What are your thoughts about LinkedIn?

[dahliaclone]

I've had LinkedIn since basically its inception. I keep it updated, but don't post much. I find it a great source for some C-level thoughts, industry trends, etc. But lately my feed seems to be a bunch of pats on the back or somewhat cringey ego boosts or hollow praise of colleagues. Dunno, maybe I just don't use it enough.

I still think it's a great place for job searching, networking, etc. Huge value from those standpoints. The shift, to me, from “professional network” to also “content network” means more posts intended for visibility/ego than purely useful content. The platform is professionally-oriented, so I get that people feel compelled to present their wins, accomplishments, growth-stories...and that's fine. But sometimes and much more often lately it seems like “look how far I’ve come” mode.

I used to scroll my feed for industry trends and insights but those are long gone by and large and it's just personal updates and promotions...which is great, I'm happy for them, I just don't use the platform for that.

Curious what people use it for, if at all.

 

[NATEizKING]

I have had it forever and all I do is accept connections and exit. Get contacted by recruiters from time to time but contract jobs don't work for me.

 

[cyclonedave25]

I have had it forever and all I do is accept connections and exit. Get contacted by recruiters from time to time but contract jobs don't work for me.

Same.
Not sure I have ever scrolled through the feed for more than 5 seconds.

 

[BleedCycloneRed]

I retired 3 years ago and thus no longer have the email address associated with my linkedin account. As such, cannot log into linkedin, and thus cannot remove/close my account (or at least cannot figure how to close it). Nor really important to me, but would like to clean it up.

 

[JP4CY]

I like specific project stuff and sharing of those articles and dont really care for the fluffy "10 steps for a better work environment" type of articles.

 

[CyCrazy]

I have it never really use it. A couple of different Ag related companies have asked me to apply within the last 2 weeks. One I wont touch, the other I am fairly interested in, which reminds to send the head hunter back an email.

Other than job offers that come my way every once in a while it's basically what you said, a business driven Facebook where people high five other people they probably barely know.

 

[somecyguy]

Flaming pile of dogcrap. Professional version of Facebook. Lazy sales people using it for call sheets and "influencers" peddling e-books. I wish Microsoft would crack down on the garbage so it can actually be used as a professional contact tool, but all they care about is engagement.

 

[jcisuclones]

I found it super convenient for applying for jobs, becasue a lot of times you could just quick apply with your profile, which was pretty much your resume. The posts though are absolutely cringy. 9/10 nobody cares what is being posted on there or how hard you're brown nosing the corporation you work for.

 

[Gonzo]

It's the only social media I do and I used to like it but it's been turning to crap for at least a few years now. Most of it's just ads, posts by those horrible 'career coach' types, dumb personal stuff like how someone has been sober for 500 days with before and after pics, posts by professional women shoving their cleavage out there while bemoaning being judged by their cleavage, and lately many more political posts. Maybe 2% of it I find valuable.

 

[CyDawg23]

I plan on writing a book entitled: LinkedIn and the Art of Self Promotion. Then I’m going to promote it on LinkedIn.

 

[ClonerJams]

 

[Peter]

I love being a top applicant for a bunch of random jobs that have nothing to do with my career skills.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

I tend to loath all the social media apps. LinkedIn at least is intended to be useful for something other than vanity but I barely use it. Construction is way more just knowing people and finding work on the job.

 

[CloniesForLife]

Can be good for searching jobs and making connections but also my feed is cluttered with garbage.

 

[cydsho]

I actually got my current job because of LinkedIn. I was in the field they needed and being an ISU grad really caught their attention. Be 4 years in spring and I don't plan on leaving. I wasn't even looking for anything new.
I really rarely use LinkedIn as I think it's kind of dumb but has its uses for sure.

 

[CycloneErik]

It truly does exist. That's about it for me.

 

[JEFF420]

its insane and full of spam in my DMs?? but I have an interview for a role Monday in Des Moines off a post from a connection. wasn't really looking for it but it is a unique opportunity that I would have missed (I wasn't trolling job boards).

 

[CloneJD]

It’s by far the worst of the dating platforms.

 

[BCClone]

its insane and full of spam in my DMs?? but I have an interview for a role Monday in Des Moines off a post from a connection. wasn't really looking for it but it is a unique opportunity that I would have missed (I wasn't trolling job boards).

No more peppers?

 

[NATEizKING]

It’s by far the worst of the dating platforms.

Making an assumption here but feel like it could be a lot worse, at least the people on LinkedIn presumably want to work.