Getting the most out of LinkedIn

[onewhippedpuppy]

So I finally joined my first online networking site. Yeah, I'm that dork that never messed with Facebook or MySpace. My first action, of course, was to join the PPOT group.

I know a number of people have posted on here about how useful LinkedIn can be from a career point of view. So my question is, how? What should I do to get the most professional gain from the site?

[stomachmonkey]

Information.

As detailed as possible.

Not sold on the recommendation thing yet.

Start networking like crazy.

Let's say you see a gig you want.

Good luck getting passed HR.

Look for anyone at the company.

Then start looking for 2nd, 3rd tier links to whoever you can get to at the company.

Reach out to them through introductions and try to get the direct hiring managers name.

Send that guy a FedEx with your resume.

EVERYONE opens a FedEx.

[Carrerax]

I also joined when 2 people that I hadn't seen for years sent me an invitation. I haven't been back since though. I'm just not sure what it is all about. Im curious what everyone has to say about it.

[Kaliv]

I'm a part of LinkedIn, but because I already have a stable job, I don't really use it. No one has ever asked me for a recommendation through it either, although I have a lot of connections.

But since I've joined, I've helped two people get jobs...which has no relation to LinkedIn. Nice networking tool, but I was networking way before this was even someone's idea.

[David McLaughlin]

I just joined Linkedin the other day too. Facebook and MySpace seem too young and teenybopper IMO. Now I just need to see what I can do. I've been told Facebooks is ok so I may do that one too.

My only problem now is that I don't know what I want to do.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by David McLaughlin

I just joined Linkedin the other day too. Facebook and MySpace seem too young and teenybopper IMO. Now I just need to see what I can do. I've been told Facebooks is ok so I may do that one too.

My only problem now is that I don't know what I want to do.

Linkedin is for work.

Facebook is for play.

If you are looking for work I don't recommend Facebook.

Your dumbass college roomies will post stuff that could be a hindrance to anything other than a fluffer position in porn flicks productions or busboy at Hooters.

[onewhippedpuppy]

But HOW, damn it? How do I get started doing anything of value?

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

But HOW, damn it? How do I get started doing anything of value?

Simply adding people that you know or have worked with in the past. It's kinda based on the 6 degrees of separation concept.

PM'ng you my email so you can link to me which will give you 2nd, 3rd tier access to people in my network.

[Don Plumley]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

But HOW, damn it? How do I get started doing anything of value?

Building a network of people you know and trust is a lifelong project. It can't be just related to when you need something. Using email and LinkedIn, I've stayed in contact with people that I liked from several careers ago. I've not seen them in years, but ping them every 4 to 6 months just to say hi and stay in touch.

Once you have that network, as gastrochimp points out, you can use the extended network (friends of friends of friends) to get a direct introduction. Here's an example: I once saw a job posted that I knew I'd like, but based on my resume would not get past the recruiter's screen. So I found the name of the recruiter, found that one of my contacts knew him, and asked for a direct introduction. I was able to talk to the recruiter and arrange for a meeting. Without LinkedIn, this would not have been possible (and no, I didn't get the job, but that's related the the hiring company, not the introduction).

Remember, networking is two-way. You have contacts and relationships that might be valuable to others. Don't refer willy-nilly, but be as generous with your network as you would like others to be with theirs when you need help.

[Don Plumley]

Another point: Facebook is undergoing a big resurgence in the 30+ year crowd. My wife is using it to reconnect to HS friends, I'm finding Fraternity Brothers there. So it is definitely more social than LinkedIn. In LinkedIn, your professional profile is open to anyone to see (here's mine for example: www.linkedin.com/in/dplumley). So make it full of information. Facebook can be (and should be) limited to friends only. But it is still a form of networking. It just needs to be more subtle.

Don't forget, there is a PPOT group on LinkedIn.

[kstar]

I think one can make serious business contacts on Facebook. Granted, it will likely be through old friends and their friends. I've recently got back in touch with friends of 20+ years ago who are into all kinds of interesting and profitable stuff.

BTW, I'm not sure how FB could be considered "teenybopper." FB is really nothing without the contacts/friends added by YOU and the applications YOU choose to use. Comments like this remind me of folks who complain about spam on Twitter.

[onewhippedpuppy]

So it's all based on finding those you know and inviting them to be part of your "network", right? Networking I get, it's just figuring out how to do it online that's confusing.

Do any of you join the various groups relevant to your career? Does that give you direct contact to the members? I joined the PPOT group. So I still need to send out network requests to access connections, correct?

[Rick Lee]

I've been on Facebook less than 15 hours now and am getting bombarded with requests and have sent many out. I don't know how to search very well, since too many results come up for my friends with common names and not everyone's photo makes them recognizeable.

As for LinkedIn, I don't know how it's useful beyond just knowing where someone works, unless you sign up for the pay service. I can usually figure out someone's email address if their company is listed. But I'm not sure how much info I want my employer to be able to see and I'd love to find a better job.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

Another point: Facebook is undergoing a big resurgence in the 30+ year crowd. My wife is using it to reconnect to HS friends, I'm finding Fraternity Brothers there. So it is definitely more social than LinkedIn. In LinkedIn, your professional profile is open to anyone to see (here's mine for example: www.linkedin.com/in/dplumley). So make it full of information. Facebook can be (and should be) limited to friends only. But it is still a form of networking. It just needs to be more subtle.

Don't forget, there is a PPOT group on LinkedIn.

Well Facebook was actually dragged into the mainstream by college grads.

It was originally conceived as a way to socialize on campuses but as people graduated and moved into the working world they maintained their previous affiliations.

The recent grads introduced slightly older co-workers to it and they climbed on board and the thing just blew up.

I personally would not use it for business. As Don correctly states your profile should be limited to your friends which makes it less valuable as a business networking tool. They all know you already. Linked in is to get to people who don't know you.

Opening your profile up to the world exposes your frat brother antics to potential hiring managers. Guilt by association if you will.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Opening your profile up to the world exposes your frat brother antics to potential hiring managers. Guilt by association if you will.

Man, have I heard some horror stories about this from HR folks and PR pros looking to hire recent college grads.

I got an email from my boss's boss this morning that my newest client had mentioned me on Twitter. He's in Pittsburgh and his son is my best friend. Man, it's a small world out there.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I've been on Facebook less than 15 hours now and am getting bombarded with requests and have sent many out. I don't know how to search very well, since too many results come up for my friends with common names and not everyone's photo makes them recognizeable.

As for LinkedIn, I don't know how it's useful beyond just knowing where someone works, unless you sign up for the pay service. I can usually figure out someone's email address if their company is listed. But I'm not sure how much info I want my employer to be able to see and I'd love to find a better job.

I needed to hire a new back end web guy and the traditional means of advertising it were getting me no where.

So I took an afternoon and punched my requirements in and starting searching the results.

Found a couple of leads and eventually a young guy who was in his last year as a Comp Si student. His major was game programming which was a plus. He had built his 1st website when he was 11 and started getting paid gigs by the age of 12. He's 22 with 10 years of experience and the guy is scary smart.

Here's the kicker. He told me he had recetnly contemplated canceling his linked in account, he did not see the value in it.

[kstar]

You should certainly keep tabs on how you may be "presented" on FB or any other site!

Agreed that FB and LinkedIn are different types of sites, but to say that FB is just for friends is a limiting view, IMO. Folks are using it for all kinds of things. FB is not really anything but a potential network when you start.

I have a friend who manages about $500M and uses FB to keep in touch with his clients on a "human" level, not just all business. He claims it's added a new, positive dimension to his client relationships - very important in most businesses.

And, while I may know all of my FB friends, there are some I haven't had contact with in 20+ years. A lot has happened in that time and one really never knows where the connections may lead. And the odds that one of my old friends may know someone who may be interested in something I'm doing are good, in most cases.

FWIW.

[Paul_Heery]

I've been on LinkedIn for a while. My public profile has my current job and position, my work history and a very brief description of my skill set. For the most part, I just get connection invitations from people I used to work with.

However, a couple of weeks ago I started getting calls transferred to me from our operator from a telephone number that I did not recognize. Now, if I don't recognize a number, that call goes to voice mail. A woman was leaving messages that were terse, stating merely, "My name is _____ from _____. Please call me on _____." This went on for over a week. Then, one day I decided to pick up her call. She was a headhunter that was looking to fill a position. She did not want to leave any detail in her voice mail messages in the event that I had an assistant checking my voice mail.

The position was very interesting at a very good salary. But, I determined that I was not really interested in commuting to Manhattan again.

I asked her how she found me. She said that she regularly searches LinkedIn for potential talent. Then, based upon the information listed, she does some investigative work to determine how to reach a potential candidate by telephone. She said that using LinkedIn connections and email are a low-yield activity.

I never would have spoken with her, and expanded my network if I were not on LinkedIn. The interesting thing is that we still do not have a LinkedIn connection.

[svandamme]

got my current gig due to my current boss checking out my background via via on linkestink...