LinkedIn Etiquette and Tips

So I'm trying to improve my linked in profile and increase my connections, but Im not sure of the etiquette of LinkedIn.

Adding Connections:
If I have met someone through work or professionally once, Can/Should I add them on linkedIn?
A direct manager in your company you have spoken to and often email but have never met, yay or nay?

Endorsing Skills: Should I try to endorse everyone in skills I have seen them demonstrate? Or just people I know well?
What are good general skills to list for LinkedIn?

Any tips on having a solid profile?

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Comments

  • +2

    If you are looking for a job connect with the headhunters. Start with one and the rest will follow.

    As for others connect only with people you have dealt with and endorse only skills you've seen them demonstrate. Inevitably there will be differences in interpretation.

    Put only skills you would be comfortable listing on a CV. OzBargaining doesn't count.

    • +1

      Thanks greenpossum.
      What is our world coming to, when OZB is not a marketable skill?

      • +1

        Reading too much OzB might lead to reference letters saying "you will be lucky to get him to work for you". LOL.

        • Company bonuses could be given in Eneloops though?

        • @Olliethechum: Negative. Eneloops are now covered under S. 423 of the FairWork Act 2009. An employer must not provide Eneloops to employees and claim that their rechargeable qualities equate to additional compensation.

          True storey.

    • +1

      It was my understanding that Ozbargaining was a professional skill?

      • Connect with Gerry Harvey and see if he will endorse you for it.. I think your chances with Ruslan Kogan are higher though

  • You can connect with whoever you want to, they will either accept or reject your request.

    Is LinkedIn really a big thing? I have a profile but have never seen any use for it.

    • Some companies only advertise jobs on LinkedIn, or only consider applicants with LinkedIn profiles (I hear). But then im sure there would be instances where this may work against you (racial/gender profiling etc)

  • I feel so self-made by surviving 'linked out'. I think I need a burnt bridges network.

  • +3

    linkedin is the most sterile and fake place on the internet. my feed is full of boring people posting inspirational quotes and HBR articles.

    • +1

      Same goes with Facebook, isn't it

      • +1

        yeah but with facebook you get a clue into who they really are, whereas linkedin is most likely the fake 'professiona' edition.

  • +5

    I get headhunted all the time… twice a week at least on average.

    Protips:

    • Add everyone and anyone you've ever had dealings with.
    • Make your profile professional and use lots of keywords used in your industry.
    • +3

      like WOW! your milkshakes must bring all the boys to the yard

      • +2

        Damn right, it's better than yours

        • I can teach you…

      • all i can think of every time I hear this song is this

    • Thanks Gunther.
      With the keywords, are you specifically referring to Summary? Or throughout the profile?

      • Both if relevant.

        Find role descriptions of the jobs you are looking for on seek, and use that 'language' to write your profile.

  • +1

    Beware adding randoms on LinkedIn. Your 1st connections get your email address. Premium LinkedIn users with close connections (ie, 2nd) seem to also get your email address.

    There are tonnes of twits on LinkedIn that think that it is okay to spam you because they are your contacts.

    Use a LinkedIn-only email address so that you can dump it easily.

  • Going to slightly hijack this thread with a suggestion to address part of the OP on Etiquette…

    There are some really f**king intelligent and thrifty individuals on here from various industries… wouldn't mind connecting with others from here at the chance of doing some form of collaboration/business in future.

    Maybe a separate thread for posting linkedin profiles? Be better than all those Amway type people going on a spree on LinkedIn about "Networking via TED style events"

    • I love LinkedIn. I rarely if ever go through my feed but it is a great way to keep track of people in my network and to maintain contact details if I need to get in touch with any of them. I work for an engineering company and our HR folks regularly use LinkedIn to look for people when we have opportunities they reach out to them via a LinkedIn message just to see if people are interested in a job or a contract. Like others above I personally get headhunters hitting me up for jobs. I also have my own software company and I regularly get salespeople hitting me up via LinkedIn trying to sell me 'online marketing services' etc. I normally don't even bother responding to them.

      The other side of this is that I needed a couple of J2E developers for a software job I have in Melbourne's Western Suburbs. So far finding the 1st one has cost me $5K to source via a headhunter for a 2 month contract. That's $5K commission for the headhunter to trawl around LinkedIn and find somebody for me for a 2 month job. I am paying the developer wages seperate to this, the $5K is the headhunter's fee. Nice work if you can get it, maybe I'm being taken for a ride but I was beyond desperate for the resource. I could have spent $200 on a seek advert and sat around waiting and hoping but I have a large contract where that was not an option, I needed a resource right away (and still looking for another).

      I have a large LinkedIn network, mostly in the Defence Industry. Happy to connect with anybody relevant, not interested in connecting with people that see me as simply a sales prospect

      • Would you be interested in connecting with me? I'm only a student but currently studying to be a Software Engineer and was looking at pursuing a career in defence. I know having you as a contact will be more beneficial to me than to you, so consider this as me asking for a favour.

        • Happy to connect. I cant send you a PM with my Linkedin contact as you are an overseas member.

        • @2ndeffort:

          Thank you. I have sent you a PM.

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