Linked In?

[hatwoman]

can someone explain to me what the point is? Does it actually bring something other than being a bit like facebook except without the interesting/embarrasing/tedious status updates, photos and links.

I joined it - mainly cos there were 'groups' for my industry - haven't really got much out of it. But BNI and networking groups are all on there. It seems a bit less 'crowded' than FB etc.

I'm on the lookout for more work. Its a very painless way to get in touch with former colleagues who could offer it
and its stuffed full of job adverts

what's BNI?

I joined - at the suggestion of a former colleague - and it's rammed with people I know through work. Can't decide whether to do it properly and befriend them all. or whatever it is you do with them.

I just add people to my network, not get introduced
a fair few ignore
so what

Yes I agree. It's a good way to keep in touch with former colleagues, see what they are up to and see what opportunities there are. When I was recruiting roles I would always do a scrolldown of my contacts to see if there were any suitable candidates. Therefore it's good to get linked in with recruiters as I imagine they do the same. Some former agency contacts do very good industry updates as well on the news feed.

My DH is a self-employed consultant and finds it useful for networking.

All recruitment agents are on it!

I am on it too, but don't really exploit it fully. What is quite alarming is how they cross reference you with others who might have been in the same place at the same time. I had an email the other day, "People you might know..." My God, I did! 3 x exes from University and my first job in one email. Very alarming. Funny thing is, they will have received the same thing about me. We haven't linked in together!!

I'm a freelnace marketing consultant and I love it, and find it very useful...

I have 300+ connections now (ex school, uni, jobs etc and 'professional' friends)

I've joined various relevant 'groups' which help me keep up to speed with what's going on in my industry.

I've linked it to my Twitter account (work one, not personal) and I will post if I get a new client, am working on a particualar subject and want feedback, or if I publish an article, or speak at a conference.

It definitely has helped me get new business - this week someone called me who said they'd seen my article and like my POV, and could I do some research for them .

I keep LinkedIn very much for my 'professional' life though. it makes me cringe when I see people posting stuff about going to parties etc (there is one guy in my network who does this, and it's cringeworthy).

All the MN towers folk are on there, but I haven't had the courage to ask to link up with them...

I tend to only accept a connection if I've met or spoken to them. I ignore or reject all those people who are just in it to get 500+ connections .

I also tend to ignore people who invite me with the bog standard invitation text! I think 'if you can't even be bothered to write a personal message..."

Let me know if you want to connect

I'm a freelancer in the publishing industry and I find it very useful, as others here have said, for networking etc. I don't have friends on there - it's purely for work. But it has brought up a few interesting contacts for me, and some of the groups are worth joining.