LinkedIn

[LighthouseSouth]

hi all
not sure if this is the right place to post this

I am thinking to delete my LinkedIn profile. It is, as LI tends to be, very general. I'm coming to the end of a work contract, then taking a break, then will be looking again.

I'm finding that LinkedIn can be an issue because it has all the information there and not the tailored information you would give an employer. however, the pro is endorsements.

I am also wondering if there's a more up to date customisable tool that I've missed which I could be using instead. Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Hopeful bump

Why wouldn't you just leave it there?

Because it gives a generalist view
I've found potential employers can be funny about that so I set it to private last time I was looking, which was five years ago

But then I thought, well if I'm doing that, then should I just take it down and only do tailored CVs or applications? Tbh I can't even remember what I told the last round of recruiters, or if they even asked if I was on LinkedIn

So just wondered. Also quite keen on removing info about myself from the Internet and that's quite a lot of info really.

I think it's not that big a deal either way. I don't usually apply using my LinkedIn profile.

”Because it gives a generalist view”

The only perspective LinkedIn gives of your work history, skills and experience is the one you choose to put on there. If your profile is too general, rewrite it to be more specific/specialist!

It’s more likely to look odd to a new employer if you’re not on there at all (depending on what kind of work you do, but as you’re on there now I guess it’s normal for your line of work).

But the generalist catch 22, in my experience, is that no one will be happy with the balance unless it's tailored. So I can't tailor a profile because every job wants different things.

Tbh I didn't really match the job spec for where I am now, sometimes you just get lucky. Actually that sums up my career really, a lot of it is sheer luck.

I'm more concerned that people will think it's odd if I'm not on there. But in my current place hardly anyone is on it. Previous place thought it was essential.

I don't really have a line of work, I've done a bunch of stuff and somehow it all came together.

I’m a recruiter and I’d say leave it up. Yes it might be general but it let’s us find you. Most of the people on our database are originally off Linked In. Often we do searches on Linked In for things like GDPR + consultant or whatever and take the top 50 or so. My advice would be to make your skills as clear as possible so list everything you can do. Also in the about me bit at the top write a line about what you are looking for even if it is something very general like I’m currently looking and open to all opportunities in IT or whatever. Also make your email address public if you can and be sure to log on daily.

Feel free to pm me.

Thanks Renaissance

Would you find it odd if a candidate wanted to apply for a job via your agency, but didn't have a LinkedIn profile?

I wouldn’t find it odd but most do. But please for the sake of the sanity of recruiters everywhere include you phone number on the application- people who don’t do this are a particular bugbear of mine.

If you see an agency posting ads for jobs which are nearly right but not exact give them a call as they’ll often have a lot of similar roles. Candidates who call us are my favourites and I spend far longer trying to help them than anyone else.

I mean most people do have a Linked In but it depends on industry teachers don’t tend to but IT people do. Not having a Linked In is no barrier to applying.

Do it!!

I'm on a high from deleting linkedIn. Always hated it. Felt like I was offering myself up to be judged in a very specific way that didn't reflect happiness or health or lifestyle or passions etc.

Renaissance, thanks. Don't worry I always include my number and I also like to call, I find recruiters pretty great - probably another reason I don't value LinkedIn - and I actually prefer applying via them because they can tell you useful things you'd never hear otherwise.

NotLinkedIn - for a moment there I thought I was hallucinating your username