[VillageContractor]

I got contacted by a recruiter for a contract role through linkedin which wasn't advertised elsewhere

[b0redom]

For me it's a marketing tool, nothing else. Agents will often search for you to make sure you're a real person on there before calling/putting you forward.

I always make sure at the end of a gig I get a couple of recommendations (rather than the noddy 'click here to endorse' ones), which effectively act as referees. That helps with the 'I need two references' garbage too.

[Unix]

One, was a previous client and they asked me to come and cover someone on maternity leave. but then bagged us all a few months in.

[uk contractor]

LinkedIn is IMO a phishing site. Most people will not hire based on profiles unless they already personally know the contractor. Its the facebook of contracting.........

[northernladuk]

Scraaaaag!!! How you doing??

[Scrag Meister]

I was contacted by a consultancy/agency after they saw my LinkedIn profile.

But yes, searching for contracts on LinkedIn is not the most straight forward of tasks.

[MPwannadecentincome]

Pimps put a lot of gigs on their status updates, even if they are not directly of interest to me I often forward them on to others in my linkedin network who I know are on the market. Simple things like clicking like on someone's status update saying "on market for new contract opportunities" is often enough to get that status update shown to others... ie pimps... who then look at the profile and can result in a real gig if you fit what they are looking for in a particular role.

[DaveB]

Has anyone secured contract roles through LinkedIn?

All of the jobs advertised there seem to be perm.
I guess then its just a networking tool for contractor as opposed to a job searching tool?

Not by finding a gig and applying on their, but I do get regular calls from pimps about contract roles based on my profile.

[eek]

My last two contracts have been found through LinkedIn, although the majority of ads are permanent roles.
And the search function is cumbersome, not as user friendly as Jobserve.

The search function is designed for their core market (the USA). Our contract market (where the most skilled are contractors and usually wish to remain that way) is rather unique....

[clearedforlanding]

May I point out a statement of the obvious?

Those of you who did a wonderful degree, great. The network you built at uni is worth more than your degree.

If you look at your entire linked in network and pick up the phone and pitch the people that know you & trust you, you are going to get a gig much faster than waiting for an agency to call or a former client to have a desperate and immediate need.

Every moment you are not billing, you should be pitching. Your time & effort is the commodity that you offer as value.

[kaiser78]

My last two contracts have been found through LinkedIn, although the majority of ads are permanent roles.
And the search function is cumbersome, not as user friendly as Jobserve.