Does anyone still use LinkedIn?

Mike Hoxbig

Mike Hoxbig

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Seriously considering deleting it, just wondering if there's still any value in it?

Reason being that lately I'm just flooded with nonsense. There's no actual networking going on. There's only two things happening:

  1. Spammed by recruiters who didn't bother reading my experience and skillset. I specialise in a very niche set of skills that are relevant to the financial sector, but on their side I tick a box based on my job title and therefore I must be interested in whatever small company they're trying to push.
  2. Filled with posts by people who are "really excited" by whatever kak they stumbled upon, to make it seem like they're up to date and deeply invested in their industry. When they actually have no cooking interest in any of it.
Is there any benefit in keeping it going? Serious question...
 
I still get very good hits on my LinkedIn. Most are for people at an earlier point in their career (and therefore pay is too low), but there’s not really a way for them to know, so I can’t blame most of them. I do occasionally get some highly appropriate ones though, so if I were looking, it would certainly be very useful.
 
I still check mine and keep it updated yes. I found my current job thanks to someone I follow liking a post about a job opening.
 
Depends what you want to use it for. Finding jobs it is definitely a source of information and access to potential careers. Having a profile or not does not seem to matter as much in SA but I know some guys in the Netherlands who say their companies that side do a lot of their recruitment via linkedIn and if you don't have a good profile it is definitely harder to find work that side.
 
I started using LinkedIn as a dating site. So far it didn't work out very well, but I have hope. Whenever a recruiter sends spam without actually reading my profile, I get the dating game on.

Unfortunately, they tend to block really fast. Have I lost anything? Not really. Those recruiters aren't really worth their salt anyway.
 
I was poached via LinkedIn a few years ago so it does work. I still get recruiters messaging me now and then, but I'm not interested in changing jobs anytime soon and as stated by others, most of them don't bother reading through skills and experience so aren't relevant options.
 
I find it useful, there is some sites/recruiters that only advertise there and nowhere else
that are definitely worth pursuing, its all about speaking to the "right" people who are helpful.
 
Pho3nix said:
Uninstall the app until you’re actually job hunting. Agree it’s a lot of spam as of late
Click to expand...
I don’t know why anyone would choose to not make themselves available for opportunities. My best ever career move came from what seemed like a random cold caller on LinkedIn.
 
backstreetboy said:
You do know you can turn off email notifications and not visit the home feed right?????
Click to expand...
The whole point of the feed is to help identify opportunities. You can't always rely on recruiters to come to you with the right job. But it's difficult when you have to sift through 98% junk about how excited people are by some kak industry news...
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Seriously considering deleting it, just wondering if there's still any value in it?

Reason being that lately I'm just flooded with nonsense. There's no actual networking going on. There's only two things happening:

  1. Spammed by recruiters who didn't bother reading my experience and skillset. I specialise in a very niche set of skills that are relevant to the financial sector, but on their side I tick a box based on my job title and therefore I must be interested in whatever small company they're trying to push.
  2. Filled with posts by people who are "really excited" by whatever kak they stumbled upon, to make it seem like they're up to date and deeply invested in their industry. When they actually have no cooking interest in any of it.
Is there any benefit in keeping it going? Serious question...
Click to expand...
I think if you are in sales or business development then its worth maintaining a profile.
As a professional it's good to have as a public CV that is updated once a year.

Our company has been pushing us to boost our Company LinkedIn but I think it looks so contrived when people do that. Its good that customers and prospective opportunities can see what you are about but could be just as risky if people do dumb ****.

I have also never seen anything go really viral on LinkedIn, it doesn't have very much day to day pull.
Perhaps its better like that.

(also I found my current job on LinkedIn)
 
Pretty much only for job hunting…or rather being head hunted is probably more accurate.

It’s quite literally my CV as I no longer update that anywhere else.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
The whole point of the feed is to help identify opportunities. You can't always rely on recruiters to come to you with the right job. But it's difficult when you have to sift through 98% junk about how excited people are by some kak industry news...
Click to expand...
Disagree there. LinkedIn is a professional social network. It isn't PNet/CareerJunction. The point of the feed on LinkedIn is to see what your connections have to share.

If you only want to see job opportunities, then use the "Jobs" tab and filter. Or remove everyone and only keep the recruiters? That's hoping the recruiters that you keep only post job opportunities.

Now that I think about it, a custom view on the gone feed might be nice (connections vs recruiters). I have my Twitter done that way via lists.
 
I am not in the market, nor will I be for a long time. I was however recruited off LinkedIn for my current role, and this has been my most prominent role, yet. But, I will keep my LinkedIn to keep tabs on competitors, what is happening with the job market (always scanning their new opportunities to see if my skills are still relevant), and there are many thought leaders on LinkedIn around building new businesses / leadership, etc that I enjoy following.

LinkedIn is really great social media imo. Everyone is professional, so having quality discussions is not difficult. It has its flaws (I am constantly getting messaged for stuff people want to sell to me), but overall, I think the experience is not too bad.
 
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