LinkedIn.Com

[Mordac]

There's no substitute for real friends/contacts though.

[ratewhore]

What's the problem with making them public? Firstly, it helps others put a value on connecting with you and secondly (more importantly I would say) if anyone wants to connect through you to one of your contacts, you have the ability to say yes or no.

That said, most networking websites don't add real tangible value, they seem to be more an exercise in mutual back-slapping!!! (imho)

[Mustang]

You dont have to reveal your contacts - just check the box that says you dont want them revealed. PM me if you want to know how. Other than that its a good site - works well to make contacts.

[Chessplayer]

Hi,
An ex-colleague, who I respect and had a good working relationship with, recently invited me to join linkedin.com, which, after having a quick browse I did. I read up about it, and it seems that a reasonable amount of the business press has written articles on this and other social networking sites. The linkedin.com site is used quite heavily in Silicon Valley apparently....

So, once linked up with this guy, it was quite interesting to see who he was linked too, where they worked etc and their experience.

I'd be interested in knowing people's experience of this site. I tried searching for a few other consultants I had worked with. Most seem to be on there, though most seem to be only connected to one other contact. I rather imagine that they have read an article, signed up, and not actively used it since.

I can see that it could be quite valuable for job hunting...but, to me, my contact list is quite a private thing - my IP - which I like to keep close to my chest. I am quite controlling on who I introduce, and most importantly, who I recommend. Many business leaders say that it is the people with the most contacts who statistically do better (obviously it is not the only magic ingredient!). The situation could arise, that someone who uses all your efforts in maintaining contacts, could browse through your network and profit rather well out of it. But then maybe, if they are connected to me, I should be in a position of welcoming that activity. In other words, people who I respect and trust.

Maybe I just don't like the idea of being relatively public (at least to my network) and being put in the position of having to turn people down!

Certainly if I get a request from someone to link to me, who I have had an issue working with, I am going to have to be quite honest and turn them down.

Any thoughts?

Cheers

Excellent networking utility, ample corporate cock sucking opportunities for all!

[Perhentian]

Hi,
An ex-colleague, who I respect and had a good working relationship with, recently invited me to join linkedin.com, which, after having a quick browse I did. I read up about it, and it seems that a reasonable amount of the business press has written articles on this and other social networking sites. The linkedin.com site is used quite heavily in Silicon Valley apparently....

So, once linked up with this guy, it was quite interesting to see who he was linked too, where they worked etc and their experience.

I'd be interested in knowing people's experience of this site. I tried searching for a few other consultants I had worked with. Most seem to be on there, though most seem to be only connected to one other contact. I rather imagine that they have read an article, signed up, and not actively used it since.

I can see that it could be quite valuable for job hunting...but, to me, my contact list is quite a private thing - my IP - which I like to keep close to my chest. I am quite controlling on who I introduce, and most importantly, who I recommend. Many business leaders say that it is the people with the most contacts who statistically do better (obviously it is not the only magic ingredient!). The situation could arise, that someone who uses all your efforts in maintaining contacts, could browse through your network and profit rather well out of it. But then maybe, if they are connected to me, I should be in a position of welcoming that activity. In other words, people who I respect and trust.

Maybe I just don't like the idea of being relatively public (at least to my network) and being put in the position of having to turn people down!

Certainly if I get a request from someone to link to me, who I have had an issue working with, I am going to have to be quite honest and turn them down.

Any thoughts?

Cheers