Has anyone had any actual benefit from LinkedIn??

[scaryclown]

I'm aaking because i've been diligently adjusting and readjusting my linkedin profile, have lots of people in my network and applied for jobs using my profile..and my profile is quite impressive but i have NEVER had a job pushed my way, had anyine said my profile is good, or had a response to the applications. No discussions i've entered into have led to conversations that might lead to jobs or even good tips, yet I and other people seem very keen on making sure they have a profile.

Is it just an excercise in career boasting?

Anyone had any actual bites, cintacts suggesting work etc??

I'm self-employed and have got at least 3 jobs from it in the last 2-3 years so yes, it does work to an extent. I don't do any of the fluff though - very rarely update my profile and never contribute to any of the chat. I have to be on it because of my job and I'm very picky about who I'm connected to.

I agree that it depends on your industry. I've had a number of interviews and one job offer through it, and also been to a number of networking events through it. I'm in IT.

I also know that when HR at my current employer are recruiting, they look at LinkedIn profiles of candidates, and it would count against you not to have one.

I have been approached by a few job agencies via LinkedIn.

And I got a small freelance job a few years ago through my Twitter feed.

So yes, social media can help you find work :)

Oh and when I interview someone, I always look at their LinkedIn profile (and Twitter feed, if they have one).

Yep.

Several approaches that have been worth at least a phone call, secured freelance work through someone looking for a permanent employee, also a different permanent offer.

But my field isn't huge.

Ebayaholic? How do you turn that button on / off?

I get approached quite often by recruiters, sometimes agencies and sometimes companies directly. I am pretty specialist and my role is high profile though i.e. my name is all over my company's press releases/website.
And my recruitment team use it to contact potential employees too

I always check LinkedIn if a CV came through a recruiter. Sometimes recruiters edit CVs, and they are usually shit at it - so I want to see what the candidate wrote.

I get recruiters connect request or offers maybe once or twice a month? Never contacted them back so don't know if they are just fishing exercises? But the companies some of them described are real because I know which one they are referring to. I have recruiters I have used before in my network and they post frequent job ads on their feeds.

About 18 months ago, I got offered job via an agency who found me on LinkedIn. I also had quite a few contact me in a short space of time. They stopped suddenly after I put something on my profile about not wanting short term contract work. I didn't take the job I was offered because the terms and conditions were crap (and kept hidden until the last minute - 20 days' leave a year? Je don't think so).

I recently emailed a few times with someone I'd met at a conference who was applying for a job at my organisation and wanted some tips.

She got the job.

So maybe she got some benefit there.

She might have got the job anyway.

That was a lovely thing for you to do trills nice to think you helped someone get a job

I think rec cons are often judged by the number of possible candidates they offer up, even if they are wildly inappropriate or lack the appropriate experience. No-one wants to choose from a field of one. People will be happier to choose a stand out candidate from a field of 5, when the other 4 are just there as filler.

I've had some interviews recently. the recruiters have told me the names of the interviewers so I can look them up on LinkedIn, making it clear that's expected, and they have done the same to me. I've got some ads sent to me where the recruiter has found me via LinkedIn, which I wouldn't have found myself.

Have also managed to get back in touch with various ex-colleagues, which has been nice.