LinkedIn - any good if you have a public sector background?

[StitchingMoss]

Anyone here had good/bad experiences of LinkedIn, especially if you're in the public sector?

I don't know really know much about it but dh has been on it for some time and has just landed a fab new job by being headhunted through the site.

I'm currently unemployed and would love to be working again. I'm a qualified teacher but would happily consider a career change, but don't know where to start. My CV is all public sector.

Would be interested to hear others' views.

Thanks .

I've just joined it myself (newly redundant public sector) and have linked up with about half a dozen people I already know pretty well. My profile "has been viewed by 1 person in the past 90 days" and I suspect that was probably one of my friends. I met a vague work related acquaintance recently and she asked me if I was on LinkedIn in case she ever needed to get hold of me re work opportunities, so I guess it's a kind of Facebook for work and is worth joining but hasn't quite taken off yet. I'm intrigued to hear your husband was headhunted - it gives me hope!

I understand it's used by a lot of recruitment consultants, certainly in his line of work, but then he's in IT!

He's been approached a few times, but this finally came to an interview and a job offer - he starts next month!

I'm just not convinced that public sector employers are as clued up as private sector ones about things like LinkedIn and I don't just want loads of people who I'm not in touch with anymore to have a nose at my CV!

Good luck with your job hunting .

"but hasn't quite taken off yet"

Have to disagree there - I think it took off some time ago!

If you're looking for a job you need a LinkedIn profile. It usually comes up first on Google for a start, so when (not if) a prospective employer Googles you, it means you have an opportunity to use the fact that they're doing that as a selling tool for yourself.

DH has picked up clients via LinkedIn and reckons it's the best thing since sliced bread. A lot of it though, is just networking, so it's who you know and who they know, and how active you are prepared to be. I agree it's a Facebook for Work, at least from what I can see from how DH uses it.

That's interesting flowery - I haven't mentioned at all in the public sector, esp teaching, but may be I need to put myself out a bit. Haven't been unemployed for quite some time .

Thanks IShallWear - not sure I know that many people!

I think there are groups you can join, so you boost your contacts that way.

I use my LinkedIn persona mainly for being able to link in with professional groups and get messages from them that way. No idea whether various teaching groups exist on LinkedIn, but if they do it is a good way to keep up to date (and find other people in your work area).

Well, looks like I'll be exploring LinkedIn today then .

Thanks!