Is it really necessary to have a Linked In profile if you are on the job market?

[Anonymous]

I've made one but I haven't really done all the contact linking up. Do people really care about this stuff? It just seems like Facebook to me and that is a monumental waste of time IMO.

[Anonymous]

I'd love to know the answer to this too, particularly for fed stuff.

[Anonymous]

Essential, in my view.

[Anonymous]

Yes. For one thing, it's one of the first things that comes up when an employer googles you. It's a good idea to control that.

It also substantiates things on your resume - if you're willing to put it out there publicly, it's more likely to be true.

[Anonymous]

Anyone who actually does hiring have an answer?

[Anonymous]

No in my opinion

I don't want my personal info on the Web. I know all about security and all that but still no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. For one thing, it's one of the first things that comes up when an employer googles you. It's a good idea to control that.

It also substantiates things on your resume - if you're willing to put it out there publicly, it's more likely to be true.

PP here. I do hiring.

[Anonymous]

I do hiring. I do not think it is essential and I do not hold it against someone if they don't have one. However I think as a job hunter, it exposes you to a lot of headhunters and recruiters, and can be a good networking tool, so your own benefit it may be a good idea to have one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've made one but I haven't really done all the contact linking up. Do people really care about this stuff? It just seems like Facebook to me and that is a monumental waste of time IMO.

I got my last job through Linkedin (not current job).

I got dozens of emails every year from headhunters. It's not ideal to put my name out there, but I think that in this day and age it's inevitable (especially as you climb the corporate ladder, you'll be out there anyway).

[Anonymous]

I'm on LinkedIn and it appears that that is how jobs are being advertised these days. LinkedIn will alert you to people hiring in your field.

[Anonymous]

I agree, you need one. It does nopt contain personal info, and, allows others to contact you about numerous things. I have helped 2 headhunters find people that I knew were looking for new jobs. Again, it is another networking tool, and, so many searches start as on-line first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm on LinkedIn and it appears that that is how jobs are being advertised these days. LinkedIn will alert you to people hiring in your field.

Pp again. FYI -- Just looked at my email and there's an email with 10 jobs that LinkedIn thinks I might be interested in based on my current job title and interests.

[Anonymous]

I hire people. I don't think it's essential, but it works in peoples favor if they have one and it'd done well.

I have also been recruited for good jobs by organizations through Linked in, so you are likely losing out on potential jobs if you aren't part of that network.

[Anonymous]

What if the job seeker's profile was recently created and therefore has very few contacts? Would this matter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if the job seeker's profile was recently created and therefore has very few contacts? Would this matter?

I also do hiring and I look at the profile not the number of contacts and/or endorsements. Unlike the prior pp, I might think you were lazy if you were job searching and did not bother to create a LinkedIn profile.