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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What is "Linkedin", and is it above board?

51 replies

wanderings · 04/08/2013 20:49

I keep getting emails from them, telling me that someone would like to connect with me.

The names of these people are sometimes those I have emailed but not met, sometimes names I don't know but there is a tenuous connection (similar profession).

I have ignored said emails because as far as I am concerned, they are unsolicited.

Is it a scam? Or is it some Facebook-like company which uses very clever methods (i.e. phishing) of finding people you might just know?

OP posts:
olidusUrsus · 04/08/2013 20:51

Basically, it's a tiny bit like Facebook but for professionals. It's not a scam. I'm sure you must have entered information onto the site to be getting emails? You can cancel them by logging in and changing your contact preferences.

NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 04/08/2013 20:51

It's a widely used professional network.

sameoldIggi · 04/08/2013 20:51

They use your contacts list in some way, and suggest people you might like to "link" with. It's a professional thing, not dating! I would assume though anyone they asked me to contact already had a LinkedIn account, wouldn't like to think of people randomly being contacted.

dyslexicdespot · 04/08/2013 20:52

It's a very good way to network professionally, not socially.

JustBecauseICan · 04/08/2013 20:52

Social Network for businessy self employed people generally.

Not as good as FB for stalking exes as sadly LinkedIn users get to see who has viewed their profile.

The users wishing to connect with you will have allowed LI to access their email contacts or something.

It's above board.

EthelredOnAGoodDay · 04/08/2013 20:52

LinkedIn is like Facebook but for work! It's a huge website, but connections are generally to people you know professionally and the content is also geared towards professional matters....

phantomnamechanger · 04/08/2013 20:52

I get these (and ignore)- I think its like a facebook friend request (not sure if they can be triggered automatically and not actually sent by the person)- I think it's supposed to show off your impressively long list of business contacts etc, but someone else may come along and put me straight!

there may even be a dozen answers by the time I have posted this

MelanieCheeks · 04/08/2013 20:53

It's totally above board, but invites are often sent out by default- Ivy's not that someone thinks, hey I really need to get wandering a on this site, I know, I'll send an invite!

Good for business networking.

dementedma · 04/08/2013 20:53

An excellent, reputable network for professional people. Facebook, but useful.

dontputaringonit · 04/08/2013 20:53

Oi, this is AIBU Hmm

Lonecatwithkitten · 04/08/2013 20:54

It's business networking. I know several people who have been head hunted for and got amazing jobs through their LinkedIn profile in one case tripleing their salary!

fuckwittery · 04/08/2013 20:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bumply · 04/08/2013 20:55

It's the professional equivalent of Facebook.
The modern face of networking.
I get invites from colleagues and sometimes old friends who are on it and are trying to open up communications with me.
I know the tone of the invites can look suspicious if you're not on LinkedIn already, but it is legit.

Original poster
wanderings · 04/08/2013 20:55

Oops, meant for Chat!

OP posts:
Squooodle · 04/08/2013 20:55

You certainly do get invitations from people who haven't actually sent them - and I know at least two people who have accounts that they never set up. I hate that part of it but have been on it for several years and check it quite frequently. It is useful in my profession as people tend to move around a lot.

MrsBertMacklin · 04/08/2013 20:55

I'd recommend it, I've got most of my job interviews in the last month by reconnecting with old colleagues on LinkedIn. Also very good for getting updates from any professional organisations that you're affiliated/qualified with and for getting named contacts before cold calling a company.

Trills · 04/08/2013 20:55

Maybe this will help.

YABU because you have not asked a question of reasonableness.

Trills · 04/08/2013 20:56

You most likely got an invitation from someone you hardly knew because they clicked a button saying "invite all of my contacts", not realising that "contacts" on google mail means "everyone you have ever emailed".

antimatter · 04/08/2013 20:56

v.useful way to connect with colleagues at work
you can put your CV there and is also searched by recruiters from other companies/agencies, I know people who got jobs that way

if you are looking for another job you are most likely going to be looked up there by people who are going to interview you

companies pay for access to your details and then those aren't revealed by name when they look you up

HollyBerryBush · 04/08/2013 20:57

I t does have a spyware/virus thing because I often get emails from them, it strips out a members email address list and sends out requests - it can be removed but it is annoying

Wallison · 04/08/2013 20:57

'Professional' eh? So is everyone on linkedin a teacher, doctor or lawyer? Or does 'professional' just mean 'employed' these days?

Dededum · 04/08/2013 20:58

DH stayed in contact with old boss, who offered contract, that led to well renumerated job. Would have been up shit creek as he had been made redundant.

NatashaBee · 04/08/2013 20:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Trills · 04/08/2013 21:01

"Professional" relates to the way in which you now the people you connect to. It's for connecting to people you have worked with, not necessarily your "friends".

daisychain01 · 04/08/2013 21:05

Wanderings, just to mention, LinkedIn can be a useful "professional online shop window" for you to be able to connect and network, and raise awareness about your skills interests and job experience.

But, and there is always a but, if you do create a LinkedIn profile, be aware that its the place you can be spammed by people from job agencies promising you the earth, eg jobs for £100k plus bonus plus company car yadda yadda yadda. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

I decided to respond to an agency who were chasing after me because of my skills, just because I wanted to be nosey about what they were offering and they messed me around, said they would call me back and never did. They see LinkedIn as an open door to massive numbers of candidates for job placements, even though my profile did not say I wanted a new job! As I am very happy in my job, I really wasnt bothered, but if I had been actively looking for work it would have stressed me out!