[juliemboyle]

<p>With Mike's post it got me thinking that we could all really help each other by joining each other's linked in networks, as we are pretty dispursed geographically and industry wise.  So, I am on linked in as:  Julie Boyle  email is <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p>
<p>Send me an invite if you want to be added to my network.</p>

 

[MBannon]

<p>I should probably get on LinkedIn.  Do you folks find it helpful/useful?</p>

 

[cak73]

<p>I'm on Linked In, but I don't use it much.  My husband has been finding it a bit useful lately.</p>

 

[juliemboyle]

<p>Well, it is really helpful if you are trying to network for finding a job or finding prospects (if you are selling).  I never realized how powerful it was until recently, as each time you add someone to your network, your whole network expands exponentially.  For example, I have 206 (1) connections, but this gives me a total of 2,349,629 people in my whole network.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>With today's job market you never know when this will be useful.  Might as well build up the network before you need it <img alt="smile.gif" class="bbcode_smiley" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies//smile.gif"></p>

 

[xflbk43]

<p>Wish I had joined a long time ago.  I just joined after losing my job, and that means my profile isn't what it could be.  I'm going to work on that though.  My job loss was a complete blind side, especially when you consider that in the last 6 months, the have given me more responsibility than ever before.  Though, at times I felt like they were trying to see how much it would take to break me.  </p>

 

[MBannon]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>juliemboyle</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/70408/ot-linked-in#post_1950419"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p> I have 206 (1) connections, but this gives me a total of 2,349,629 people in my whole network.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br><br>
Is this even useful?  I mean, you can't scan through that many people, can you?</p>

 

[Dougie Fresh]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>MBannon</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/70408/ot-linked-in#post_1950475"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a>
<p><br>
Is this even useful?  I mean, you can't scan through that many people, can you?</p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br>
It's more about when someone in your network posts: 1) their company is hiring or 2) they are looking.  That's when having a good network of people you know, especially those you've worked with in the same industry in the past, is very useful.<br>
 </p>

 

[Alaska Mike]

<p><br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>MBannon</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/70408/ot-linked-in#post_1950475"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><p> </p>
<p>Is this even useful?  I mean, you can't scan through that many people, can you?</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Dougie Fresh</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/70408/ot-linked-in#post_1950484"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><p> </p>
<p>It's more about when someone in your network posts: 1) their company is hiring or 2) they are looking.  That's when having a good network of people you know, especially those you've worked with in the same industry in the past, is very useful.<br>
 </p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br>
It's also useful when trying to find a connection in a company in which you may not have any direction connection to.  Let's say you've got an interview at Microsoft and you don't know the hiring manager or anyone in that department.  But you have worked with Brad, who knows either the hiring manager or someone in that department.  You can ask Brad to introduce you to that person and perhaps give you a reference.  That's actually pretty useful when you're trying to stand out from the reams of resumes that the hiring manager is looking for (or more likely, that his HR computers are scanning through).  LinkedIn has the tools to search through your network to find connections you would have not otherwise known existed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mike</p>

 

[TriAndStopMe]

<p>I found it extremely useful in my recent job search.  Being able to figure out you're one-degree of separation from the guy doing the hiring for a job you'd love means the difference from your resume never getting picked out of the pile, and getting personally pitched to the guy and having coffee with him shortly thereafter.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Being able to research companies and individuals is also a big plus... and this is true if you're looking for work, hiring, or researching business prospects.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The recommendations are a great way to have other people say how great you are.  And we all know that means SO much more than trying to say it yourself.  (Way less awkward, too.)  Some folks suggest "trading" recommendations, but I think that can sometimes devalue the recommendations, making them look like quid pro quo.  Of course you probably will want to recommend some people who recommend you.  And when that's the case, it's better to space out the dates a bit. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Some folks go for numbers of connections, but I think it's also important to make meaningful connections.  People you feel you really know.  Not just random folks trying to make connections. </p>

 

[juliemboyle]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Alaska Mike</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/70408/ot-linked-in#post_1950491"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p><br>
 </p>
<p><br>
It's also useful when trying to find a connection in a company in which you may not have any direction connection to.  Let's say you've got an interview at Microsoft and you don't know the hiring manager or anyone in that department.  But you have worked with Brad, who knows either the hiring manager or someone in that department.  You can ask Brad to introduce you to that person and perhaps give you a reference.  That's actually pretty useful when you're trying to stand out from the reams of resumes that the hiring manager is looking for (or more likely, that his HR computers are scanning through).  LinkedIn has the tools to search through your network to find connections you would have not otherwise known existed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mike</p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br><br>
Exactly.  Obviously the first people you will ask are co-workers and friends.  Try to expand beyond co-workers as much as possible because this is where you will get a wide range of other companies in your network.  For example, my brother in law is at IBM and has a lot of college connections that work in a  lot of different industries all over the country.  By connecting to him, I suddenly have all those other folks in my network. </p>

 

[MBannon]

<p>Checking it out now...</p>

 

[niemsco]

<p>I'm on it, but don't use it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mike it got your invite, I'll accept it.  I work at IBM and I know they have offices down in Springfield and maybe some other southern locations.  I can try to find the IT managers of those offices and send them a note.  I'm not exactly sure how to do that, nothing is easy here, but let me see what I can do.  </p>

 

[em73]

<p>I sent invites to those of you I could find...  I'm on as Monica Cohen if anyone wants to connect.</p>

 

[Yo Sake]

<p>I haven't done anything about this though I received an invite some time ago.  It just seemed another 'network' that I had no time to keep up with.  Sounds useful though just reading the above posts, particularly being in the sales. </p>