If you have one, how often do you use it? If not, why not?
Do you actively use it when networking? Do you add anyone who sends you an invite?
I've heard stories where people interview with a company and randomly add people from the company and ask for recommendations. Have any of you had any luck this?
Interested in your stories and how "mainstream" LinkedIn might be these days. TIA
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Got my boutique internship via Linkedin message. Also managed to get invited to a networking session via Linkedin. And connected with alumni who currently work at BB.
Still pretty useful tool when it comes to networking.
Linkedin is very useful if used properly. It's about building a community, not selling stuff. Sharing ideas, helping others, etc.
For you younger college kids looking for jobs and internships, it's a great tool to reach out to alumni. Certainly removes the "fear factor" of cold contacting people.
Here's an example, and I'm an old dinosaur. Recently reached out to a senior exec in PB. He's in my area at a company I'm interested in for a few reasons: might be able to do some joint work, might be able build a long term referral network, might be a place for my son to intern, etc. Sent an invite stating : "looks like we've done many similar things over the yrs. Would be great to meet you and share some war stories..." Meeting scheduled for a drink (and cigar I hope as I'll come packing just in case) in August.
So without Linkedin, I'd never know this guy existed, or him me. Maybe nothing ever comes from it. Maybe we build a long term relationship.
On the other hand, I receive a lot of invites that are really just pure solicitations and I ignore or delete them immediately.
Find the right tone and you'll do well. Great resource!
Im quite new at networking because I have only started this summer in hopes of getting an SA gig next summer. When people say "cold emailing" does that mean finding absolutely random contacts on the internet of analysts and MD's and emailing them? What reason do they have to actually respond, they hardly care about me, some random undegrad who is lookind for advice right?
That would be the extreme version of cold emailing. As you point out, they have no reason to care about your plight. However, some will because some people care and will go out of their way to help you.
I would get more focused with it and search for alumni who are working in the industry, a specific company, etc. Again, they may not care, but some will. They were all in your situation some time ago. Some will want to help you get your start.
Let them know why you want to connect and be genuine (and honest). If you say you want to learn more about them, their company, how they started, etc. then actually want to know that stuff.
What most people never figure out is this is really your first sales job. I know many on here loathe the idea of selling, but you better get used to it because everything is selling. In this case we're talking about relationship building which is crucial and can help you for yrs to come.
Linkedin has made this quite easy. To think I used to actually go door to door (true).
I appreciate recruiters' hustle to some degree, but I also feel as if they never look at peoples' profiles before sending potential "opportunities".
No, I have zero interest in an operations role in Argentina at a start-up. Thx.
Exactly my point. I get a LOT of these (daily). When I invite I'm careful to read through their entire profile to determine assumed points of interest (for both parties). It's a community tool for collaboration, not a transactional tool for commerce. Requires a different mindset. Not, "what am I going to get from this?" as most view that as annoying.
Coming form a salesman, sales people need to learn how to sell.
as I was reading this I got an opportunity for a summer internship in 2018 (my profile is currently 'Summer intern at X'...)
Very solid service.
Great for finding alumni and networking. The LI search function is one of the most important single things in the networking world, and the ability to find out who went to your school, worked at your firm and left, etc is crucial. Great for reaching out to people, but they often dont answer LI messages, so find em and shoot em an email. Use it as a browser rather than a direct means of connecting.
The job app page is hit or miss. Good in that it alerts you to a ton of jobs in your desired industry, ban in the sense that (especially for IB/finance jobs) a ton of other people see it and apply or network their way in, so job postings are questionable in efficiency at best.
Hope this helps.
I keep it updated and use it more like a rolodex than anything.
This. Plus, it's nice to know who your contacts are connected to. So when you meet for coffee you can lead with something like "do you know anyone at company ABC?" when clearly you can see they do have several contacts there.
LinkedIn is the one social media site I regularly update.
I check on mine most days. I friended mostly recruiters and they'll post about new positions alongside endless motivational junk articles. Also have used it to find people who were offered positions I interviewed for - it's really helpful to look at your competition.
Interestingly, I've had the highest response rate to resumes submitted via the Easy Apply postings. (As opposed to cold emailing or applying via employer career sites.) I'm sure they get inundated with applications that way.
In general, recruiters contact me via linkedin every few weeks.
Linkedin has been immensely helpful to me. I would recommend it to any professional and would STRONGLY suggest that people keep their profile updated and set as available to recruiters.
In addition to the recruiting benefits which have already been mentioned, I've found LinkedIn useful for these reasons as well:
1) People in common you know - I looked up the two founders of a firm I was interviewing with. Found out they both went to MBA with a guy who was one on of my project teams during my consulting days; this guy was a mutual connection. During the interview, I mentioned "Hey, so it looks like we both know XYZ. I worked with him when I was in consulting....." The guys called him up as a reference, he said good things and I got the job offer.
To have someone vouch for you that the interviewer/boss both knows well and respects can go a long way.
2) Previous Employees - After getting a job offer, you often find yourself mulling it over trying to ascertain what it's really like to work there. While, you can certainly gain good insights based on your impressions from your time spent interviewing with the guys at the firm, I've found it most helpful to talk to previous employees. People who used to work there but now work somewhere else.
LinkedIn is a great place to find these people. It's usually best if you have a commonality (e.g. alumni at the same school), but I found most will happily talk with you about what they did and didn't like about working at a particular place.
Headhunters just wasting my time.
Not too sure why LinkedIn gets bashed so much on here.
I gained a life long mentor from LinkedIn cold messaging. The entire basis behind networking is finding something in common and that is what LinkedIn is perfect for.
Enter your school name, fraternity, clubs, etc. and you will find hundreds of people in your field that can help you. If you have a good resume, add your current bosses so they know what you've done in the past. My senior year I maybe sent over 300 messages to alumni from my university. Some answered, some did not, but all you need is the right one to give you a chance and meet for some coffee.
I just built mine about a month ago, so I cannot share any serious success stories. To me, its simply a way to curate yourself to potential employers, sure they can see the same resume you send them, but there is something to be said about putting a face to the name and looking at what professional interests they have.
If someone looks you up, its better for them to find an active Linkedin account rather than some personal social media accounts or nothing at all.
linkedin is a tool, it should be treated as such. by itself, it's useless, but with some hard work, it's an incredibly valuable rolodex
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