Reply to: Starting gig - agency dont like my LinkedIn update

[Gordon Ice]

Starting new gig soon. Agency called today and had a right go because of something I'd put on my LinkedIn profile. Bit spooky that they've been checking it and stalking me.

Accused me of being underhand since I'd already signed with them. I explained to them that they didn't own me and whereas I was aware I had signed a contract, I reserved the right to conduct my business including contract searches how I saw fit. Told them I would continue to look up until I got on site (I have been bitten before when a gig was pulled the day before).

Agency seem to think I'm their employee for some reason. Nightmare.

Am I being unfair on them? I thought not.

1. Time to rethink how you are using Linkedin
2. Tell the pimp to rearrage two carefully selected words

[DrGUID]

Been for a lot of interviews recently, and almost everyone has Googled me and checked my LinkedIn .

If you have a fairly unique name, then use a pseudonym for anything that's not squeaky clean. If you want to work for somebody else, then reputation management is important these days.

[MyUserName]

Is that what you did to have Broadmoor asking you back?

FTFY

[SpontaneousOrder]

My brother has been in the business for ten years or so (recruiting/account managing) and seems to think that nearly 50% of people get their gigs via linkedin. He lends me his login to go fishing for places that have guys with my skillset currently contracting, and then I can find the internal recruiters and get in touch.

[cojak]

Is that what you did to have the Bradford gig asking you back?

No, they were keen to have me back. I wasn't keen at all....

[northernladuk]

I use 'avail for new opportunities from [next month]' as a way of chivvying my current client to produce that extension they've promised.

It's not failed yet...

Is that what you did to have the Bradford gig asking you back?

[TheFaQQer]

I use 'avail for new opportunities from [next month]' as a way of chivvying my current client to produce that extension they've promised.

It's not failed yet...

+1

[jmo21]

I use 'avail for new opportunities from [next month]' as a way of chivvying my current client to produce that extension they've promised.

It's not failed yet...

I usually just get the agent to do the chasing, and start dropping "who am I handing over too" hints.

[cojak]

Yes but not many. The thing is every time you update your status they will see it. So for example I enter "available for new contracts" and they all look at my profile, I can see that the number of views goes up, which result in a couple of phone calls each time of which one or two can be relevant.

Had a contract through linkedin but that was a direct customer

I use 'avail for new opportunities from [next month]' as a way of chivvying my current client to produce that extension they've promised.

It's not failed yet...

[retrodeath]

I'm recruiting and check candidates LinkedIn profiles. I don't trust agencies. In one case there were big diff between LinkedIn and CV from agent. If I saw candidate was actively looking at other roles after I knew they'd signed up I'd be into the agent pretty sharpish. I would wonder if you still wanted the role or were looking for something better.

[Eirikur]

Have you ever had an enquiry that produced anything useful from an agent on Linkedin? I'm talking about a CV going across or better?

Yes but not many. The thing is every time you update your status they will see it. So for example I enter "available for new contracts" and they all look at my profile, I can see that the number of views goes up, which result in a couple of phone calls each time of which one or two can be relevant.

Had a contract through linkedin but that was a direct customer

[mos]

I learnt the hard way that secrecy is the best policy when it comes to contract hunting. And keep looking until you are on site.

[Eirikur]

Strange is why you would even link with an agent. They just use your profile to fish for contacts. Plus they spam the linkedin feed with loads of irrelevant jobs and facebook garbage.

It's a one way street.

At the very least change your privacy settings so they can't see your connections.

I do connect with agents, but all my contacts are blocked from being visible, only shared contacts can be seen
Every time my contract comes to an end I accept connections with them and delete them again after I found a new contract, bar a handfull who are more or less reliable

[Eirikur]

Nothing special. Just basically discussing another role with another agent.

Bit strange that original agency are stalking me like this.

You discuss roles with agents in the open on Linked in?
And you call the angency strange. WTF?

[northernladuk]

Bit spooky that they've been checking it and stalking me.

Not really. That is the whole point of linkedin.

You said something about discussing a role with an agent. This is on your public linkedin profile? Without knowing the details do you think maybe a re-think on how you use linked in so this type of stuff isn't publicly available?