Reply to: Alternative to LinkedIn?

[ladymuck]

It is free.... unless you pay. I find that when I'm searching for my next contract, I get more attention if I go Pro for a couple of months. What are people's views on LI paid v's free?

I have paid for pro a few times but only for a few months at a time. I can't say it made much difference as it's usually someone in my network who gives me a lead or a job rather than a person I wouldn't otherwise have access to. At least it's easy to cancel.

[kloos]

During lockdown LI has become more like Facebook, Twitter, et al but I stick with it as it is free and I have gotten a number of gigs from it.

However, I do spend a lot of time using the Mute/Unfollow buttons.

A Conscious Uncoupling I think Gwyneth called it.

qh

It is free.... unless you pay. I find that when I'm searching for my next contract, I get more attention if I go Pro for a couple of months. What are people's views on LI paid v's free?

[KentDogWalker]

LinkedIn is big pharma censoring trash

BizFluence is better.

[quackhandle]

During lockdown LI has become more like Facebook, Twitter, et al but I stick with it as it is free and I have gotten a number of gigs from it.

However, I do spend a lot of time using the Mute/Unfollow buttons.

A Conscious Uncoupling I think Gwyneth called it.

qh

[MasterBait]

Xing.com Free version doesn't give you as much access as LinkedIn but still good enough to find good contracts if you're interested in working in Europe

[SussexSeagull]

It ha certainly gone downhill since Microsoft brought it but I still have a lot more success through it than the job's boards now.

[MonkeysUncle]

Only benefit i get from Linkedin is that i follow a couple of Microsoft MVPs / Gold Partners.
They usually post about up and coming new features of Microsoft/Office 365 so I dont have to go searching for whats new myself.

I work primarly in Office 365/Digital Workplace deployments so its handy have this knowledge.

I dont think I have ever got a job or a lead from LinkedIn. Jobserve all the way.

[kloos]

https://www.polywork.com is aiming to be a better alternative to LinkedIn, its still not launched publicly though.

Looks like it's aimed at kids. I can't see professionals signing up if they use that kind of cartoon style. It also states: "What do you do, it's a question asked by our friends, parents, uncles, grandparents". I don't think my grandparents are going to be offering me my next contract

[Bodger]

https://www.polywork.com is aiming to be a better alternative to LinkedIn, its still not launched publicly though.

Their website doesn't give any real detail, just a weird motivational slide show.

I think they are going to have the same problems as every other 'social network'.

Anywhere someone can say something about themselves (qualifications, skills, experience) - some people will lie

Anywhere you allow freeform text posts - people will spam rubbish

Anywhere where data is publicly available - companies will harvest it, sell it, spam people, sell things

LinkedIn tried to be a professional network, now it's full of rubbish motivational posts, reports, lies, propaganda. People inflate their job experience, get friends to recommned their skills, and agents and vendors trawl the space looking for someone to sell or sell something to.

EDIT: Some spelling. Theres probably more of them

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

https://www.polywork.com is aiming to be a better alternative to LinkedIn, its still not launched publicly though.

[jmo21]

Or can we put our minds together and create one?

Aye, wire in mate. Come up with some requirements and I'll do the front end work.

[zonkkk]

Works well for me. Got all my contracts (3 so far) via LinkedIn direct messages. No time on the bench in the last 5 years.

I rarely go on it unless I get a message request notification.

[Eirikur]

https://www.xing.com/ is the alternative, it has been around for many years, downside it is quite focussed on Germany, Austria and Switzerland at the moment but more popular then LinkedIn in the German speaking world. But it helped me to find a contract in Germany a few years ago

[kloos]

So what you are actually saying is that some elements of LI have been useful but LI itself as it was designed to work is useless because you ignore it. It was supposed to be a social platform for professionals, not a job board, and it's that element the OP is tired of.

Essentially, yes that is what I am saying. Except it's worse than that as jobs board is far from user-friendly with the multiple duplications and posts not listing a salary or rate.

[northernladuk]

Always makes me laugh when I view an agents profile, particularly the younger ones. The list of 'recently viewed like this' is just a list of young female glam things in various next to nothing dresses and pouts. It appears LI is providing a valuable service to the older male demographic at least