LinkedIn, has anyone here had any experience of using it?

[Flying10uk]

On browsing through some job adverts recently, I noticed that it was asked if the potential applicant had a LinkedIn account. Not being very up to date with these matters I didn't know what the hell they were talking about but I did google it to try to find answer. Apparently you place your C.V. online for others to look at, in the hope of being offered a job or, perhaps, a better job than you have at present. I wondered if any Forum members have taken advantage of this "service" and what their experience was/is of using it, please? Is it a useful tool for finding employment or do you get the unwanted attention of time wasters and undesirables? Thanks for any information.

LinkedIn - Wikipedia

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[AFJon]

I'm on LinkedIn.

Employers and recruiter use LinkedIn to search or and verify your CV (You can see who folks are linked to and if you know somebody a potential employee is connected to you have a conversation about their suitability). I've done this myself as a "background" screen on potential new co-workers by checking them out through mutual connections.

With the good does come the potential for as you put it "time wasters". Probably the best way to avoid this is be careful about whom you connect to. This isn't Facebook so start with trusted co-workers and other business associates, be leery of folks that want to connect without knowing who they are or where you've potentially met them before.

I was hired into my job through a connection on LinkedIn, and recently have had several recruiters trying to gauge my interest in potentially going to work for the company they represent. It's also useful for example if you have a friend looking for work in industry X, and you have a connection in to someone in that same industry as a company will tend to be more interested in candidate where someone within the company can vouch for their capabilities.

[Gil Boyd]

Steve,
LinkedIn is a great porthole into individuals who are seeking work and are qualified in something. It is so well used I know of people within an organisation I help to run called the British Security Association, where lads and lasses have got some really stable long term security work from.
So in short, worthwhile.

*If you want to say deep undercover, don't bother!!!!!!!

[browningautorifle]

Also, when you update linkedin, it will notify all the people you have on your email address...I stayed away even though a woman made me an account when she found out I was doing handyman work. I'm with Gil on this one. If you intend to seek employment country wide it might be useful.

[AFJon]

Also, when you update linkedin, it will notify all the people you have on your email address...I stayed away even though a woman made me an account when she found out I was doing handyman work. I'm with Gil on this one. If you intend to seek employment country wide it might be useful.

Jim,

You can turn that function off.

[Bob Womack]

I'm on LinkedIn.

Employers and recruiter use LinkedIn to search or and verify your CV (You can see who folks are linked to and if you know somebody a potential employee is connected to you have a conversation about their suitability). I've done this myself as a "background" screen on potential new co-workers by checking them out through mutual connections.

With the good does come the potential for as you put it "time wasters". Probably the best way to avoid this is be careful about whom you connect to. This isn't Facebook so start with trusted co-workers and other business associates, be leery of folks that want to connect without knowing who they are or where you've potentially met them before.

I was hired into my job through a connection on LinkedIn, and recently have had several recruiters trying to gauge my interest in potentially going to work for the company they represent. It's also useful for example if you have a friend looking for work in industry X, and you have a connection in to someone in that same industry as a company will tend to be more interested in candidate where someone within the company can vouch for their capabilities.

I agree with everything here. I work in a national-level career. It is a great way to get your CV out there and have access to others' but it isn't a social networking service in the classic sense. They also spit out a lot of useless email that you will have to fend off.

Bob

[browningautorifle]

You can turn that function off.

Yes you can...I went one better, deleted the profile. I had enough work happening.