[jkrishnakj]

I use 'Linkedin'. I login atleast a couple of times a day. I have never been on FB or Twitter. I am one of the earlier users of Linkedin. It is very useful for me when i can look up potential clients who i used to host or meet, potential candidates while doing interviews etc.. I actually could hire several 100's through this, even for very niche skills that are hard to come by. Quite useful, i will say.

I am not a premium member and am quite contented with the basic version. The only grouse i have these days is that there are many people who post pictures and videos and jokes and there are many people who come there with some flattering stories just to get some likes and popularity. I so wish that Linkedin somehow is able to put a halt to these and keep it what it was meant to be - i.e. Professional Network.

[HDarsi]

Linked IN has been my go-to site for keeping in touch with my previous colleagues. i wouldn't want to add everyone to my FB or insta. I've worked with professionals from various companies given my freelancing nature of work and its great to see updates from them every now and then. With Linked IN, i can keep personal and professional contacts and associated discussions seperate from each other. Btw, there is also another version from Facebook themselves called Workplace rolled out in some companies, which is literally Facebook for the company(https://en-gb.workplace.com/).

The recommendations from my clients on Linked In have helped in securing newer contracts. Not sure about the non-IT or the within-India scene, but Linked In is pretty popular in Europe. Needless to say i keep my profile updated and secure atleast one public recommendation from each client that i work for. I've been using Linked In since its inception and have used the premium service as and when required(i.e., when searching for new roles). This helps highlight your profile amongst others. When cancelling my subscription the last time,I'd been given the option to continue for 2 months at half the normal price.

The last 6 months have been absolutely dull but in past i've had many recruiters reaching out after seeing my profile.

[shibulijack]

Yes, I use LinkedIn regularly and I’m so glad I did because a TA specialist from LinkedIn reached out to me via LinkedIn (since my profile matched one of their job postings) and now I’m a software engineer there.
Also, I believe LinkedIn is only as good as the people you’re connecting with. Although they’re not posts on cars or pictures of dogs, I do spend my nights scrolling through the endless LinkedIn feed, because the people I connect with, the hashtags I follow and the groups that I’ve joined post quality content.
Love it or hate it, LinkedIn is here to stay, especially in this post pandemic world.

[Lazy Driver]

Ah, what a thread! I work for LinkedIn & was amazed to see it being talked about on my favourite website- TeamBHP!

LinkedIn is all about connections & following the right type of people/hashtags/topics (well which social network isn't?). Yes it might have started as a job hunting platform but today it has evolved to be a content platform. It is clutter free, not too many ads, trust worthy & you are less likely to find spam/fake news on LinkedIn as compared to any other social networks.

The Daily News Rundown which can easily replace your news consumption requirements, LinkedIn Live events can help you attend the right kind of webinars & other virtual events. Its a good tool- try using it actively!

[GrandTourer]

I use LinkedIn daily, considering that it pays my salary.

On a serious note, it all depends on the people you follow, groups you are a member of, and most importantly your connections. I keep track of a lot of development that happens in my industry (data science) on LinkedIn, since most companies and individuals who make significant progress in their fields, post it on LinkedIn instead of other platforms, for obvious reasons. Sure some might find it showing off, but don't you want to advertise to your network about new service or tech that you offer?

As for the personal photos, you can just unfollow the person if you don't want to see the pictures, while still being a connection (they will not be notified).

I for one follow a very curated set of members, groups and companies and tend to find only 1 out every 10 posts in my feed that I don't want to see.

My primary usage of LinkedIn:

1. For work related things of course
2. Browse through the feed for interesting research/product
3. Keep in touch with current and ex-colleagues, ex-clients and college mates
4. Follow certain industry leaders for articles and opinions
5. Check out profiles of people I know

My opinion will be a little biased as an employee, so please take it with a pinch of salt.

[for_cars1]

Having been on this platform since over a decade, my take is that it is more useful if you have a specific domain expertise. Recruiters are always on the lookout for such specialized skills and you will end up getting messages every now and then about such openings. Its good to keep your profile updated atleast once every 2 to 3 years.

[narayans80]

The primary usage I do is research on people I come across. Never used it for job search, although few have reached out for potential positions.

[nitinkbhaskar]

I use "LinkedIn" on and off to research on the market dynamics and skill sets required to stay relevant. Also, my last 3 jobs materialized due to LinkedIn conversations with the extended network. So yes, it does help in that aspect.

However, people (especially in India) do not respond to your messages. The response rate is ~5-7%. Hence, one needs to be really relentless for any job or sales lead convert

[CarJunki]

I have been there for quite some time.
Use it for the sole purpose of background research.

Lately it is becoming more like a spamming network something it was not intended as.

Few things i dislike about current usage of platform
- News item sharing (well this is quite useless). All kinds of propaganda is available on numerous other places, LinkedIN is not the place for it
- Boastful self promotion (the sob stories ones)
- A breed of users trying to gather more followers and use it like twitter

As a rule,
- I unfollow anyone posting a news article or gobermint related announcements.
- Unfollow anyone posting about diversity/political view/orientation and many such topics
- All alleged influencers are strictly no-no


Once in a while people do approach with genuine requirement/topic/issue, quite happy to engage in those instances.
Occasionally my writings/blogs get posted there.

I am not in sales or recruitment or HR.

[null]

Linkedin is like a wedding prospect's photo to me. What is written there to what the person is (professionally/skills wise), there is a huge difference. A few years ago, when I was told I am getting a new boss, I had used LinkedIn to check his profile which was awesome, but what he turned out to be was totally different. Pretty much like professionally built resumes. I would be surprised if nobody has come up with a service to "develop/enhance" linkedin profiles yet. Neither has it helped with job search, partly me to blame as I have not bother to "beautify" it unlike many.

BTW I have become more conscious of my online profile and have been removing/hiding all professional & personal information on social networks like Linkedin & Facebook for last few years now.

[Jeroen]

Not quite sure how Linkedin works in other parts of the world. Here the basic package is completely free of charge. However, there is also a premium plan for which you pay.

https://premium.linkedin.com

does anybody use these premium plans? If so, any experience that can be shared?

thanks


Jeroen

[NowNew7]

To be able to leverage LinkedIn, the key is to keep it reasonably up to date and with the right level of detail for your career situation (more detailed initially, higher level with specific highlights later).

I have personally benefited from LinkedIn by being able to profile prospective interviewers, and identifying points from their background and experience I could use to guide the conversation for a positive outcome. The caveat being, their profiles need to be updated. However even basic information like educational institutions and which organization/function they started out from helps.

It is a reasonable tool to do informal background checks on candidates, vendors etc., and works especially well if you are able to identify a mutual acquaintance who can provide more context than would be generally available elsewhere.

I've also been getting loads of offers, though haven't followed up since I am looking to be stable with the current organization. The public references/recommendations also don't hurt!

The sad part as a lot of others have mentioned is that it's turning into another FB or TikTok for users who cannot make the discrimination between a social and a professional network. That clarity is essential: Not everyone you want to be connected to professionally makes sense as a social connection and vice versa...

[SID2997]

I use Linkedin to build a network of people around me who may come to my help whenever expertise with a particular skill is required with a particular project. It has helped me a lot with my Masters applications as many universities did screen my profile for endorsements, projects, research, etc.

[autohead666]

Biggest reason why someone would have an active Linkedin profile is to search for a job.It applies all the more for those who lost their jobs due to Covid 19 or some other issues (layoffs,project terminated) etc.Back in 2016 I was laid off from my company,and I was actively searching for jobs.I already had a Linkedin profile and I used to apply for job regularly.Believe me,I did not get a single call although as per the requirement,my profile was almost 85% match.I saw the same with few people whom I know.Every other day I get random connect requests from HR recruiters,but when really needed,none of them comes handy.

[V.Narayan]

My wife and I both use LinkedIn for different purposes. For me it is a way to enable folks I am meeting for the first to to read up on me at LinkedIn and for me to do the same. In the course of my work I am very often meeting folks for the first time and LinkedIn helps. Also those whom I wish to maintain cordial relations with it helps to put down a nice comment when a post on their company pops up. I wouldn't be keen on doing much more than that.

On the other hand my wife is highly specialized in a certain field and runs her own practise. She has made posting on LinkedIn on her chosen subject into an art. Some of her posts get reads or views in 5 or even 6 figures in days. Literally. Of course her posts are very specific not the random stuff many write. And some of her clientele get in touch with her through LinkedIn too.

It is a tool. it is for each of us to use it the way we need to.