LinkedIn

It's okay, though I don't add everyone I've ever met to it. That seems a little desperate.

It's basically like an online resume where you can "add people" who can view your updates and can see your status updates, if you choose to do that.

I have received a couple of calls from organizations in the 3 years I have had LinkedIn. I was a little bothered I guess, because the person obviously Googled my company and just dialed the main number to ask for me. I find that a little annoying, but I might not if I were unemployed.

Like Henry, I've received numerous invites for LinkedIn from people I don't even know. The problem is that they are violating federal anti-spam laws by allowing its members to send subscription invitations to anyone they choose.

At the bare minimum, they should include an opt out so the recipient of these emails can remove themselves off their list. LinkedIn doesn't even do that, nor do they offer you any way to stop these solicitations. It's just an annoying, illegal, high-pressure tactic to get people to sign up for their pay service.

I'll state the obvious: LinkedIn is a garbage business, more social media trash.

I still don't understand the fuss over Linkedin. They send me updates from Your Extended Network (Who the hell is these people?) which goes straight to the spam folder. Let's say that you are a job seeker. If you want to get in touch with an old associate, you would have to subscribe to the $20 -$50 plan to send them a private message (on facebook, sending private messages is for free). You can also forget about getting detailed messages about companies or even notice by recruiters. It cost more money.

It sounds like other people do not have any luck with Linkedin.

very good

From what I was able to discern, its a site for business networking with people who are as boring as yourself.

I am rating a 3 because I have had the site for a few years and haven't had a single call from an employer who said they saw me on LinkedIn. I have received calls only from employers from directly applying for jobs through Dice, Monster, and similar sites, and actual employer websites. Linkedin is a GREAT way, though to see what employers are around and find out about them and when employees come and go. They have a really vast search box function, and each company's profile has a link to their own website. It's a nice central place to organize your job search, even though it might not be the exact thing that finds you the job.

It isn't bad, but its far from great. At least it isn't dominated by illiterate children like most social networks are.

Maybe the best professional network.

No one networks on that stupid site. People invite their co-workers and former co-workers and that's where it stays. It's stagnant.

I doubt head-hunters peruse LinkedIn given that you can't even get into most people's private pages without asking them to add you.

It's a pointless website being utilized to "show off" your resume to people who can't even help you up the ladder anyways. It's not networking when the only people who can see your page are your current co workers....

I have friends who've requested that I join linkedin. But it looks pretty stupid to me. I'm not sure why I would want to join. I don't think it would get me a better job. I can just see it now: A big Wall Street Executive is on linkedin, sees me, and says: "Cancel, all of my interviews for this position, I want to hire this fine outstanding citizen."

LinkedIn was good for about 5 months in my opinion. It's exciting at first to join groups and see your logo get more and more dotted.

But other than that:

Has it increased my business? No

Have I ever received a single shread of business out of LinkedIn? No

Do I know any of the people I'm connected with on LinkedIn? Yes, my brother and parents

What it is good for: Free Job Posting - you can find cheap workers. If that is what you need, sign up asap.

Future of LinkedIn?

Dead in the water for me.

LinkedIn is great place for Professional networking and keeping up with the latest industry news.

I love linkedin. I use it to find resource providers for my clients, and to find prospective clients. Of all the social networking sites out there, I think it's easily the most effective for business. The others are just an after thought for me.

I just joined and find it to be very rewarding. I already got several leads for new work as a result. If you want to be invited to join my network, please e-mail me. Thanks, Bill

I think LinkedIn has a good thing going - the site is well organized, and appears to have a number of heavy hitters as members. The best thing that LinkedIn does is focus emphatically on the business community - people will pay to find employees, and they will pay to find a job. Unlike Orkut and Friendster, I can actually envision LinkedIn making some money.