Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

My work says I should have a linked in profile

29 replies

nancybotwinbloom · 20/10/2021 20:24

Just that really.

I am not on social media.

It's not for me.

Work wants me to create one. I really don't want to.

Do I really have to?

OP posts:
Thurlow · 20/10/2021 20:26

Have they said why you need one?

Sonex · 20/10/2021 20:26

What job do you do? I don't see why you should have to unless you're looking for a new job - in which case I think it's pretty essential for many (not all ) jobs. unless you work in marketing/events why do they care?

TheAverageUser · 20/10/2021 20:29

I don't think they can force you too but LinkedIn would be smart to have in certain professions. What do you do?

garlictwist · 20/10/2021 20:31

I am the same as you - no social media but work insisted I have a LinkedIn. I have one but it's very basic and contains only the barest information. I have never used it so I have no idea why they were so insistent but it shut them up.

JuneOsborne · 20/10/2021 20:32

Yeah, my employer is pretty keen on it too. To be fair, I quite like it now. Lots of work related stuff on there and I don't have to add my colleagues to my other, personal SM.

Original poster
nancybotwinbloom · 20/10/2021 20:41

I'm in sales. I do well without this just by keeping in touch with my accounts.

I just think it's so fake. I keep in touch with people and it's genuine. I keep in touch with people and I maintain relationships without this.

I just find it intrusive that people can look me up etc and it's there.

OP posts:
Turkishangora · 20/10/2021 20:46

What industry are you in? I deleted mine due to privacy concerns, I was stalked on it. I won't have one again under any circumstances.

Original poster
nancybotwinbloom · 20/10/2021 21:06

Utility's

OP posts:
BlueShirtGirl · 20/10/2021 21:17

I had the exact same! And then work wanted me to share and promote their other ‘offerings’ as it were, to my personal contacts and networks. It was just a joke. That was higher education

Reptar · 20/10/2021 21:24

Do your work know that women have a different experience on linked in from men?

ImInStealthMode · 20/10/2021 21:28

I have one, but I don't have any personal contacts on there, with the exception of a few who are in the same industry. I'm in marketing; it just seems to be a handy tool for companies I'd never in a million years work with to find me and then cold call trying to sell me advertising space and pretending we've been in touch before Hmm

Callixte · 21/10/2021 07:09

I used to use it when I worked for a US company but now, working for a European company, I find most of my work contacts aren't even on the platform. Also I got a bunch of nonsense contact requests - not just headhunters, but random dudes who think it's OLD and the occasional professional escort. I just ignore anything from anyone I don't know.

If you must set one up, you can set it to private so only people you're "connected" with can see your profile. To connect, one person has to invite and the other accept the invitation, never accept an invitation from someone you don't know in a professional capacity. Also set your contacts to private, so even someone you're connected to can't see your other contacts. Use a throwaway email account not your work email so you don't get flooded with alerts and don't have even that email address or your phone number on your profile unless you want your contacts to see them.

HalzTangz · 21/10/2021 07:45

@nancybotwinbloom

Just that really.

I am not on social media.

It's not for me.

Work wants me to create one. I really don't want to.

Do I really have to?

This depends what your role is. If you are HR, Marketing or Comms then it's pretty standard for those employees to have LinkedIn an reshare company posts.

If you are admin, not so necessary to have a LinkedIn profile

HalzTangz · 21/10/2021 07:49

Just read your update you are in sales, yes is see why your company is asking, loads sales people are in marketing.

For me, I find looking for products on LinkedIn a great way to start initial chats with a potential new supplier. I have traded with many on LinkedIn who I would not have done business with had I just stuck with 'those held on accounts' within the workplace already

ArblemarchTFruitbat · 21/10/2021 07:50

I wouldn't, under any circumstances.

If asked at work, I would in the first instance try to take the route of just quietly not doing it. If they then made a thing of it I would say it was for safeguarding reasons. I'd be prepared to take the matter to the union and beyond if necessary, because there's no way on earth I'd do it.

Mybalconyiscracking · 21/10/2021 07:52

We’re meant to have one, every so often we get asked to like or post stuff or something.
No one has ever noticed that I don’t have one.

GCAcademic · 21/10/2021 07:52

@Reptar

Do your work know that women have a different experience on linked in from men?
This has always been my response to people at work suggesting that I use Twitter. I refuse on the grounds of the rampant misogyny on these SM platforms.
Mybalconyiscracking · 21/10/2021 07:57

My DH is on LinkedIn, his main contacts are from stunningly beautiful, air-brushed young HR females reaching out to contact him about “roles” for which he would be perfect.
It’s not a bad platform to assess someone’s salary etc. if you are looking for a sugar daddy/ mummy.

Redcrayons · 21/10/2021 08:04

I’ve got it, I don’t really post but it’s great for keeping up to date with stuff that’s going on, new contacts etc.

I can understand why they want you to be in there in sales.

I’ve never had any inappropriate messages, so I’ve either somehow set it up to filter out dickheads, or you can make a pretty good guess of my age and I’m benefiting from the invisibility of middle age.

I’ve heard some horror stories from younger women though.

Aria2015 · 21/10/2021 08:08

I'm sort of expected to have one. I do and I've linked up with all my family, friends and people I'm friendly with at work to get my numbers up but I don't post and I rarely look at it. I have been scouted for another job through it though so there are some up sides! I don't really count it as social media, even though I know it is. I see it the same as my profile on our staff intranet. Just some stuff about my job and what I do. Nothing personal beyond my photo.

GoodnightGrandma · 21/10/2021 08:10

My DH’s work made one for him without asking, so he told them to remove it !

OverTheRubicon · 21/10/2021 08:26

@Mybalconyiscracking

My DH is on LinkedIn, his main contacts are from stunningly beautiful, air-brushed young HR females reaching out to contact him about “roles” for which he would be perfect. It’s not a bad platform to assess someone’s salary etc. if you are looking for a sugar daddy/ mummy.
Ah, those 'HR females'. Hmm

I'm in a high demand industry, and recruiters do get in touch a lot about roles I'd supposedly be perfect for. They're also generally younger women with nice looking photos, because that's who many junior recruiters are.
In reality many of the jobs are a bad fit, because they often don't understand the requirements - but not one has been looking for a sugar mummy.

Your DH is almost certainly not as attractive as you think, or as he is trying to persuade you.

Xiaoxiong · 21/10/2021 08:28

I use it all the time, it's a key part of my job. I'm in a form of sales too (my job has a large investor relations component). I think if you're in an industry like mine where everyone uses it then it's a really powerful tool - if few people use it then it's pointless and you're screaming into the void of recruiters and scam merchants.

OverTheRubicon · 21/10/2021 08:29

Also, I'd never expect my technical team to join unless they wanted to, but absolutely would want my sales people to do so. It's not just about building your own profile, sharing company content (I rarely do, because I don't want to spam my contacts), or cold calling (which I never ever do), it's also about being able to do some research in advance, see what your prospects care about, see industry news and more. Your own profile.can be very thin if you prefer.

Fridafever · 21/10/2021 08:36

I sort of have to have it for work. I don’t use any other SM. I did put my foot down about them saying I should describe myself as a mother on there. The consultant they got in wanted all the senior women with children to mention them as it makes the company look good.