Is a LinkedIn profile necessary?

boardsuser1

I'm on it 2 years. Only 1 employer actually wanted to sign me up. I ended up removing loads of connections as they weren't in my field.

Don't get many views either.

I was badgered into signing up for it.

languagenerd

If the majority of people in your field have a LinkedIn account, then it's probably worth having. I hate it, but I have one because I don't want to be the only candidate they can't find on it when it comes to shortlisting people. Most of my colleagues/peers are on it & it'd probably raise qs if I wasn't.

I've never been offered a job through it or seen one I couldn't apply for without it though.

Lux23

If you're starting out in your career, it won't do you any harm.

endacl

Lux23 wrote: »

If you're starting out in your career, it won't do you any harm.

In fairness, neither will shaving your backside. But that's not really the point of it, I suppose...

In answer to your question, OP, I've never had one. It would be of no benefit though, because (a) I don't want to change job, and (b) if I had any more private work I'd have nowhere to put it.

That said, if I was starting out, and with the current obsession with online presence, I'd probably throw one together.

partyguinness

When I moved to the UK in 2010 a recruiter told me it is the first thing you should do.

I detest social media, I do not have Facebook or Twitter etc account but I do have a Linkedin.

Not sure about Ireland these days as it is a small country/community but yes do have one. Just the basics, sensible photograph and very very brief descriptions of jobs held and education.

Once you have set it up there really is nothing else for you to do with it expect maybe update it when appropriate and get a few connections going.

Other than that, I don't bother with it.

Don't waffle on with crap management type speak spouting inane rubbish that same people go on with. Get to the point- treat it as a short cv.

partyguinness

...And Justice wrote: »

This annoys me, I'm in engineering and I've nothing to hide, but I'm reluctant to create a LinkedIn profile because I see fellow engineers and peers looking through other professionals profiles of people that they know or worked with and the Slagging is unreal!! "He's a ****in spoofer, fcuking lies...all of it" I hear this regularly, so what's the point?

Don't spoof or lie. Simple.

Jimbob1977

I have a profile out of necessity, but I hate having to use it.

It is effectively 'Corporate Facebook' and very fake. I suppose we live in a fake world.

Recruitment Agents just stick up random links about 'hot topic' issues in society.

Then everyone comments about how insightful and amazing they are. Virtue signalling.

Zascar

You are sort of right about it being akin to a corporate facebook - however there's nothing fake about my profile - it's all accurate. I often share interesting things like new articles, infographics or talking points in things in my industry or topical stories online. It promotes interesting conversation with my piers and others that have similar interests. It gets quite a big audience and you can track its reach - its very interesting. I also get a lot of connection requests from people who might be a useful contact some day.

I don't get why people call things fake or rubbish simply because they don't understand it.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

beauf

Zascar wrote: »

You are sort of right about it being akin to a corporate facebook - however there's nothing fake about my profile - it's all accurate. I often share interesting things like new articles, infographics or talking points in things in my industry or topical stories online. It promotes interesting conversation with my piers and others that have similar interests. It gets quite a big audience and you can track its reach - its very interesting. I also get a lot of connection requests from people who might be a useful contact some day.

I don't get why people call things fake or rubbish simply because they don't understand it.

Consider that you might use it as designed. But lots of others don't and it ends up being like cats on facebook, or cold calling.

Jimbob1977

Zascar wrote: »

You are sort of right about it being akin to a corporate facebook - however there's nothing fake about my profile - it's all accurate. I often share interesting things like new articles, infographics or talking points in things in my industry or topical stories online. It promotes interesting conversation with my piers and others that have similar interests. It gets quite a big audience and you can track its reach - its very interesting. I also get a lot of connection requests from people who might be a useful contact some day.

I don't get why people call things fake or rubbish simply because they don't understand it.

Sorry, I should clarify my use of the word 'fake'.

I didn't mean that the content of people's CVs or profiles were fake.

I was referring to the faux sentiment and pretentiousness of many articles.

realdanbreen

It's a great place to meet women!

partyguinness

OP,

I am now in a position where I recruit and when I get a cv I do check on Linkedin to see their ugly mug before an interview.

Now, I certainly wouldn't recruit on the back of a Linkedin profile but it is useful to check just as a back up.

Set one up. Nice and simple no fancy ****, waffle or lies and just leave it at that. It is nothing to get worked up over

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Andalucia

i think Linkedin is a load of rubbish, keeps recruiters busy I suppose poring over profiles and contacting you with phantom jobs

SHOVELLER

Any Linkedin users here have the experience of someone disconnecting from you? Not that it matters but think Linkedin could send you a message saying X has disconnected.
And to answer the OP's question yes!

beauf

I've disconnected loads of people.

...be interesting how GDPR effects it.

OMM 0000

I get a lot of job offers via my LinkedIn profile. Both from employers and recruiters.

Unless you're extremely cautious about your privacy, you have nothing to lose by creating a LinkedIn profile.

_Kaiser_

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I find these days its mainly used by people trying to sell stuff to me because I'm in a senior/decision-making role. So much so that I'm thinking of adding a "no sales people/pitches" line to the profile.

Unfortunately, having the stupid thing is pretty much unavoidable as it's "expected" if you're looking for a job.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

_Kaiser_

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Yea that too.. I think it was a useful tool a few years ago, but now it's little better than Facebook.

beauf

I disconnected a lot of people because of spam.

edora91

It's handy to have one, though it's up to you how much to share. We have referral bonuses, so noticing an acquaintance is looking for a new job can make me a neat bonus. While I have yet to land a job through it myself, it is invaluable for keeping track of who's doing what where. You never know when you may need to track down someone.