linkedin

scamalert

anyway im finishing course in computer sciences-no degree yet,but was pointed out that linkedin is place to have your profile setup for jobs in IT.

Now did basically write out cv style profile,but whole concept seems more like some sort facebook alternative for employers and businesses- as in you select people companies to follow,put your skills in and have other people put +1 if they agree.

But what i find hard is expanding circles adding other people in thus have only few people and they are from same course,and most people i know friends wouldn't be using it.

Thus get such impression that Linkedin is more of place if one has job with x years working in field,or many skills to be hunted for,or some qualifications that are very rare thus basically person puts himself out there to get offers.Since seems even if there's entry jobs competition wise the amount of people that hit on same companies would be in hundreds if not thousands,thus seems way more luck just to browse local job sites.

That said can anyone give pointers in improving profile to get noticed,like is it worth trying to add HRs or people from companies that you basically dont know,narroving down searches that appear is as in more local-not getting smth like x company is now hiring and positions are across globe.Since opted out from facebook long time ago,but Linkedin seems a lot like it,thus didnt explore it much besides making my profile and adding into skills that i have attained over the years.

witchgirl26

It's actually quite difficult to include people you don't know at all cold on LinkedIn, I've found. Could you add some people from the course in college or the college itself? I don't mean those in your class but lecturers etc? And get them to endorse the skills you have put up for yourself?

I use LinkedIn a bit & find it good, yes for job hunting or getting contacted by recruiters, but also for interesting work related articles & keeping up with people from previous jobs. They might not be people I'd connect to on Facebook as I wouldn't know them that well & LinkedIn provides a more professional platform to keep in touch.

At the beginning of my career, I honestly didn't use it too much but using it more as time goes on. Glad I had it all set up though as I know people who don't & struggle to keep in touch with referees from previous jobs etc.

Wonzy

Start on I.T certs as soon as you can. Studying doesn't stop after college and will make you stand out from other applicanta

scamalert

Thx for replies guys,yeah the endorsing part is somewhat cliche,since if you add people that you know from say course its basically just changing experience witch each other doing same for another,thus this flaw sort of makes it more better for someone in job already and being around many people to say manage stuff daily for to be endorsed in smth.

with all this it seems professional place and all,just to read news on interesting topics,but as you mentioned to grow you need some positive feedback with reliable contacts-that's the hop that's hard to gain when starting out fresh.

Batzoo

I had the misfortune in the past of having to do a career bridge course. One of the requirements for this course was to set up a LinkedIn account. Not being a big fan of putting personal details online I tried to resist but was eventually forced to set up an account to complete other aspects of the course I was on.

One of the requirements the career bridge advisor insisted on was that I have to have 50, yes 50 connections. I told them I don't know 50 people well enough to endorse or expect an endorsement from. She insisted I get other people on the course to endorse me and for me to do likewise. She also advised padding my skill-set, which I totally refused to do.

I tried to point out the total useless nature of these endorsements of strangers but she was having none of it. She showed me her account and she had over 700 connections and somehow believed this validated her skill-set. I was one of her connections. I bumped into her a few months after the course and she vaguely new she recognized me but could not remember my name or where she knew me from. I expect the same could be said for 680+ of her other connections or endorsements.

TL:DR
PROS:
LinkedIn can be good if you have the right connections and it is used correctly. But this rarely happens.


CONS:
LinkedIn has been pretty much hijacked by recruitment agents looking to fill their portfolios without putting in the effort.
Most jobs that will be offered will be short term contracts from agents looking to make money out of your effort, no hope of a permanent role. Once on the contract merry go round, it is hard to get off.

Summary: Indeed, your in the IT game now, so maintain the social media accounts. Keep them professional and limit who you connect to. Only connect to relevant people in the industry who you work with, Managers, supervisors, team leaders and so on. No point in connecting with the janitor, even though he is the only one you work with who gets your jokes and the only one you like.

Ultimately, Your CV will be what gets you the interview, and your interview and confidence will be what gets you the Job. LinkedIn will not really be taking into consideration, unless you are applying for a job at LinkedIn.

ejabrod

IMO, Linkedin has become a farce. Originally the site was really good. It was for professionals lookin to connect with professionals in a well, professional capacity. Your observation is correct (again IMO) that LinkedIn has become a 'Facebook for "business"'

My activity on LinkedIn has diminished in the last 3 years as a result of the 'Likes' and stories of 'inspiration' that has become commonplace.

If you want to get your name out there it is great to connect with 500+ random people who have never met you, have no clue of your real skillset, do not really know hat you do but will hapily endorse your ability in a particular area. Be prepared to be contacted by endless recruitment consultants with "exclusive" roles with companies that don't exist and be bombarded with spam mails from all angles.

Apart from all that, if you hate facebook and want an alternative come to LinkedIn.. oh wait..................don't

scamalert

Batzoo very well said,that was my thought as well,like from reading some articles on linkedin,how to visit random HHs in case they notice you or connect with just random people you feel like.

But endorsing part is some what flawed as in your example most people would have to know you well or be colleagues to know that your specialized in that field -but even prior to knowing linkedin didnt like facebook and it seems a little like someone pushing thumbs up even if they wouldn't know you at all.Since where me strong skills are would be IT,desktop support or others and such people dont have accounts on linkedin,and dragging someone from email list to join you is some what unprofessional.

I see how this would work for someone having wast experience and putting down few well known companies,but for someone who is starting out its not much use.

thats why oped out from facebook long time ago since you can have 50+ friends but hardly would more then 10 if you meet them,and all the trash that comes with posts.

beauf

scamalert wrote: »

B...But endorsing part is some what flawed as in your example most people would have to know you well or be colleagues to know that your specialized in that field ....

Not really I get get people endorsing me for skills I never did. I assume because they want me to endorse them. I get loads of people trying to connect to me, that I don't even know. Many of the ones who do contact me are just contacts from years ago, most of us aren't even in the same industry anymore, or haven't been in touch for year.

Eoin

The endorsements are a complete waste of time - totally meaningless.

OP - connect with some recruitment agents and maybe internal corporate recruiters. Post details of whatever projects you're working on to your profile. Maybe see if there are any relevant groups you can join.

Mrs OBumble

Endorsements and Likes are indeed a waste of space. And recruiters don't know most of the people they're "connected" to.

But you can ignore them and still get lots of use out of LinkedIn - which is indeed Facebook for grown-ups / your professional life.

Follow the companies you are interested in working for. Use it to look up who works for those companies in the location you are interested in. Then and see if you can figure out any connection (either inside or outside LinkedIn) to them - use this knowledge to ask for help getting jobs in specific places.

To get yourself some connections (any connections) - add people from voluntary work you've done, sports team you played on, work experience you had etc. You never know who might help you find a job.

Join relevant groups, and start contributing to the conversation in them. Seriously - a friend of mine was only just thinking about looking for a new job recently. He made one post in a relevant technical group - and from that was head hunted to a far better job than he had.

When you get a job interview, look up your interviewers beforehand so you know a bit about where they are coming from.

Once you get a job, immediately connect to those of your new colleagues who are on LinkedIn.

beauf

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

...Join relevant groups, and start contributing to the conversation in them. ...

A lot of "activity" on Linkedin seems to be a lot of this self promotional type.