Reply to: Agents trying to get onto your linked in network

[TheFaQQer]

Really, where are they ? I've never seen any.

I have no idea how you put yours in there, but I've just checked on a friends profile and his mobile number is in the right hand side under his email address.

[Ruse]

Yes, you do.

Really, where are they ? I've never seen any.

[TheFaQQer]

You don't get tel no's on LinkedIn

Yes, you do.

[Ruse]

I didn't think you saw peoples phone numbers until they were in your network - so at worst, they get a couple of emails asking to connect before they say "I don't know Joe Scumbag" and he gets ignored.

simples.

You don't get tel no's on LinkedIn

Agency looks up your contacts, finds name of Unix team lead at Scumbags Bank, rings reception and and asks to be put through to his extension, also asks reception for his extension no. Simples.

[TheFaQQer]

If your contacts get bombarded with agencies calls as a result of being LinkedIn to you that won't exactly endear you to anyone.

I didn't think you saw peoples phone numbers until they were in your network - so at worst, they get a couple of emails asking to connect before they say "I don't know Joe Scumbag" and he gets ignored.

simples.

[MrMark]

Errrr no, I think you need to go back and read the blurb on the site. It isn't about getting as many contacts as possible no matter who they are it's about building a solid business network. There isn't much point IMO in linking to people who you have never met and may have had a 2 minute phone chat with, where is the value in that ?

If your contacts get bombarded with agencies calls as a result of being LinkedIn to you that won't exactly endear you to anyone.

Although my previous post may have been made in jest, it appears some have taken the bait. However if I'm never to work again, the thought of others (especially agents) annoying each other and all wasting time chasing the same contacts, doesn't concern me one iota.

[Ruse]

Don't want to drop agents because if they ever search their own connections, at least my name will appear. Dropping them, they won't even see my name unless I send them my CV.

They might often search connections first before putting ad outside.

Or they might operate the "old fashioned" way and search their CV database for matches and contact those people first.

Not sure how long you have been contracting but most contractors will have a list of favoured agencies by whom they will be well known in any event.

Personally I see the value of LinkedIn more from the perspective of developing business relationships for direct contracts.

[mobi]

Don't want to drop agents because if they ever search their own connections, at least my name will appear. Dropping them, they won't even see my name unless I send them my CV.

They might often search connections first before putting ad outside.

[Ruse]

I'm linking to as many folk (including agents) as possible on LinkedIn. Isn't the game to accumulate as many links as possible?

Errrr no, I think you need to go back and read the blurb on the site. It isn't about getting as many contacts as possible no matter who they are it's about building a solid business network. There isn't much point IMO in linking to people who you have never met and may have had a 2 minute phone chat with, where is the value in that ?

If your contacts get bombarded with agencies calls as a result of being LinkedIn to you that won't exactly endear you to anyone.

[MrMark]

I'm linking to as many folk (including agents) as possible on LinkedIn. Isn't the game to accumulate as many links as possible?

If the agents are chasing my LinkedIn contacts and previous employers, at least they're not wasting my time with fishing phone calls and emails

[Ruse]

After reading this forum I realized that there is option to hide my connections!

I had quite a few of agencies in my network.

The strange thing is, all of them made their connections private!!

So, they will crawl thru my contacts but won't allow me to do the same on theirs!!

Disgusting.

Now I have made my connections private too.

Although hiding your contacts does kind of defeat the purpose for your valid connections. You can drop existing connections, so just drop your agent connections, simples.

[SalsaFever]

not only agents.

Taxman in Germany is also extensively tracking LinkedIn and Xing to find your undeclared world wide income.

[mobi]

After reading this forum I realized that there is option to hide my connections!

I had quite a few of agencies in my network.

The strange thing is, all of them made their connections private!!

So, they will crawl thru my contacts but won't allow me to do the same on theirs!!

Disgusting.

Now I have made my connections private too.

[minestrone]

Chap PMed me yesterday from an agency I had never heard of to say "I found your profile and wanted to see if you are available for work" even though he can only see that I am currently in contract, when I say "I will not be out of contract for a year minumum" he wants to get onto my network.

He never even said "phone me asap", said he would call in a few days which basically said "I want your network not a phone call" Even when agents get a new tool to fish with they still just make a total arse of it.

I think I have decided that they must have hired me previously and are from a reputable ( ha ha ) agency before they get a look in. As said, linkedin is not facebook.

[Svalbaard]

Cant say Ive had any agents trying to link into me to see my past and present connections.

Think some people are just being paranoid.

I don't think paranoia describes it - I believe that people are correctly letting their own experience guide them as it always pays to question the motives of agents when requests like this are made, and I have had 3 of them in the past month.

It is to be noted that all 3 requests were from agencies that I have not had any dealings with before, or indeed had heard of before. Upon investigation of their web sites I rightly ignored their requests as I had no reason to believe that they had landed large HR supply contracts for SAP professionals with major Oil and Finance companies. Having been in the business for a long time I know who runs these large HR supply contracts and they are all VERY professional agencies, and certainly not based in a backwater street in Portsmouth.