I use linkedin all the day, to get jobs, to hire people, to find consultants and subject matter experts, to research people I'm about to meet (it feels rude to not take the moment to find out a bit about anyone willing to offer me their time). LinkedIn has become an essential tool in my business life. It takes a little while, and some critical mass of contacts, before the real value of the tool becomes apparent, but I think its well worth the effort.

Why do you ask Gordon? What is your LI experience?

Hi Janet,

I ask because I get mixed reviews on the effectiveness of the program. Some say they have a hard time getting LI members to respond to their requests to connect and meet/talk. On the other hand, most say it's a great tool to research people and companies, and some recruiters say it's their single source for identifying candidates for their job searches.

Gordon,

I think folks treat LI as an opportunity to pitch anything to anyone. In my experience, you earn your connections, at LinkedIn or elsewhere. If I ask a LinkedIn contact to introduce me, I make sure I give the person I'm trying to reach a good reason to accept my request, from their point of view, not because of what I want. And I also make sure I respect the person I'm asking for the connection, so folks will have good reason to forward my asks on. I've had near strangers ask me to introduce them to busy people they want to sell something to, and I'd never disrespect the people I know by forwarding that request. So, like everything else, I think the usefulness of the tool lies in the quality of ones connections and the respect with which you treat the intent of the tool. If people are not getting results, I'd recommend you tell them to rethink their approach and expectations.

Just my 2 cents,

Janet

I use it and find it very helpful. I especially appreciate having the contacts of my contacts within my network. It makes it easier to learn about others' contacts vs. having to ask, "Do you know someone in X industry? Or Y industry/company, etc."

I'm addicted to the Answers section but am bewildered by members who post tens of answers (or more) a day. Hmm . . .

One element I don't appreciate is how I receive invitations from complete strangers (not introduced from one of my contacts). If I were to accept those invitations, it would decrease the value of my network and that of others, right?

If I accept an invitation, I do so because I know something about this person and his/her abilities.

I love LinkedIn. I have checked references, gotten business solutions, found people to hire (including JanetRyan who is on this thread!)....it's hugely valuable. And kinda fun too, in an obsessive way.

Recently, I added LinkedIn to my job-search toolbox, so it's too soon to say how effective it will be yet. I see huge potential, though - with use in a manner that is respectful and helpful to my connections. Similar to live-networking, there are some basic people-principles required. And it is a numbers game - if I invite x# of people to join/connect, only some will for various reasons (aversion to social sites, no time, etc), and of those who do "connect" only some will be active. Meanwhile, I am enjoying learning the process. Thanx for your 2 cents, Janet.

~Roxane

That's kind of the opposite of the way I use it...I don't try to form networks through linkedin, I use it to stay in touch and cultivate a network with people I've already worked with and whose work abilities I understand. I find it VERY helpful for that purpose.