LinkedIn. Whats it do for us?

Some thing that has been bothering my feeble brain. Just looking at an email, just in. In this case it was regarding Ray G. He's added a new picture. I know what he looks like, we had lunch on Friday.

A Q? Whats the point in LinkedIn? Any one on my Network, I have your email and phone all ready. Apart from the really pretty girl on Peter H's connections. I'm not sure, I can see the point of it.

The few commercial clients in my net work, my book keeper, and a few other ring-ins, seem to want to send "recommendations" for things I would never do or touch.

I'm only making this forum related, as it has harversted email addresses. I know lots of email addresses from here. I have an email today to "connect" with one B.T from Perth. He has my home phone and email. Same thing with the pilot's x 2. We speak allready.

I'm at a loss of what it add's. I'm yet to pick up the phone and hear "I read your LinkedIn, can you come and fix this"

Dont go to too much trouble, I'm just interested what it does?

Regards Phil.

Hi Phil,

That's weird, I've recently been fending off unwanted LinkedIn spam, it's driving me nuts, it keeps wanting me to complete my profile, so what the hell... I completed it, maybe then it will leave me alone...:)
giving as little imformation as I could, and checked the box which said don't send out status updates....

Now, I'll get notifications saying that someone on Linked In looked at my profile..... ?

Bottom line, it does nothing for me. Too creepy for words. See cartoon below.

Ray

http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyimages/2000.gif

I have a very simple policy with things like LinkedIn, Facebook etc.

I stay the hell away from them!

Any "invitation" to join any of these goes straight to my Spam folder.

Maybe I'm just a grumpy old fart (correction I AM a grumpy old fart) but I just don't see the point.

(This thread really has nothing to do with Metalwork does it?:wink::p, Should I move it to Have your say?:rolleyes: - You guys don't need Facebook etc - you use the Metalwork Forum as your "social media":D)

What Fred said. Not for me either.:no:

I received a purported LinkedIn email purportedly from someone I know locally, and I do know from conversation that this person is on LinkedIn.

I ignored that email and then a few days later I received another. This time not only did they still want me to join LinkedIn but they also wanted my email password???

Not interested.

What's it do for us? Very little I suspect, I think its more about what it does for them.

The problem occurs when people let Linked In scan their address book and then it uses this data to send out requests.

Personally I feel that it is a concept that hasn't really quite taken off yet. I use it for work and it is somewhat handy to find consultants that colleagues may use. For example I can look at a friend interstate, find they are linked to a consultant and then at least I feel if I need their services I know somebody who has recommended them over a random Internet search.

As for a personal tool I can't see much use, particularly given that the professional side of things is still limited.

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Originally Posted by Big Shed

Should I move it to Have your say?:rolleyes: - You guys don't need Facebook etc - you use the Metalwork Forum as your "social media":D)

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No skin off my nose either way. I only mention it because most of my linked in mates are from this forum. (As lots of them are in my email address book any way).

It was just a thought bubble, feel free to move it. I'm at a loss as to what it does. I was happy to dicuss it here, as all my "contacts are from here". But I'm sure it applies to the greater forum.

It wasn't that important, just some wierd stuff I click and clack on. And its been going on for 12 months. I forget how I even got involved. Some one must have invited me to the party. I'm yet to see the helium ballons and Champaigne.

Best Regards.
Phil

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Originally Posted by Machtool

No skin off my nose either way. I only mention it because most of my linked in mates are from this forum. (As lots of them are in my email address book any way).

It was just a thought bubble, feel free to move it. I'm at a loss as to what it does. I was happy to dicuss it here, as all my "contacts are from here". But I'm sure it applies to the greater forum.

It wasn't that important, just some wierd stuff I click and clack on. And its been going on for 12 months. I forget how I even got involved. Some you must have invited me to the party. I'm yet to see the helium ballons and Champaigne.

Best Regards.
Phil

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Nah mate, just having a stir!

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Originally Posted by Sir Stinkalot

The problem occurs when people let Linked In scan their address book and then it uses this data to send out requests.

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That really puts it on the same level as spam:(.

No wonder I get that many of these things, why should people let some other (intrusive) bit of software scan their address book?

Bit like people sending emails to a group of other people using CC because they are either too thick or too lazy to use BCC.

You get some nonsensical forwarded "joke" which people forward to their whole contact list using CC!

Again, straight in the Spam folder.

Phil, I don't use it myself, no point, nor do I really use Facebook or any of the social networking sites, but my wife uses it extensively in her business, to the point where it's basically an essential part of modern business in her opinion. She said it's a little like "professional Facebook" to use her words. She insists that it's all about networking. I gave her a brief description of your business and she was most insistent that it's exactly the type of scenario that would benefit a lot from using it.

Personally I have no idea, like others here I prefer to stay away from this type of thing, and they can shove that Google plus thing where the sun doesn't shine too! I was only reading the other day how their email client has algorithms in it to comb through relevant parts of emails and then target advertising to what you've been saying in Gmail messages.

Anyway, if you want my wife to run through it with you I'm sure she'll be more than happy to, just let me know by email.

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Originally Posted by Pete F

... I was only reading the other day how their email client has algorithms in it to comb through relevant parts of emails and then target advertising to what you've been saying in Gmail messages.

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I already get that just on web pages like on the forum. (at least I think that's why those pictures appear...)
I signed up to Linkedin 6 months or so ago because everyone was telling me that I needed a "professional profile". I've found a few people I used to work with but all those high paying jobs with great conditions haven't yet shown up.

Michael

Yeah that's coming from your previous Google searches Michael. Clever in a way, annoying in another way. I constantly get bombarded with EDM advertising whenever I visit PM as a result of a fair amount of searching I did on that topic a few months back. It still hasn't let up!

The story I was reading was a bit more involved than that (Weekend Australian???). The woman author related how she'd been discussing her yet to be announced marriage with her fiancee on Gmail, and next thing she was getting targeted Google advertising about wedding venues etc etc. IIRC she described it as crossing the line from being clever to being "creepy". I have a Facebook account, but see no need to update it with all manner of personal information. I occasionally use it, maybe a couple of times a year, and admit it's nice to see what old friends are doing. I was a ski instructor for 5 years and would have lost touch with pretty much all my friends from there if it weren't for Facebook. I understand Linkedin is basically the same thing except for professionals; it helps to maintain contact with people from past jobs, industries, locations, etc you would have otherwise just drifted away from.

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Originally Posted by Pete F

. . . . . I understand Linkedin is basically the same thing except for professionals; it helps to maintain contact with people from past jobs, industries, locations, etc you would have otherwise just drifted away from.

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What these SNs fail to get is that some of us do want to deliberately completely lose contact with some, or maybe a lot, of former connections.

I have mind the public "nutters" I had to deal with, students and the parents of students I failed in subjects and terminated from courses, business and staff whose contracts I did not renew, and others that were asked to leave. I don't want to have anything to do with these people or businesses, not even the satisfaction of being able to "unfriend" them will make me join up. Some of them still email me occasionally but at least these can be automatically deleted.

Some of them used to call me at work for time wasting hour long chats on my work office and my mobile number. It got to the point where I had to divert all calls to answering machines. One of the first and best things I did when I stopped working was change my mobile number. I should have done this a lot earlier.

I hear you Bob, I just got notification that a certain person I once met was "following" me a few days back. ! was about the only reaction I could come up with! Borderline creepy, but that's another story in itself!

I have no idea what the appropriate etiquette is with this type of thing. I can imagine "unfriending" someone is quite a statement, and possibly not cool, but other than that I have no idea. As mentioned, my wife is the Queen of social media, but given here field (recruitment) that's not surprising. I certainly am not very comfortable with the amount of data these companies gather on us, data that's often volunteered to them. That can then be used to generate more specific data, and so it goes on. I don't want to sound like a tinfoil hat wearer, but identity fraud isn't just something that's impossible to happen. All this data is well and good if it's used properly, but the people I've spoken to who have been the victim of identity fraud say it's your worst nightmare to recover from. Allied to that is what some people post on social media. What may sound like a good idea or funny at the time may some back to haunt you at a later date!

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Originally Posted by Pete F

.............. That can then be used to generate more specific data, and so it goes on. I don't want to sound like a tinfoil hat wearer, but identity fraud isn't just something that's impossible to happen. All this data is well and good if it's used properly, but the people I've spoken to who have been the victim of identity fraud say it's your worst nightmare to recover from ......

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Identity fraud is probably the most serious concern in all of this. Its an horrendous mess for the victim when someone pretends to be them in a court case. Having someone rip off your credit card is a hassle to have rectified.

Also there is a problem emerging, greatly helped by the trend to on-line everything in the banking world, of people having substantial loans taken out in their names. Good luck sorting that one out.

LinkedIn is the professional networking site for people who don't have the time or personality type to network, or who feel that they are way too important to spend any time doing 'networking' in the real world, or who are so full of hot air it's a wonder they don't float to the ceiling.

Recruiters love it as they can troll profiles looking for people to send vague "we may have a job that might possibly suit your skills" emails to so they can inflate the number of people on their books, and, from what I've seen, it lets people who you'd essentially label "a waste of good oxygen" sound amazingly talented as they tend to gather recommendations from other similarly skilled people.

Rule of thumb is that the longer and more impressive sounding their profile is, the more useless they actually are.

I have a LinkedIn account. The only accurate item of information it contains is my email address. I don't need offers of work from strangers.

I have no problem writing email filters.

Like Bob, there are a number of ex-clients, ex-workplace associates etc that I have zero intention of ever contacting. Their life is an amazing success? Yawn. They've died of a drug overdose? Ditto. None of us with any sort of digital profile is really anonymous, but I can't see any good reason to freely donate information to the big data people. Kind of funny because I occasionally do consulting work for those same big data people.....

As to why I have a LinkedIn account at all, it was curiosity - I wanted to see what happened if I replied to a friend in Norway's request to link. What I found was that he'd allowed the damn software to scan his address book without realising he'd done so. Kind of funny really. Then I got another request to link from a big pilot I know, which I ignored - what would be the point? And on it goes.....

PDW

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Originally Posted by Master Splinter

LinkedIn is the professional networking site for people who don't have the time or personality type to network, or who feel that they are way too important to spend any time doing 'networking' in the real world, or who are so full of hot air it's a wonder they don't float to the ceiling.

Recruiters love it as they can troll profiles looking for people to send vague "we may have a job that might possibly suit your skills" emails to so they can inflate the number of people on their books, and, from what I've seen, it lets people who you'd essentially label "a waste of good oxygen" sound amazingly talented as they tend to gather recommendations from other similarly skilled people.

Rule of thumb is that the longer and more impressive sounding their profile is, the more useless they actually are.

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Love it, Love it, Love it. wooo hooo. :D


bollie7

Although I don't like the spamming and stupid things that go on, this is just another tool, rather like a chisel; it has benefits for some people, is misused by others and is dangerous for some.

I'm an IT contractor and work with lots of people who are moving jobs frequently. Its handy to keep track of people I know professionally in one place (I don't network with friends there). It lets me find people to fill positions (I'd rather work with people I know I can work with), to ask for recommendations from people you know have worked together and to be offered work.

Many of the people I work with don't network and don't have the social skills to keep in touch but being able to find and communicate with them is handy. I can see with different occupations and different people to connect with that its just another social media platform that may make you want to strangle people you previously thought were sane.

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Originally Posted by fields

. . . I can see with different occupations and different people to connect with that its just another social media platform that may make you want to strangle people you previously thought were sane.

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Yep that's my experience. My problem has been that in the past I have too easily accepted people at face value and thought they were decent/honest/reliable, then when they turn out to be scoundrels my toe cutting skills are not strong so moving on has not been that easy. As a result I inadvertently seem to have collected a raft of ratbag acquaintances, some of which continue to try and hang around me like a bad smell and SN just seem to facilitate that more than I can handle. Folks with better judgement and toe cutting skills can probably deal with this as a matter of course.

SWMBO has always been better than I have at working folks out on first impressions and I have often asked for her opinion.

I sold my business, retired from work and I have stopped using my mobile phone and never carry it anywhere. It sits in the car on the charger and unless I am in the car when it rings it never gets answered. I like it when someone wants my contact details, I always tell them I do not have a mobile, they seem to think anyone who does not have a mobile is somewhat strange and they are most probably right but I am not giving the number to anyone. Those that need to contact me can use the land line or email, as for LinkedIn or whatever it is, in the bin they go. I seem to get a heap of them, mostly from my past business contacts I suspect. I have a new business project on the go so I guess I am going to have to rejoin the world at some point which is a pain.

I have a linkedin account because my brother asked me to join and he joined because his daughter asked him to join etc. There is hardly any information there, way more information on google.
It does not bother me to get an extra email every now and then that I dutifully ignore. However I happen to know someone who got a really good job as a manager of a hotel chain through linkedin.
So, I say if it bothers you, delete your account. If you want to join for whatever reason, use a secondary email account only for that. I have a separate email for e-bay for example.
As far as facebook, you can not compare one with the other. Clearly all of this inventions are there to make money, however facebook can be made as private as you can, only for your family for example, linkedin is aimed at networking and find a job. You can not do so anonymously. If you want to be anonymous, delete your linkedin account.

I joined linkedin to for professional purposes when I was doing some consulting, and found it useful for a short while. I was also on two groups there. I was once contacted directly through linkedin with a suitable job offer, and it was handy for people who were considering hiring me to do a cursory check to see if I worked in the appropriate field. These days, though, I'm retired, and I get bombarded with "These people are looking for people with your skills..." messages when I know that they're not, requests to link with people I don't know or wish to know, and today I was endorsed in a skill by someone whom I don't know and who doesn't know me. One group has degenerated into nothing but advertisements, and in the other, they're arguing about how to make bullseyes out of the Elgin marbles or somesuch.

I must download myself.