Linkedin filling my wee head with questions

Francis7000

So, last time I went job hunting everyone used web sites like IrishJobs. Now I’m hearing Linkedin is taking over the world, and to be honest Linkedin is confusing me. I have a half-baked profile up there at the moment – do I need to take this thing seriously, or can I still rely on Irishjobs?
Is no profile better than a half-baked one, or is taking it down the worst thing I can do?
How does one get a job via Linkedin – do you wait for potential employers to find you after making your status “available”? – would that not mean you get allot of contact about roles you don’t really want?
I’m not too clear either how potential employers view your details, e.g. is the idea to fill in job history, references etc to your profile, then make the profile publically available, so the potential employer can read it?
It appears to me, if you want to swap jobs these days, you need to make allot of personal information public. But I might be missing the point.

Irish_Elect_Eng

There are many websites out there that advise on how to do a job-search on Linkedin. The general idea is that it is a tool to build up your contacts in an industry and present your skills-set to a wide audience. Then when it comes time to change jobs or a role becomes available within your network you are in a position to know about it and apply or be headhunted. Using it as a tool without a network, is using it a glorified online CV. And it's effectiveness is highly dependent on your area of expertise and the roles that you are looking for. What is your field?

Francis7000

Yeah I’ve done a little “Googling” on the subject. There’s suggestion Linkedin is good for independent contractors. I’m just wondering, in a broad sense, if one decides they want to change job, should one look up job boards / web sites and email CVs or is Linkedin the way to go now? I have a few hundred in my network, close to 1k, and am active in a few groups which are more or less helpful with my current job’s needs, but I don’t see any opportunities for a job changes. I’m sure I’m missing the point.

TG1

Linkedin also has a jobs section that works just like the other online job sites. You set up your preferences and it suggests jobs that have been posted. All your use of this is private, current employers and potential employers can't see what you have saved or applied for.

I found you get more direct applications on this and less posts through agencies than on the more established sites.

A lot of recruiters are using the sourcing tools on linkedin though so it would be worth spending an hour or two updating and improving your profile. They tend to screen fairly thouroghly so you won't usually be contacted for roles that you're not suitable for.

Francis7000

Thanks TG1, that pretty much gets to the heart of my questions