Linkedin Paradox
- 1. The Paradox The Obvious As a long time LinkedIn user, I have to say it is an amazing product. I have used it to network (actually found two of my prior positions with it), recruit and hire. Linkedin has tried to advise the users on basic protocols and courtesy in corresponding and I am almost certainly not going to engage without a communicating with others in the network. reference/introduction. Second: I am generally not The network has grown and people are realizing that available for new projects. If it’s a new project, you must they have access to many senior level professionals have a great introduction. Otherwise, I generally that they would otherwise never be able to reach. recommend you indicate who you would like to be in addition, more experienced professionals are connected with at one of my organizations to are in a unique position to offer advice, provide proceed. Third: sadly, because I’m busy, if your direction and mentor online. communication to me is just a generic “ask” of me, I’m very likely just to decline it. Nevertheless, I wish you the The Growing Paradox best success if your project is a good improvement in the With a growing membership, those professionals in world. So I Get that Reid is busy and he told me so. senior roles or who have unique business experience are being besieged by job seekers, service providers Unlike Reid, the second executive did not answer me or and networkers at an unprecedented rate. The have contact advice. He never responded and in fact very open and easy access that existed at Linkedin when I tried to reach out a third time. he had placed a in its early years is morphing and beginning to align protection that blocked me from contacting him with out with real world levels and hierarchy. knowing his email. I don’t know his email and won’t be contacting him again. I will tell his story over and over Case in Point again. Recently, I reached out to three very senior execs at Linkedin. (two current and one former). I was The third executive contacted me by phone and had a was seeking their expertise, not a job, reference or 10 minute conversation. He was engaging, accountable to sell a service. You should not be surprised to to me as a Linkedin member and was helpful. I will hear that I used Linkedin as the method to contact never forget him for getting back to me. I will tell the them. Why not, they can check my background, see story over and over again. This is what it is all about – where I have worked and my credentials – its LinkedIn! and why Linkedin was so great in the early years . I am going to name the first person, because he is The Conclusion using the Linkedin tools effectively. Reid Hoffman’s So what does it mean. The reality is that Linkedin is contact advice: Unfortunately, I'm extremely busy. getting big and lots of people are trying to connect. If First: if you have an interest in getting my attention you are successful, senior or just popular, you are “under for an investment, working at Linkedin, a business fire”. If you have unique market skills, recruiters are development deal (for Linkedin or another portfolio relentless - I am guilty of doing this also. company), then I *highly* recommend that you get an introduction to me. I took a look at my own contacts on Linkedin. Overall, I have done a good job of connecting with people. Like Reid I have updated my contact advice. I think it is fair that I set some parameters about how I will work with people on Linkedin. I can no longer allow people to contact me about anything and will have to limit my interaction. Its only fair that they know that Linkedin has limitations as a networking tool. It might be time to consider how you are using Linkedin today.