Reply to: State of the Market

[rocktronAMP]

Snap - same here. It's been a way I've met recruiters in the past who have placed me and other than the odd here's what I'm up to post (to keep relevant) I typically only post when a gig is coming to an end to let folks know that I am available again. Other than for my first contract role 8 years ago I've never visited a job board.

Granted, I typically work in Logistics - same industry I worked perm in for 15 years so over that time have made some contacts with folks so maybe it's that too. Far easier having a network than trawling job boards though.

I had my flag at "Open To Work" for five/six weeks to see who bites on LinkedIn.
There are recruiters sending me "senior software engineer" stuff but most of the time, no mention of salary or contract rate.
I knock them back as I am a tech lead or equivalent level.
I tend to get 3-5 approaches in a week.
C++, C#, Java, Python and even Salesforce and even Murex (must be 2010 at HSBC, I thought I had deleted that rubbish.)
It is a very weak job market from my echo chamber.
Recruiters are just using the buzzword bingo, and the algorithm just spits out near enough matchings based the registered data/profile.
I don't see the specialised resource hunters like I did in 2019, 2021 and even 2023.

After both UK budget and US election, I am still looking for the signs of green shoots recovery. They are lacking.
I find searching for job on LinkedIn tiresome in comparison to jobserve, jobsite and totaljobs.
I cannot stand that most ads that I see, have no salary or contract rate so how do you know? It is just job jingle mungle talk.
"Proven expertise in specifying, designing, developing, and testing complex full-stack software solutions"

There is reason why the job search experience is poor.
LinkedIn was never designed from the UX/UI point of view as a Job Website. It is a poor bolt-on side-ware as the default option.
Is it better when you pay for it as Premium user? I never bothered/ to find out. I wonder what UI/UX the recruiter sees. Anyone know exactly?
In the past, recruiters have found me, but maybe LinkedIn is past its prime.
We need a better alternative business network resource platform in 2025/2026.

[fatJock]

Most of my jobs in the last few years have begun with a recruiter messaging me on linkedin. The same jobs are usually posted on jobserve and wherever else jobs get posted these days (I don't really know). For me, linkedin is proving essential, but i don't 'do' anything on it, other than respond to messages or check the profiles of people who are about to interview me.

Snap - same here. It's been a way I've met recruiters in the past who have placed me and other than the odd here's what I'm up to post (to keep relevant) I typically only post when a gig is coming to an end to let folks know that I am available again. Other than for my first contract role 8 years ago I've never visited a job board.

Granted, I typically work in Logistics - same industry I worked perm in for 15 years so over that time have made some contacts with folks so maybe it's that too. Far easier having a network than trawling job boards though.

[Smartie]

The main issue with recommendations on LI is the fact that they are only positive, so for starters it's a skewed system. You can have none and be brilliant, but having some might mean feck all as well.

Soft skills have become more and more important. If people can be bothered spending time on providing a positive recommendation that they might need to stand by personally, that's a win.

As for other comments on this, I've found it may have been useful to add confidence at interview, particularly in earlier roles where I had fewer relevant historic roles.
With the current state of the market, it's another thing that people could try, so don't just dismiss it out of hand.

I've been barely out of work for the past dozen years, except a few months when my contract finished right at the start of covid. Pretty happy with that.

[willendure]

I kind of think of LI as an arse covering option. You know first thing people do when you send them your CV is to look you up. I guess just to check that the info you are putting out publicily on LI matches the story your CV is telling.

I got annoyed with LI last year because I could not be bothered to maintain it, so deleted my account. Putting it back again though, now that I am on the bench and looking again. I don't know for sure if it is essential to have a LI, but in this market it seems like you don't want to give anyone even the smallest of excuses for binning your CV, given the fat pile they have to look through. A nice brief and professional looking LI profile seems to be expected these days, as much as I dislike the platform.

[Bluenose]

Some people don't see LI the way I do

it's a mechanism for people to find you via the AI, not a social media platform.

[t0bytoo]

Most of my jobs in the last few years have begun with a recruiter messaging me on linkedin. The same jobs are usually posted on jobserve and wherever else jobs get posted these days (I don't really know). For me, linkedin is proving essential, but i don't 'do' anything on it, other than respond to messages or check the profiles of people who are about to interview me.

[northernladuk]

off topic from state of the market... glad you said that as I ignore Trustpilot along with Tripadvisor

Must admit we do check out Tripadvisor when booking holidays or staying at different non chain hotels although we go straight for the 1 star reviews. We look at what the worst is people can say and if we can live with it we are good. For example, staying in Dublin they will mention the noise from the street or bottles being emptied at 2am. We can sleep through that so if that's the worst about the place we are good to go.

Another time we were trying to book adults only hotels in Cancun. Problem is some of them over there are erm, a tad too open minded for us shall we say but there are some great normal ones. Before casting aspersions other half is a teacher and goes away to get away from the kids so we always go adults only. The hotels generally make it pretty clear on the website but one looked perfect. Wasn't nudist, wasn't a swingers spot, all looking good. Read the 1 star reviews and just one comment said nice but having breakfast next to fat naked Americans wasn't fun. Rang the hotel and it turned out to be clothing optional although it didn't say it on the website at all. Quickly dropped that one. So Tripadvisor saved our bacon (or saved it from coming back up at breakfast at least).

[dsc]

Recommendations on LI I would take with a large pinch of salt. I know one guy who has loads of recommendations, spends loads of time badgering people. He is one of the most crap people I have ever worked with. I would never take these into account if looking into hire somebody, they have the same amount of credibility as reviews on Trustpilot. Another platform heavily abused.

The main issue with recommendations on LI is the fact that they are only positive, so for starters it's a skewed system. You can have none and be brilliant, but having some might mean feck all as well.

[CodeCobbler]

I think for me the worst aspect are the fake jobs on LI. I have actually found some companies through LI, but I always apply direct to their website. But still, I have got nothing ever from LI.

Maybe 4 years ago it was slightly relevant, but lets face it, it was easy to get a job back then. As of now LI is the ultimate troll, 200+ applicants (I think it caps it at 200), for fake jobs. Good grief.

[gables]

Recommendations on LI I would take with a large pinch of salt. I know one guy who has loads of recommendations, spends loads of time badgering people. He is one of the most crap people I have ever worked with. I would never take these into account if looking into hire somebody, they have the same amount of credibility as reviews on Trustpilot. Another platform heavily abused.

off topic from state of the market... glad you said that as I ignore Trustpilot along with Tripadvisor

[avonleigh]

Recommendations on LI I would take with a large pinch of salt. I know one guy who has loads of recommendations, spends loads of time badgering people. He is one of the most crap people I have ever worked with. I would never take these into account if looking into hire somebody, they have the same amount of credibility as reviews on Trustpilot. Another platform heavily abused.

[northernladuk]

I've found LI useful for the recommendations feature. Often ask colleagues to add a recommendation at the end of a contract and have added a page on the CV with some of the highlights for some roles in the past.

It can provide additional confidence and a 360 degree view from e.g. team members, client managers, C level contacts etc.

You might find it useful to gather recommendations. Is the recommendations feature useful to you finding roles? I very much doubt. It's the one area I never bother to read.

[northernladuk]

Totally agree and unlike you I don't get it all, in fact it makes me disregard any comment they make.

Glad you said that. I didn't want to go that far in case I was the only one and I'm the same.

[Smartie]

I've found LI useful for the recommendations feature. Often ask colleagues to add a recommendation at the end of a contract and have added a page on the CV with some of the highlights for some roles in the past.

It can provide additional confidence and a 360 degree view from e.g. team members, client managers, C level contacts etc.

[gables]

One of the things that gets me most, and it is probably to do with me being old and/or a miserable git but, anyone that has 'Helping companies yadda yadda' rather than their job role. I get why they do it and times change but still irks me. And that's one of the signs that LI isn't aimed at me.

Totally agree and unlike you I don't get it all, in fact it makes me disregard any comment they make.