Does having Linkedin help?

[sunshineandstarsgirl]

I am currently job hunting and I have a Linkedin account. It is not exactly updated as to my recent experience.
I don't like Linkedin. Feel like deleting it.
Is it worth having it? What have been your experiences with Linkedin?

It depends on your role / seniority and sector really. I do a lot of networking and recruiting through LinkedIn, but have not gone on in months when I was in a different sector many years ago. It doesn’t take long to update, so in your shoes I would do that then forget about it if you aren’t enjoying it. Then you have a presence you can tap into later if you need to and people can verify your credentials if LinkedIn is important to them, but it won’t be all consuming for you.

I'm approached by recruiters 1 or 2 times a week, bloody annoying when you're not looking but quite handy when you are!

I'm not on LinkedIn and I've still managed to find, apply for and get jobs. And that's in a techy sector where being on it is the norm.

I've found my last three jobs through it; one headhunted, one recruiter, and applied for the job via LinkedIn.

It depends on the sector really but yes, it's pretty much the primary way people I know get jobs and make contact with recruiters.

When recruiting I generally look candidates up on LinkedIn to see their history, connections, what they have posted and therefore whether they are active in the community of their particular sector.

It would ring some alarm bells for me if someone had no profile and no history.

I use it like an online address book. I'm a contractor, and often ask old colleagues if they want to join projects I'm working on. I can see what people are doing now, and if they are likely to have spare capacity. It's how I often get work too.

When looking for new people, it helps to know what projects people have worked on, and who they have worked with so you can check their backgrounds. I generally don't bother with people who don't have LinkedIn because it is harder to make those checks.