Reply to: LinkedIn slowly becoming Facebook, move to Xing?

[minestrone]

I removed all my previous jobs and the spam stopped.

[Sysman]

My view is its people you would feel comfortable with recommending or vouching for. Alot of people are just out to build a twitter network of "followers" and can safely be ignored. I have noticed quite a few fake accounts. Not difficult to spot, but there are definitaly scammers about.

Alot of the groups are complete trash. I tend to drop them and pick new ones on a cycle. It is what you make it ...

I sacked 'em a couple of years ago because they were trying to take over my inbox.

I since created an an account under a different name to get access to a private invitation-only group, and I haven't strayed outside that.

Funny thing is that a recent startup involving some ex-colleagues is pestering me to view them on both FB and LI.

I would have thought they knew better, but if their backers have bought into the social media concept they might not have much choice.

P.S. there's bit of Javascript floating around somewhere which makes it easier to unsubscribe from multiple LinkedIn areas.

Edit: Here we go: Use this bookmarklet to unsubscribe from all LinkedIn emails in a snap, also on github

[JRCT]

I had an agent contact me through Linkedin, last year. He said he had an exciting opportunity that might be of interest. I was looking, so I called him.

The opportunity was with a company I'd worked for before. "They have a massive project going on at the moment with lots of roles in my area". I told him I already knew that as I have plenty of contacts there.. He asked me if I'd be interested in going back. I said maybe as I already have plenty of contacts there. He then sent me an email asking for exclusivity for ALL roles with this company forever.

I politely refused and told him that I have plenty of contacts there.

[Stevie Wonder Boy]

Which pretty much sums up Social Media for me.

There are small nuggets of useful functionality and value in an overwhelming sea of total bollocks. Most of them started out with a sensible idea, but they all converge to the same bland, irritating business model.

If someone is irritating you, just unlink them, or block thier broadcasts. It's something i've noticed with my children on social media, they seem to think it's a hanging offence to block or unlink with someone? Why is that? It's a great feature, use it.

[Stevie Wonder Boy]

They're all pretty much on LinkedIn - you just need access to my connections

Picked up a direct client and did a lot of business with them on LI. Having said that you do need to manage your connections and not share them. I don't connect with Pimps as they just magpie you to get references. I also don't connect to everyone that asks me.

My personal linking filter...
Generally if your a work colleage and I know you - Yes.
If you are a work colleage and you were a total arse - No.
If you are a good aquaintance / friend and you want to link - Yes.
Everyone else - No

My view is its people you would feel comfortable with recommending or vouching for. Alot of people are just out to build a twitter network of "followers" and can safely be ignored. I have noticed quite a few fake accounts. Not difficult to spot, but there are definitaly scammers about.

Alot of the groups are complete trash. I tend to drop them and pick new ones on a cycle. It is what you make it ...

[TheFaQQer]

I need to get you in! don't forget to bring a couple of references with you

They're all pretty much on LinkedIn - you just need access to my connections

[DodgyAgent]

An opportunity for any decent agent to get in touch, persuade them that they might be getting into a rut, and then find them something else to do - thereby earning the agent a commission.

Are you sure you're cut out for this agency malarkey?

I need to get you in! don't forget to bring a couple of references with you

[TheFaQQer]

What is "so and so is having a work anniversary" all about then?

An opportunity for any decent agent to get in touch, persuade them that they might be getting into a rut, and then find them something else to do - thereby earning the agent a commission.

Are you sure you're cut out for this agency malarkey?

[TykeMerc]

So, I have to stick with it and just 'deal' with the rubbish side of it.

Which pretty much sums up Social Media for me.

There are small nuggets of useful functionality and value in an overwhelming sea of total bollocks. Most of them started out with a sensible idea, but they all converge to the same bland, irritating business model.

[DodgyAgent]

I agree that LI is a bit weird. I've had a request from someone whose house I viewed. I had a suggestion from linkedin that I connect with a contact of mine - someone I bought a bamboo plant from. I get endorsements left right and cetre from people I've never worked with too and I'm sick of getting requests from agents that I've never heard of and never will contact.

However, my current contract role was through LI. The agent sent me an email out of the blue and I ultimately got the role.

It's the best paid role I've ever had (so far) and I'd be very surprised if it doesn't turn out to be the longest. And I really like it AND it's stuff that I'm actually quite good at.

So, I have to stick with it and just 'deal' with the rubbish side of it.

What is "so and so is having a work anniversary" all about then?

[JRCT]

I agree that LI is a bit weird. I've had a request from someone whose house I viewed. I had a suggestion from linkedin that I connect with a contact of mine - someone I bought a bamboo plant from. I get endorsements left right and cetre from people I've never worked with too and I'm sick of getting requests from agents that I've never heard of and never will contact.

However, my current contract role was through LI. The agent sent me an email out of the blue and I ultimately got the role.

It's the best paid role I've ever had (so far) and I'd be very surprised if it doesn't turn out to be the longest. And I really like it AND it's stuff that I'm actually quite good at.

So, I have to stick with it and just 'deal' with the rubbish side of it.

[DodgyAgent]

LinkedIn's downfall is of its own making. In the beginning they had a simple model that worked. Keep it SIMPLE. But no, they had to chase cash at every opportunity. I don't know professionals who are really serious about their work, looking to discuss subjects of importance that would use LinkedIn as a medium for discussion.

My own preference, as a IEEE member, is to use their discussing forums. Also it's very niche and like minded individuals are that without digressing.

Well said

It is also losing its credibility by trying to force people to connect and with its utterly ridiculous skills endorsement system.

[Brussels Slumdog]

I get recommended for skills I don't have by people I have never worked with or ever met. This rather defeats the object of skill recommendations by either co workers or project managers. I do find it strange being asked to connect with someone in the middle of the USA when I don't have the right to work there.

[scooterscot]

LinkedIn's downfall is of its own making. In the beginning they had a simple model that worked. Keep it SIMPLE. But no, they had to chase cash at every opportunity. I don't know professionals who are really serious about their work, looking to discuss subjects of importance that would use LinkedIn as a medium for discussion.

My own preference, as a IEEE member, is to use their discussing forums. Also it's very niche and like minded individuals are that without digressing.

[quackhandle]

I closed down my LI account about 18 months before I stopped contracting. It was just a spamming excuse for agents. I had people in my specialism wanting to link with me who I had absolutely no connection with other than the specialism.

Just say no.

I don't mind it - I've always just seen it as a "Facebook with colleagues, rather than friends". I'm not really sure what anybody expected to happen - it's no different to sitting the office chatting about non-work tulip.

This. In fact I've struggled to tell the difference when you look at any user timeline for FB, LI, Twitter, they have all amalgamated into one and the same, all full of "look at this cute kitten" and "you're a genius if you solve this..."



qh