Want to get LinkedIn?

[Pankake]

Well I don't think of members on these forums and Mr. Randoms, these people are the future! (and the present).
So there's no harm in adding someone you know on this forum as by chance he/she might remember you and sort you out a job or vice-versa .

[glynnsmith]

Aye. I know a few people on these forums now. I know their work and I know them personally. I'd rather have a laugh and be mates, thanks very much. If that's wrong, I don't want to be right.

I also would hate to be considered as a "contact". That phrase makes me cringe.

Binarybrigade: I want to point out that it seems a bit odd that you're keeping track of your ex-colleagues via a website like linkedin. Why don't you msn/email them, or talk to them on the phone? Everyone I've worked with I'm still in regular contact with, and I like it that way. That's what I think of when hearing the words "networking trust".

Sounds to me that you're practicing a very similar thing to what you just got on your high horse about.

BTW, is anyone else having trouble adding anyone else to their "friends list". It doesn't seem to be working for me

G

[Talon]

Originally Posted by Binarybrigade

I use linkedin professionally, thats why i ask, I keep track of my ex-collegaues and thier new positions. Have you ever used these far out contacts for anything of vlaue besides building up size ? I doubt there is any networking trust gained from adding mr. random from a webforum, atleast it gives nothing in my book.

not trying be a partykiller, i just dont get the point.

In my very, very brief time doing any of this profesionally, it definitely seems a good deal of jobs going are recieved through a "who you know" style network. The more people you know, the higher your chances of good opportunities coming your way.

That's not to say add every random dude you see on the forums. There's a balance of quality and quantity. I add the people I talk to on these forums because they're all people I'd recommend and trust (and I'd hope they'd recommend and trust me).

[Binarybrigade]

Originally Posted by glynnsmith

Aye. I know a few people on these forums now. I know their work and I know them personally. I'd rather have a laugh and be mates, thanks very much. If that's wrong, I don't want to be right.

I also would hate to be considered as a "contact". That phrase makes me cringe.

Binarybrigade: I want to point out that it seems a bit odd that you're keeping track of your ex-colleagues via a website like linkedin. Why don't you msn/email them, or talk to them on the phone? Everyone I've worked with I'm still in regular contact with, and I like it that way. That's what I think of when hearing the words "networking trust".

Sounds to me that you're practicing a very similar thing to what you just got on your high horse about.

BTW, is anyone else having trouble adding anyone else to their "friends list". It doesn't seem to be working for me

G

Well, its not a friends lists, its business relations. Idont regularly phone 60 ex-students and work colleagues. When people change jobs and go into industries related to my current
industry i resume contant on business terms and thats why linkedin is a good tool for business networking. All the people I link to i have had personal relation in some point in time, but thats still doenst mean i party like i was 22 any more.

[Binarybrigade]

Originally Posted by Talon

In my very, very brief time doing any of this profesionally, it definitely seems a good deal of jobs going are recieved through a "who you know" style network. The more people you know, the higher your chances of good opportunities coming your way.

That's not to say add every random dude you see on the forums. There's a balance of quality and quantity. I add the people I talk to on these forums because they're all people I'd recommend and trust (and I'd hope they'd recommend and trust me).

I think i am in agreement with what your pointing towards ) My experience has been some guys, even in professional relations, whom harvest links for no other reason than size. I have no contact with these guys and will never have any relations with such. That is, i have added people that ihave never met in real life4 because we have long history online (years) and i fancy thier doing. My point is, if you really take linked in seriously, you should delete contacts not relevant or usefull to you. This is how networking works in reallife as well, as contact so slim/remote and loose they dont benefit you.

or said in short: Meeting people is not networking. Building relations with people is networking, getting introduced by friends of other people is networking.

i'll shut up now and let you guys have your fun - I'm just old grumpy.

[glynnsmith]

Originally Posted by Binarybrigade

Well, its not a friends lists, its business relations. Idont regularly phone 60 ex-students and work colleagues. When people change jobs and go into industries related to my current
industry i resume contant on business terms and thats why linkedin is a good tool for business networking. All the people I link to i have had personal relation in some point in time, but thats still doenst mean i party like i was 22 any more.

So, without reducing this to the kind of conversation you seem to be pulling it down to, let me just get this clear - LinkedIn is only used correctly by you, and no one else, and if they should add their friends and personal relations to it, or use it in a way that you deem incorrect, they should be outcast from civilisation and maybe catapulted off into space.

Yes?

You said it yourself. It's a tool. There is more than one way to use it. I really don't understand why you have a chip on your shoulder about it.

G