" I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn"

[Martinjmpr]

Does anyone else get these? I just got one purportedly from my brother (who works for IBM in Boulder.)

I assume that the Linked In system is set up so that when you create a profile, it asks you to put in contact names and then it automatically spams them with the "XXXX Has requested to add you to their Linked In Professional Network."

I've gotten a few before and I generally delete them.

What irks me about the whole process is that generally speaking, it comes from someone I haven't exchanged emails with in quite a while and then out of the blue, I get a message that appears to be spam that asks me to confirm whether I know this or that person.

Seems to me that if I was in the process of trying to connect with people for professional reasons, before I let a spam-bot send out messages on my behalf, I'd first send them an actual, personal email that said something to the effect of "Hey, Martin, just wanted to let you know that you may get a linked in request from me in a few days. I'm trying to create a professional network because [purpose of professional network here - your profession, job seeking, etc] and I'd appreciate it if you'd accept the link. Thanks!"

Or even better yet - crazy thought, I know - what if one of those people (like my brother, with whom I talk regularly) just called me on the phone and said "hey, when you get this request, please accept it, it will help me build a network so I can look for a better job."

As I said, it bothers me a little bit that out of the blue I'm getting asked to confirm that I know X or Y person so that the person can "add me to their professional network."

Why would you want to add me to your "professional network" when we're not even in the same profession? Is this some kind of job seeking thing that people who are looking for professional jobs are doing? Kind of like facebook for people who wear ties?

[SideShow Bob]

I just delete them with out opening the request.

[BlasterBob]

Just more crap to bug us with. I always delete them too.

[mattiooo]

LinkedIn is a social network that focuses on your professional life and leaves out the personal life (for the most part).

It's a network designed to help people from all professions network with each other. It's not focused on a specific business. It is used for several reasons by people other than simple networking. It's used by employers and job seekers to connect to fill positions. It's used by sales people looking to connect with people in a specific profession and geo-graphic area. It also has groups just like Facebook, but they tend to be focused on more business related topics. Some of the groups I belong to are for the printing and imaging trade, some are just for Denver professionals, etc.

I use it regularly, whether it's looking for advice on a product in my industry, to research a vendor for a specific project, or to network with people.

The email you're talking about is LinkedIn's equivalent of a friend request on Facebook.

[Wulf202]

It's not for every industry. It's geared for white collar jobs.

[Martinjmpr]

The email you're talking about is LinkedIn's equivalent of a friend request on Facebook.


It's not for every industry. It's geared for white collar jobs.

So I was right: It's facebook for people who wear ties to work. ;)

[00tec]

When you open an account, it asks if you would like to import your contact list from whatever your email provider is. It then auto invites all your contacts.
I do not use that option

[Great-Kazoo]

It's not for every industry. It's geared for white collar jobs.

Isn't that kind of racist?

[mattiooo]

So I was right: It's facebook for people who wear ties to work. ;)

I'd say that's not true.

There are currently 485 jobs listed on LinkedIn (across the country) for a Pipefitter. (just the first thing that popped into my head to search for).

4,197 Welder positions (64 in the Greater Denver area)

[00tec]

Dupe

[WETWRKS]

I signed on to find out info about someone who was an a** towards a group I am a part of. Then I started receiving the requests from him. I mailed him warning that I did not desire to receive any more messages from him and they would be considered harassment. They stopped in short order.

[roberth]

LinkedIn is crap...I was on it years ago...I was spammed mercilessly.

All the social networking sites have a common goal, to create a profile on the user and share it with the government.

[electronman1729]

I'd say that's not true.

There are currently 485 jobs listed on LinkedIn (across the country) for a Pipefitter. (just the first thing that popped into my head to search for).

4,197 Welder positions (64 in the Greater Denver area)
No its facebook for grown ups.

[Sawin]

No its facebook for grown ups.

That's my opinion of it as well. I don't use any other social media aside from this forum and LinkedIn. LinkedIn is legitimately helpful for professional networking.

[Zundfolge]

When you open an account, it asks if you would like to import your contact list from whatever your email provider is. It then auto invites all your contacts.
I do not use that option

Thinking people agree with 00tec here ... if I don't have actual business dealings with you (and afterward have a positive thought about you), or you don't look like someone that would forward my career I just ignore these requests.

[Gman]

So I was right: It's facebook for people who wear ties to work. ;)
It's not Facebook. It's networking for professionals. If you're looking for a job, it gives the employer the ability to possibly find other people in their org. that may have worked with you in the past.

I also get requests from headhunters all the time. I just don't pay attention to the ones I don't know or do know that have a poor record of doing a good job or are ethically challenged.

In case you missed the news, LinkedIn was acquired by Microsoft.

[TheGrey]

I use LinkedIn quite a bit, both to increase my networking, as well as to stalk profiles for OSINT. I've got a lot of friends/acquaintances in different industries that are connected; you never know when you're going to need a specialist in XYZ or need someone on the inside that may know an expert in their field to testify as a witness.

The again, I'm one that believes in the adage "A bird in the hand..."

[ClangClang]

LinkedIn is an excellent tool for just about every industry I can think of, including blue collar jobs. By ignoring LinkedIn, you are literally throwing away opportunities. LinkedIn doesn't have your comings and goings, family photos, or any other information you don't wish to upload. All mine has is a single headshot photo and the companies I've worked for over the past ~10 years, along with a brief paragraph of what I did at each job. I accept just about every single "connection request" I receive. There's no downside.

I have gotten inside connections to jobs, found new potential clients, and helped friends find jobs all 100% due to LinkedIn.

And for what it's worth, when you join LinkedIn, they ask for your email address AND password so they can automatically contact every single person in your person in your address book. I most certainly did NOT hand over my email password. It's actually astonishing how many people do.

[kidicarus13]

The more information you provide, the more spam you will receive.

[Zundfolge]

The one thing that annoys the crap out of me is LinkedIn telling me that my profile is incomplete because it doesn't include my education ... I'm sorry but I fail to see how an unfinished degree in Psychology would have even the slightest positive impact on how I (a professional Graphic Designer with more than 20 years experience) am seen.


And for what it's worth, when you join LinkedIn, they ask for your email address AND password so they can automatically contact every single person in your person in your address book. I most certainly did NOT hand over my email password. It's actually astonishing how many people do.

Technically handing your email password over is a violation of the terms of service you agree to with your email provider ... and technically a violation of a TOS is a crime under the DMCA.

[Wiggity]

LinkedIn is an excellent tool for just about every industry I can think of, including blue collar jobs. By ignoring LinkedIn, you are literally throwing away opportunities. LinkedIn doesn't have your comings and goings, family photos, or any other information you don't wish to upload. All mine has is a single headshot photo and the companies I've worked for over the past ~10 years, along with a brief paragraph of what I did at each job. I accept just about every single "connection request" I receive. There's no downside.

I have gotten inside connections to jobs, found new potential clients, and helped friends find jobs all 100% due to LinkedIn.

And for what it's worth, when you join LinkedIn, they ask for your email address AND password so they can automatically contact every single person in your person in your address book. I most certainly did NOT hand over my email password. It's actually astonishing how many people do.

100% this.

Excellent tool for what it is. No reason to not have one if you value career networking. The UI isn't the best, but it doesn't stop people from using the system for what it is. I've received multiple offers through nothing other than LinkedIn. However, if you're an old grouch who gets irritated with technology, feel free to moan about it to no avail :)

[Wulf202]

I've personally never had anyone ask about it. Talk about it. Hire thru it or in any way utilize it in my industry.

I've only had friends with white collar jobs send me those emails. Even when I had a profile with them

You need to realize that it doesn't apply to every industry. It may be a useful tool for many but it's not universal

Or you can continue to insist that anything that works for you must be good for everyone.

[mattiooo]

If I had relied only on what people I work with and just in my industry told me, I never would have gotten as far as I did. My personal belief is anything that could help me, even a tiny bit, is worth at least exploring. I found immensely valuable over my career to watch what industry leaders did, regardless of industry. You never know what is going to spark the next great idea for your industry. Innovations are usually someone thinking well outside the norm for their industry and trying something radical or just totally different.

And if I was out of work - there is NOTHING free I wouldn't try to remedy that, and then I would explore some of the paid options as well.

And yes, while nothing in life is perfect for everything, many things can be helpful well outside of their original intention.

The smartest people I know (and I'm not one of them), never stop trying to learn new things.

[Circuits]

I've gotten interviews, and my most recent job partly through linkedin. It's actually now a red flag, at least in heavily-white-collar professions, not to have a reasonable professional network set up. It might not cost you a job to not have one, but it will probably be asked about in interviews. Things like security clearance investigations now focus a hefty amount of scrutiny on your on-line activities, too.

I guess it's a tool for lazy recruiters who feel better about passing you through to the next step if they can see your glowing endorsements and some professional engagement with your peers.

[Wiggity]

I've personally never had anyone ask about it. Talk about it. Hire thru it or in any way utilize it in my industry.

I've only had friends with white collar jobs send me those emails. Even when I had a profile with them

You need to realize that it doesn't apply to every industry. It may be a useful tool for many but it's not universal

Or you can continue to insist that anything that works for you must be good for everyone.

What is your industry?

[Zundfolge]

Lately I've been getting "invitations" from people using "Alignable".

WTF is Alignable?

[rondog]

I joined LinkedIn when I was unemployed, but I'm a computard and couldn't figure out how to navigate around in it. I kept ending up in bizarre places, had hell just finding my own shit and updating. Got a job and haven't been back on. No idea what my login info is. Didn't impress me much.

[Wulf202]

What is your industry?
Facilities maintenance

[mattiooo]

I'm not saying LinkedIn is for everyone, but the initial search:

71418


And this from the web:
https://prevent-lss.com/5-linkedin-groups-facility-managers-join/

[BladesNBarrels]

"Alignable is where small business owners build trusted relationships and generate referrals. Join for free and increase word-of-mouth for your business."

Looks like extension of LinkedIn

[Wiggity]

Facilities maintenance

Lmfao bro you obviously didn't even attempt to check....


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170725/af1b709dc1a9c7742d51906fd0a600e0.png



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Wulf202]

I'm not saying LinkedIn is for everyone, but the initial search:

71418


And this from the web:
https://prevent-lss.com/5-linkedin-groups-facility-managers-join/

A blog and 3 job listings that are 120-150 mile commutes?

LinkedIn can be useful but not to me.

[mattiooo]

A blog and 3 job listings that are 120-150 mile commutes?

LinkedIn can be useful but not to me.

I only searched Denver and there were 107 jobs found.

[Wiggity]

I only searched Denver and there were 107 jobs found.

I fail to see how this would not be beneficial to someone in facilities maintenance.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Wulf202]

I only searched Denver and there were 107 jobs found.
Ok. Do you make commission on this or something?

It does no good for me. If it works for you, cool.

Blanket statements like this is great for everyone are simply not true.

[Wulf202]

I fail to see how this would not be beneficial to someone in facilities maintenance.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
If you'd like my actual reasons, I won't post them in the open forum, drop me a pm.

[gnihcraes]

I know someone in IT that has no online accounts, for safety and security reasons. He also can't seem to find another job - I'd believe its due to him not having any online accounts, like LinkedIn. To each his own though.

[fly boy]

My buddy was recruiter for a job in Ogden Utah because of his Linked in Account.

He didn't apply, didn't know there was an opening, wasn't even looking for a job. But a New position was created out there, his Linked in Profile has specific information that they wanted and emailed him with a job offer he couldn't refuse.

I haven't updated mine in a couple years, but it definitely helps people find jobs, or have head hunters find you.

[TheGrey]

I've got friends in my neighborhood that have nothing but word-of-mouth for their referrals, and they're busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest. I know other people that are on every social networking site out there. It all boils down to personal preference.

[mattiooo]

Ok. Do you make commission on this or something?
It does no good for me. If it works for you, cool.
Blanket statements like this is great for everyone are simply not true.

Somewhere along the line you decided that I was saying it was right for everyone. I've and others have only been arguing the original blanket statement:


So I was right: It's facebook for people who wear ties to work. ;)

Nothing in this world is right for everyone. Nothing. However, it is a good resource for MOST people who are either working in a job now, or are trying to find one. It is NOT the solution for everyone. I just didn't want people to assume it was just for white collar jobs. That's all.