Discussion on:

How to use LinkedIn strategically

It would be interesting to know how many people have gotten employment with Linkedin, directly or indirectly.

With working in banking/finance I.T. I've been advised by auditors not to be on LinkedIn due to the potential for security breaches. That said, I don't know much about the site other than my husband who feels it has been quite beneficial. His job (technical writer) was outsourced to India in early October 2010 and he spent a lot of time on the site with favorable results. He has been to two interviews as well as landing a 2-year contract with H-P because of his LinkedIn connections. He has connected a few of his contacts regarding jobs and I know of one person who was hired as a result.

I actually found my new job as a BI solutions developer with a big 3 bank here in Toronto courtesy of LinkedIn. I congratulated a friend of mine when it was announced on LinkedIn that he got promoted/found a new job and he mentioned an opportunity if I was interested. My current manager and at least one other colleague of mine in my team are on LinkedIn.
That being said, I don't write about the details of my job nor what I do at work in blogs, newsgroups, or internet forums.

What exactly is the possible "security breach" with being on LinkedIn? All information that you post to LinkedIn is completely controllable by you, not only as far as what information you choose to post to your profile, but who can see it. You can also hide your current position from being displayed to anyone, or everyone. You can hide your past positions as well.

Nor is their susceptibility to spear phishing.

Even though I am not looking for a new position at this time, I have received two requests for a resume. I found that in itself interesting enough to look at both positions. However, I also respectfully declined.

It's good for finding all sorts of business people and building relationships with them. Specifically in the sense that you can create a special plotted approach to connecting with them and others in your group or circle.

My company HR connected with one of my senior on linked-in. Also, I have seen many companies contacting professionals through Linkedin.

I do not know, first hand, of anyone that Linkedin was used to obtain a job. Also, people in management I know use it after receipt of an application to see if there is a reason to not continue with the applicant.
I have only heard the Linkedin hype that you can connect and find employment.

I know that the HR recruiters where I currently work use LinkedIn extensively to find suitable candidates. And even if they come through another channel (job boards etc.), the recruiters use LinkedIn to check them out.
BTW - when I am interviewing people I have found that they ALL have checked me out through LinkedIn. So a word of advice - even if you "don't care" how you appear on it, someone else may form an opinion based on it...

I get many Linkedin email for Job offers and also recommend friends looking for job in any industry to signup on linked to publish their profile summary and keep expanding your network in similar industry of interest to them, join groups and get involved in discussion to put their thoughts
Linkedin is really great tool, when used wisely!!!!

After turning down a job offer, prior to moving back to Atlanta from Maryland, I was able to connect with the hiring manager after losing his contact info. Once I got a hold of him he actually remembered speaking with me even after a year had passed and offered me the position again.

I found a number of good ICT staff both using LinkedIn contacts by asking for referrals and by placing job ads.

My current job started with a recruiter contacting me through LinkedIN. Despite my initial skepticism, I kept with the process. Worked out for me, this time at least.

Well, I have mixed experience. Partially similar to what KathyBacon's auditors said. I have been nagged a hassled by at least a hundred recruiters trying to find internal postings and positions of a company I had as present employer. Finally I changed my employer's name with the industry in which it operates and that stopped the emails.

As to getting job through Linked-in connections, I have been pretty damned close to an interview through it. I didn't follow through due to other reasons.

I have at one point used to to get to someone across 4 degrees of separation who was working at the same dept and company where I was about to interview. That had favorable results. Hope that helps.

Great App for social networking

If you seeking just "project work" Linked-In works.
For those of us seeking full time work nothing beats knowing a person who could forward on your resume.

If you are not using Linked In as a networking tool, you're missing a key piece. I suppose if you never plan on doing a job search and don't need to make contacts for sales, you can afford to ignore it. In today's world of job insecurity however, it should be one of your top networking tools.
As for Linked In directly getting someone employment, it is one of many tools that should be used as part of a networking strategy. This will make a job search more successful rather than relying on this one single tool.
Lew Sauder, Consulting 101: 101 Tips For Success in Consulting (www.Consulting101Book.com)

It is a great networking site. It helps to create professional network also, great to enhance knowledge.

I seem to be contacted by people from all over the country who want to added to my "connections" but nothing ever comes of it.

Thank you for sharing this tips. I think what linkedin does is to make you more visible to those who are looking for someone whose credential fit yours. It is hard to say that someone has been hired because of Linkedin because the hiring process does not work that way.

Well, you may connect me through linked in. Look for Jef Menguin. I am the only one there.

I had my personal twitter account sync'd instead of my professional one, and I received a PM from one of my IEEE connects to flip the script quick! LOL

Great personalization tool to present your own working profile. Nothing to lose, and you get yourself stamping in the cyberspace. In addition, it can broaden our communication channel in our carrier development.

Why's not LinkedIn?

When most of your connections are from your current employer, you can't use it to actively look for work! You can use it to build a profile and portfolio, and use it on your resume. It is useful if you can build your profile so that it adds to your resume and cover letter, and links out to a portfolio website or blog. Having references there helps, too. Just be careful what you say!

What would Toni suggest one write on their LI page if they have extensive IT experience and have proven, through their many positions, that they are innovative and motivated when working on critical projects? What if they are not boring, sheepish cube drones but results-oriented and dynamic individuals with a proven track record of being a team-player? What if their work style is fast-paced, problem-solving with an entrepreneurial spirit?

These are good traits. Do employers want people who can wrangle a thesaurus and who eschew "buzzwords" or motivated performers who know they are good at what they do and are ready to get the job done in the pursuit of profit?

Just asking.

I am a student of B-tech. CS-IIyr . I woud like to go further for Database Management System as a priority for my career. Please guide me for this .

if you're not a paid member, joining groups is a way to get more closely connected with others in your relevant industry. If you join a group that someone else is in, you then have more access to view their profile.

I have found that when joining "relevant Industry" groups, I get inundated with drivel from the masses that believe they are experts on everything. I expected brisk and up to date intelligent conversations. A sharing of real world information. I have been very disappointed. Virtually everything is self serving and rehashed nonsense.
It is worse than anything I have experienced on any social network site.

This is, of course, my Less Than Humble Opinion.

I would like to know that too. I'm sure it's better luck at a dating service.

I would like to know that too.

and checked the box for "I don't get any value from it". This may be because I don't think 'strategically'.

you can also make use of adding products and services in linkedin

My wife works in HR and swears by it. I created an account but don't really have a use for it as of yet. Talent requisitioners are constantly searching for linkedin for potential candidates for positions within their company. I think it would benefit everyone to have an account whether you are currently searching for a new position or not. Networking is a very powerful tool.

Hi all,

I think LinkedIn is the best social media network with professional emphasis that has been created. However, the variety of positive and negative responses given here suggest to me that some professional industries benefit more than others. For instance I notice a lot of positive vibes from those in HR - just to mention one.

It would be interesting to have survey results to find out which industries benefit most and which ones do not.

Apart from their own site many companies have a profile on LinkedIn to show just the essentials of what they do and who they are, just like your personal profile is supposed to do. That's one way to use LinkedIn as a source to find a job or assignment as a partner, getting a contract etcetera. The reversed method is to find a company's website without the chance to make a typo in the URL or the company's name in your favorite search engine. Besides you see eventually 1st, 2nd, 3rd contacts who work there, a reference in the blink of an eye.

LinkedIn has a lot of positive characteristics especially if you dare to compare it with FB, MySpace and a couple of other, less famous sites.

Specialized job seeker/recruiter sites are valuable as well. Applying by just one to three mouse clicks and typing few bytes are valuable as well. I use some of them to get a better chance.

Linked In, as well as any other social site, is only as powerful as the people who are broadcasting themselves. I see alot of questioning whether or not the site even has significance in getting a job or job hunting. Maybe another question should be asked instead; like am I sending the best possible impression of myself across to perspective employers?

I have had numerous people ring me up trying to sell me things due to my public linkedin profile ... (I'm talking specific IT products) and even once trying to get me to attend a conference, based on the details on linkedin.

Linkedin is one of the best social media platform where social media experts can share niche resources to their friends and groups which can be effected to business presence through out the social media world., But trying to employing Linkedin strategically can make this happen.

I have been using the WP to synch my blog to share post and news up dates with my peer network. Works really well as i don't need to duplicate my time. Here is the wordpress site I use it on: Halong Bay Tours. Linked in , "Facebook for adults"

I would just like to agree with Stephen. Yes, it would be a lot more interesting of there are figures showing how many people have been employed via linkedin

Strange that only Facebook is mentioned as competition "compatible", while Google+ comes much nearer to LinkedIn in my not so humble opinion. My 0.02 we used to say. Yes, I'm an "old school" guy, yet a (systems) developer when it was still called (systems) programmer back in the seventies.

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Linkedin is quite professional network. Especially for recruiting.

I would have thought that plain language and proof gets you further than buzzwords.

My best strategy I used on http://www.linkedin.com was to use the tool who's checking out your profile. I used recruiters and direct to company, and when found their contacts were checking out my profile, I'd do a timely follow up - and yeah, helped me secure my last job. My $.02