Linkedin profile, genius or not

[masraum]

I just got a request to connect from someone. This is part of their profile.

It's just not doing it for me.



I'm on LinkedIn. I understand that it's a good way to network and get a job. I don't do much with it, but I'm out there. I get requests frequently from head hunters and other folks. I expect it to be professional. I've seen folks with photos that look like they are vacation fishing photos with a guy on a boat in no shirt and sunglasses or whatever. If I'm wanting LI to be a work/professional/networking thing, I want to portray a professional image. And I'm very much a business casual kind of guy. If I could wear jeans or shorts and a t-shirt daily, I would. I don't interface with people other than just seeing other IT folks wandering around the floor where I work. I don't really work in a customer facing role whether it be external customers or internal.

Still, if I'm putting it out there on the 'Net, it should be to a minimum standard of professionalism.

[Amail]

Yeah, that's not doing it for me either. Looks more appropriate for Facebook.

[Gogar]

No

[MikeSid]

The problem is that it's stupid. If it were clever, that sort of thing can be appropriate, but it isn't always.

I've seen one Linked-in profile that, in addition to a number of impressive professional achievements and credentials, lists his "continued availability to the NFL as an undrafted free-agent." It works because it is clearly a humorous footnote to a successful professional career and indicates a sense of humor, and topic of interest. Much better than saying, "I also enjoy watching football."

But your work history needs to have enough weight to support the levity...if that makes sense.

[Brando]

LinkedIn has become the next Facebook/Twitter: It's just social media. There's no enforcement of quality or guidelines since it's community-driven.

I use it explicitly in a professional capacity and end up denying 90% of the requests that come in.

[dienstuhr]

"University of Client Satisfaction"... hilarious.

Although they probably still have a better placement rate than Trump University.