[jbolte1976]

Another great networking website was brought to my attention from an email asking to join someones network at linkedin.com. Like a lot of these I was about ready to axe the email.

Kinda like the spams emails stating "Someone is searching for you, find out who". I didn't because I recognized the person asking to network from by previous business, I checked this website out and it actually is a pretty valueable tool / resource.

Personally I resisted getting a facebook account, thinking that just for kids. But I finally gave in and I've been able to reconnect to a ton of old friends that....well small talk only goes so far. But, non-the-less I'm able to find some old aquaintances and reconnect.


That's were I personally think that linkedin.com is great. I think we all need to keep and to some extend manage our old professional associates to keep a breast of opportunites that may help us with a job advancement, career move, or (in todays business climate) stay employed.

Anyway, I have an account there now and like facebook I was surprised at how many of my old business / working associates are members. Check out this "business" type of facebook...

LinkedIn: Relationships Matter


Jason

[crow07090]

Linkedin is not bad, I still think a website like facebook and myspace is more practical right now. Linkedin could very well be the way of the future in terms of social and business networking, so it is definitely beneficial to have such an account, however I believe the more practical sites right now are the ones being used the world over.

[Caussara]

In doing searches and research here and there I have landed on the Linkedin site a couple times. I felt it has a more business feel to it and could definitely be useful, although, atleast on the pages it was on, I was a little bit disappointed in the layout.

[jbolte1976]

Yeah I agree, it definitely is geared more towards maintaining and linking offline professionals / associates. I was just really surprised how many people I've worked and have done business with in the past had accounts.

Kind of a more professional way of staying connected vs. facebook or myspace although some people do use those for maintaning professional relationships also.



Jason

[heathcole]

I have a linkedin account. I do not use it very often, but have connected with several people from my office and company this way. Its an easy to use site and very user friendly. So far, though, it is not as popular in my arena as expected.

[aakay4u]

Originally Posted by jbolte1976

Another great networking website was brought to my attention from an email asking to join someones network at linkedin.com. Like a lot of these I was about ready to axe the email.

Kinda like the spams emails stating "Someone is searching for you, find out who". I didn't because I recognized the person asking to network from by previous business, I checked this website out and it actually is a pretty valueable tool / resource.

Personally I resisted getting a facebook account, thinking that just for kids. But I finally gave in and I've been able to reconnect to a ton of old friends that....well small talk only goes so far. But, non-the-less I'm able to find some old aquaintances and reconnect.


That's were I personally think that linkedin.com is great. I think we all need to keep and to some extend manage our old professional associates to keep a breast of opportunites that may help us with a job advancement, career move, or (in todays business climate) stay employed.

Anyway, I have an account there now and like facebook I was surprised at how many of my old business / working associates are members. Check out this "business" type of facebook...

LinkedIn: Relationships Matter


Jason

Yes Linkedin is a great site and i too have encountered few of my friends there.Like you i was also skeptical on joining it after being a part of numerous networking sites,but LinkedIn is worth.I have got a very important business client from that site.

[zietgeist]

I personally don’t use linkedin but I do know that a lot of trade people do use it. Since I’m younger, still in college, I use networking sites like facebook and myspace. But I eventually will use linkedin I feel.

[aheismann]

I do use Linkedin, but it just does not seem to have taken off like so many of the other networking sites. Most of my friends do not have a profile there, yet they have one on Facebook. With my generation, Facebook seems to be king.

[SuzyQ-Virginia]

LinkedIn appears to be growing rather significantly for the "professional" crowd. They do have a lot of special interest groups, including one for Public Relations and Marketing (which I'm part of). There are also alumni groups and other industry-specific groups, so you can find a niche. I have noticed that most of the members in the PR & Marketing group seem to be looking for jobs now (guess it's the economy), so the discussion hasn't been very robust.

I haven't "completed" my LinkedIn profile since I haven't asked anyone for "recommendations." Guess I'm just not comfortable doing that right now.

I do have a Facebook account which is good for personal connections. I've only been on it a few months but have reconnected with more people that way than LinkedIn. However, it can be a real timewaster, especially as you add friends to the mix.

[jbolte1976]

Hi SuzyQ-Virginia,

Welcome to the forum! Sorry I'm so late with my welcome.

I agree I've also had a Facebook account for about 1/2 year, I was hesitant at first, but once I gave in I was impressed and happy to reconnect with tons of people I have chatted with in over 10 years. But like you said, yes it can be a huge time waster and sometimes I struggle with distractions on-line.

Linkedin is defenitly more of a professional community, I reconnected with some old professional associates that I hope I don't ever need to find a new job, but...you never know and some of these were friends of mine as well.

When I first got my Linkedin account I kinda felt like it was growing virally, I made a few connections then I kept running into and finding people I've forgotten about etc. I can see where these networking sites can grow like gang busters.


Anyway, welcome to the MSF community and make yourself at home,

Jason

[MSUFan2009]

I joined Linkedin several years ago when I graduated college and thought it would have replaced my facebook but facebook definitely won over any other social networking site on our campus.

I agree Jboltie that Linkedin is more professional. Unfortunately, my friends are still playing beer pong on the weekends and love tagging photos. It is quite hard to ask someone for jobs leads when you have seen them showing off their homecoming beer pyramid pictures.

[MarketYourself]

I do have linked in accounts but I don't use it quite often. I do think facebook is better, create a profile, a facebook page and the best part the facebook is actually brings you back link to your main site.

[jbolte1976]

Originally Posted by MSUFan2009

It is quite hard to ask someone for jobs leads when you have seen them showing off their homecoming beer pyramid pictures.

MSUFan2009,

OMG, that's hillarious but so true! I remember those days. Definetley some differences between. Facebook and linkedin.

Kinda of the subject but I've heard some companies will look for potential job canidate's on-line profiles when they are looking to fill positions. This is something to definetly keep in mind when posting your pride and joy.. aka beer can pyrimad on the TV lol, or the pic of beer spraying from your nose while you were doing a keg stand lol.


Jason