To be scared of linkedin

[Ste23321]

I know I am probably being unreasonable but just want some opinions!

I’ve been told by multiple people I need to create a LinkedIn profile as I’m trying to change jobs and people will find me this way. Only problem is I suffer extreme anxiety and over think everything! I’m worried about creating a LinkedIn page for a number of what might seem “silly reasons” such as anyone being able to find me and contact me. I keep all my social media private but that won’t work with this as I NEED people to find me so I can get a job!

There’s no reason I need to feel this way, it’s not that I have anything to hide! But I cannot shake this horrible feeling.

Yes I am an anxious person and way overthinking this!

Just don’t do it. What line of work is it? Is it really necessary? Instead of always having to work through the anxiety about something I think that sometimes it’s ok to just not do the thing that worries you. Life is too short to worry about things like this.

Who are you worried about contacting you? LinkedIn is very different from other platforms, you're we less likely to be hassled on a personal basis. It is fine, really, but equally I'm dubious that it's the be all and end all to finding work.

Thanks @BeetyAxe I’m trying to get OUT of teaching so this will help me find potential employment.

The whole “you must be in LinkedIn or no one will ever know you exist!” thing is bollocks. Employers advertise in lots of places; LinkedIn is just one of them. If you don’t want to be on there then there’s really no need, OP.

I was the same as you, but I think the benefits outweigh any anxiety of being ‘found’.

No one will have access to your email address and phone number.

Lots will assume you rarely check your LinkedIn.

Once you’ve added who you want to add, you can change your profile name to First name. Initial of Last name. That way you can still be connected but have done anonymity.

If you don't want anyone to find you there's not a lot of point being on there. They can only see what you put on it.
I've had my mobile on there for 10 years + and nothing untoward.
You might get the odd inappropriate message from a stupid man but only in your inbox and it doesn't happen very often.

It’s a lot less instant than other sm. Just make sure your profile is up to date. Then check it every few days. If anyone messaged you they don’t expect an immediate response. Sign up for job alerts. Unless there’s a real reason not to be found eg abusive ex then it’s normal to have a profile.

Nothing to be scared of, it’s just a limited cv, you click open for opportunities, you’d be contacted, I get asked to do paid consulting regularly and have four times been approached by recruitment agencies for specific roles. I had to change it to say not looking for opportunities. I’ve never had anything inappropriate. Even if I did, I’d just ignore it, block it or report it.

As I’m a teacher should I avoid having my phone number on there? Think about silly teenagers prank calling and parents eating to contact me…

Don't put your number on then.

Does your employer know you're hoping to leave?

If they don't then maybe you being pro-active is more discreet than having an Open to Work banner.

No not yet but will soon!

You don't need to add any contact details - people can contact you just via linked in messaging and thats it. Your account might need some verification details but don't share them in your profile.

Not been a fan of LinkedIn always worked through real life contacts for roles however sent my cv for an unknown contact/job advert last year on LinkedIn and got a fantastic role

Some people update post all the time and that’s not me. Is a great platform for finding a new role without doing all this stuff

@Ste23321

As I’m a teacher should I avoid having my phone number on there? Think about silly teenagers prank calling and parents eating to contact me…

It’s never occurred to let people see my phone number or email address. I’ve just never added them to my profile.

Why are you thinking of that?

Do teachers use LinkedIn for job searching?

I thought everything was done via specialist newspapers/websites/recruiters?

I would not publish phone and email. You can keep it to just the basics (in fact that might be better)

You don't have to share any personal info publicly and people can only message you if they are a 1st or 2nd connection if you set the privacy (I think)

I don’t fancy LinkedIn, either.

What sort of non-teaching jobs are you looking for?

I've never put my phone number on it. It is useful for finding work in my industry (IT) - I get contacted by recruiters regularly via LinkedIn.

Er, no, don't put your phone number, or email. Just need a profile, which recruiters will message you through (you'll receive an email saying there's a message on your LinkedIn profile for you).

It's a great tool

Yes I think it would be useful to hear what kind of job you might be interested in. Friends may have their opinions on 'needing to be on linked in' but this may apply to their jobs / industries and not so much yours.

If It is useful for the kind of things you are interested in then I do think it's worth it. Don't put your number on there though - people can just message you through linked in. Keep it brief and up to date (and as someone else said - you don't have to put your full name on there if that's not comfortable for you.

Lastly- I work in recruitment and spend large parts of my working day on linked in. There are 1000s of profiles on there every day. You might imagine feeling exposed on there but the reality is that (I mean this in a positive way hopefully for you in terms of your anxiety) . People don't dwell on profiles for long. It's not like other forms of SM as others have said. It's not nearly so personal - it's for business use and profiles are viewed very quickly and moved on from. Good luck!

I hate LinkedIn- it’s full of corporate types blowing smoke up each other’s arses with cringey, clearly made up or over exaggerated posts.

Unfortunately I now have to use it for recruitment purposes at work, so I have the premium version.

You can include as much or as little information as you like, but the more relevant stuff you include (eg previous experience, skill sets, qualifications) the more likely you are to appear as a top result in a recruiters search.

There’s much less snooping in general though- people don’t tend to share much personal information and you can see who has looked at your profile as well.

You can also state on your profile that you don’t want your current employer knowing that you’re open to other offers. This isn’t fool proof of course, but it won’t be obvious to someone who works at your school with the same employer when they look at your profile.

I’d also encourage reaching out to a few recruiters directly. I’ve built a good relationship with a couple of them in my last employment search, and once they know you’re a good candidate they’ll run the legs off themselves to get you placed somewhere in order to secure their fee.

I joined LinkedIn and have been contacted by phone at least twice.....

I work in helping people with their LinkedIn.
As a teacher I really don’t think it is necessary- just sign up with agencies.

However the reality is - no one is looking at you. Unless you post, your just a profile out of millions.