This forum is so bizarre sometimes. It's literally an online resume used by everyone under the age of 40. A college kid without a linkedin would be very weird. They all have one, they all put all of their on-campus and summer internships on there. Their major(s), their college GPA. Many include high school jobs, SAT and ACT scores (read IQ), languages, professional certs, volunteering, online self-study coursework, and high school diploma.

Anonymous wrote:I have worked full-time in the tech industry for 20+ years and have never had a Linkedin account. I'm doing just fine without it.

you're a grandpa/grandma.

-signed someone who has worked in the tech field since 1998 and has a linkedin profile

Even DH who has worked in the field longer than I have has one, and he has no other social media account.

Linkedin is a good way to keep your professional network contacts going. If you've been in the industry for 20 years you should have a ton of people in your network. Those are potential networks you can use to find a new job or get references.

For example, last year I had a possible interview with a FAANG. I used to work with someone who is now at that FAANG company. We are not "friends" but we worked well together. We are on linkedin, and I reached out to that person to ask if they could be a reference. I had not spoken to this person in 10+ years, but they said they would gladly provide a good reference.

I think it’s industry specific. My DC has had a linked in profile since mid-high school. In tech field and has actually made a number of very useful connections that way. Used it as their resume. But may not be as useful in other fields.

The only reason I have a LinkedIn profile is because I put something out on the internet that won't go away (a tweet that went viral that, while I stand by the sentiment, makes me seem much more polarizing than I am). I want to give people something else to look at when they google my name. I know some people have been able to do a good job using it for jobs but it's far from necessary.

I have worked full-time in the tech industry for 20+ years and have never had a Linkedin account. I'm doing just fine without it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wrong.

+1 you need a linkedin profile, with your major, gpa, classes taken in your field and grades, if they are good, and any work experience.

My CS kid and their friends, different majors from eng to business, have linkedin profiles.

Tech industry uses it for hiring and references all the time, since 2004

Yes, seems that way; it is apart of advisory counseling at my kid's engineering school. Everyone has one.

Anonymous wrote:There is one college admissions "influencer" who posts fake news stories about AOs using LinkedIn for admissions, as a gimmick to sell their phony "secrets" of admissions.

Colleges get your application, which is far more detailed than LinkedIn

What does that have to do with OP's question. They didn't ask about admissions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wrong.

+1 you need a linkedin profile, with your major, gpa, classes taken in your field and grades, if they are good, and any work experience.

My CS kid and their friends, different majors from eng to business, have linkedin profiles.

Tech industry uses it for hiring and references all the time, since 2004

There is one college admissions "influencer" who posts fake news stories about AOs using LinkedIn for admissions, as a gimmick to sell their phony "secrets" of admissions.

Colleges get your application, which is far more detailed than LinkedIn

Yes, pretty filled in

The top undergrad B schools teach the kids how to build a LinkedIn profile, alongside resume writing critique and review. It’s expected for B school kids.

Maybe those who do not have one are in some niche field where all you need on linked in is a few workplaces and dates, photo is optional.

I’ve worked in several F500 and LinkedIn profiles are reviewed all the time by interviewers HR and recruiters when a candidate is being considered for a mid level to top level role.

Anonymous wrote:Eh. Business schools like students to make them but not sure how important they are.

I went to business school. I've worked at two companies since then. I don't have any social media. Never been a problem.

Anonymous wrote:Neither of our kids has a linked in profile, both accepted to colleges they wanted to attend (both over 1500 on SATs)

No one was talking about college admissions, but congrats on the humble brag.

Anonymous wrote:Hate how we’re forcing these kids to put all their business online.
I’ve never hired anyone from LinkedIn but I use it all the time to checkout people we might sue, or just people from my neighborhood. I bet it’s used more often for that than for real purposes.

Good point. None of these kids would even think about putting their business online otherwise.(/s)

Anonymous wrote:Hate how we’re forcing these kids to put all their business online.
I’ve never hired anyone from LinkedIn but I use it all the time to checkout people we might sue, or just people from my neighborhood. I bet it’s used more often for that than for real purposes.

Good plan to take advise from the guy who goes around suing people sporadically.