Is LinkedIn really that important?
I hear people landing jobs through LinkedIn all the time but as someone that’s a little paranoid about their data and privacy I think otherwise. I usually approach my job search directly by going to the company website so is LinkedIn really that necessary? Also when it comes to networking, sure but how close are we really to our connection?
LinkedIn is a great way for companies and headhunters to find you. If you're a top-notch candidate, that'll be a lot more effective than trying to find positions on your own.
Seconding the idea of letting it act as an online resume and advert for your skills and experience. Make sure your profile is specific and relevant to your industry and profession and before long you'll have recruiters (internal and third party) reaching out to you about positions. Don't forget to join some groups relevant to your background as well even if the first thing you do like most of us is turn off notifications so you don't have to listen to any of it.
Rarely used LinkedIn to connect with people, I used it more as a way to find opportunities.
I have like 80 connections and most are people I personally know and have met at events, not people I reached out to for a “coffee chat”
IMO LinkedIn is not a “requirement”
if you want another job, useful
if not, useless. I deleted my linkedin a little over a year ago and haven't missed a beat, know others with similar stories
I have found Indeed to be very good.
None of the jobs I've had I've sourced via linkedin however there was one linkedin posting that led to me getting an offer but I rejected it. So I would say LinkedIn is not necessary but it is certainly useful (imagine if I had really needed a job and had nothing else - I would have gone with that offer I got via linkedin). Another useful thing about LinkedIn is that recruiters use it so when hiring is hot I tend to get a lot of messages asking me if I would like to apply to their position. So far I have not sourced a job with this route but it is a good indicator on how the market is right now. There was a big boom around January which I knew about because of all the linkedin messages I got and the next time I get 5-10 messages the same day I'll know the market is hot so that is the best time to start applying and get an overpriced offer.
Edit:
I forgot to mention something important. My girlfriend is non-finance (traditional data analyst job) but she used the #opentowork functionality in LinkedIn and not only did they message her, a bank literally called her and offered her a job. So another use of LinkedIn is to let recruiters know that you are actively looking to change jobs which will lead to them targetting you.
in real estate, am on LI more than FB. Better stories, more business insights, transactions. Plus real estate is small I can see which of my friend, acquiatances, ex-colleagues are doing what.
Totally understand the privacy concerns. I do think that it has other uses as far as networking/job searching, but if that's not relevant in your situation I would just make a very basic profile that lists your education/employers.
That way you've "checked the box" (I know, ridiculous that it's even a box to check, but I have previously heard some people who find it odd when an applicant/client/etc. doesn't have an account). But then again, if you really feel strongly about those concerns I don't think it's a big deal to not have one.
Yes, it is very important to have a LinkedIn account with 500+ connections and a black and white profile pic. If you do not have those you went to a non-target and no one will ever respect you.
I have 500+ connections, but have a color photo.
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