LinkedIn

[DervVW]

Is the tool worth it?
Has anyone managed to get a job via networking? The old saying goes 'its not what you know but who you know' so does that mean people have managed to use it effectively?

Also, does it only work if you only work for people in a particular field of work or education level?

[-crookedtail-]

I got my current job via LinkedIn. I joined a group and was then sent jobs in my industry, I applied for one and got it, no agencies involved.

[DervVW]

IT bod then? Degree education?

[TangerinePool]

I'd stick to the job boards as a primary source but start to follow agents/agency's or whoever advertises work in your arena and respond to anything they post that suits. Over time and a few jobs later you may very well become known enough to them to be considered for roles before it is advertised.

A lot of 'real' networking is done through people you've worked with/for (not agency's) who will either give you a job or recommend you highly. This has always been the case long before LinkedIN was even conceived and will be the product of a long and illustrious career where you've seriously delivered value (and remember even an admin assistant can have a reputation for seriously delivering value) rather than something that can be signed up to.

Definitely worth it overall in most cases. What is your industry?

[rog007]

It's an adjunct; costs nothing and it may just oil a wheel or two. Good luck!

[98elise]

I get quite a few people contact me about job opportunities via Linkedin.

Its just a good way of keeping connected with people you've worked with (without needing to know about their social life), and keeping your CV out there.

[northandy]

I have had two approaches direct from large companies own internal recruitment teams, one of them was nestle.

These were from them searching on LinkedIn.

[mike9009]

I get a job offer every six months or so via Linkedin. I am not looking for new employment and I don't get many hits for my profile. I have also gained many contacts within my industry ( foundry engineering) that I wouldn't have got otherwise.

So if the worse happened and I lost my current job, I reckon someone, somewhere on Linkedin would be able to help.

[DervVW]

TangerinePool said:

I'd stick to the job boards as a primary source but start to follow agents/agency's or whoever advertises work in your arena and respond to anything they post that suits. Over time and a few jobs later you may very well become known enough to them to be considered for roles before it is advertised.

A lot of 'real' networking is done through people you've worked with/for (not agency's) who will either give you a job or recommend you highly. This has always been the case long before LinkedIN was even conceived and will be the product of a long and illustrious career where you've seriously delivered value (and remember even an admin assistant can have a reputation for seriously delivering value) rather than something that can be signed up to.

Definitely worth it overall in most cases. What is your industry?

Thank you, that was a useful answer - I figured it would be an additional tool. My industry is the IT one, and specifically operations, I am not especially looking but I do wonder what is out there and like everyone else a new challenge and a few more quid in my pocket is always worth a look!

rog007 said:

It's an adjunct; costs nothing and it may just oil a wheel or two. Good luck!

Thanks Rog

98elise said:

I get quite a few people contact me about job opportunities via Linkedin.

Its just a good way of keeping connected with people you've worked with (without needing to know about their social life), and keeping your CV out there.

Yes its not Facebook with some of the drama/ranting or picture sharing that can be tedious! So far I have noticed some interesting articles, well interesting to me by following the the industries I work in and/or are interested in.

northandy said:

I have had two approaches direct from large companies own internal recruitment teams, one of them was nestle.

These were from them searching on LinkedIn.

So they do look on their then - worth remembering!

mike9009 said:

I get a job offer every six months or so via Linkedin. I am not looking for new employment and I don't get many hits for my profile. I have also gained many contacts within my industry ( foundry engineering) that I wouldn't have got otherwise.

So if the worse happened and I lost my current job, I reckon someone, somewhere on Linkedin would be able to help.

So a good safety net.

It seems that its a worthy tool to add to the many tools that you need to find a job.

Thanks all

[Gargamel]

Over the last three and a half years I have directly hired more than 200 people from Linked In.

In fact my organisation does pretty much all of its headhunting from LI. We are a FTSE top ten FMCG business.

Join industry groups, use common job titles, note key skills and make connections - best ways to get found. Oh and have a photo too.

There is an absolute mass of advice on how to put up a good profile.

[XJSJohn]

In smaller markets it is probably the most valuable tool directly / indirectly for sourcing a new role.

In Singapore and Thailand it is my primary place for finding contacts that lead to jobs, as most stuff on job boards is either a CV harvester, or a job that is either poor or paying very poor and all known contacts wouldnt take it.

As such you can notify your linkeding contacts list when you are looking again or they can use it to send you interesting job descriptions.

Also joining the right groups (like various Chamber of Commerce groups) notifies you of when various networking / industry related events are coming up for good networking.

[Issi]

I think it's a useful tool, and also a source of comedy gold, when you look at profiles of people you used to work with, who apparently were 'Senior' this and 'Manager' of that, despite that job or role never having existed.

[richarda0109]

As a contractor / consultant I thought it was a good idea to promote myself on Linkedin. Unfortunately over the 3 yrs that I have been a member I have had very poor responses.

From the responses above it looks like that on the permanent side their have been better results on both sides.

I am now considering actually removing my information on Linkedin.

Rgds
Richard

[bogie]

Its a good tool if you use it in the right way and take a lot with a pinch of salt. Actually it makes it easier to spot bulls*itters more than ever

[anonymous-user]

I found it useful recently as I was interviewing for my new role, I found the people who would be interviewing me (and subsequently managing me) so I knew what they looked like and also checked if we had any mutual connections.

[AmiableChimp]

I get regular contact from recruitment agencies through LinkedIn.

I also use it to keep up to date with what my current and previous colleagues are up to.

I am a member of various groups relating to my field of IT.

Been on there about 4/5 years now and find it extremely useful.

[DervVW]

Sounds like its worth using.
For those of you who have had job offers, any pointers on what your profile should look like?
Any website links with good hints and tips? I have googled this, but largely it looks like the articles are too generic.

Thanks for the previous feedback

[gjf764]

swerni said:

I get approached weekly via LinkedIn either by recruitmenters or directly.
My current job was via an approach on LinkedIn.

Been following this with interest, building my linked in network for sometime.

Any chance of a link to your profile so I can see what works?

[shirt]

i got my currect role via linked in, a recruiter having read my profile and secured an interview. i work in engineering [power].

i'm finding if you have enough people within your own organisation as contacts it can be a useful tool to demonstrate you're not happy with your current role and/or renumeration. a simple update of your cv and adding recruiters can be enough for senior people to want a chat.

[okgo]

For certain things it's great. Sales jobs being one if those things.

I get stuff daily through there. Though most of it crap