Off-Topic Linked in- I feel like a stalker

[Vantreesta]

Originally Posted by andtckrtoo

I'm going to give a completely different point of view. I am a huge fan of Linked In - it got me every single job in the past 10 years. In hiring people, I look at their Linked In account and would not consider hiring someone who does not have one. I work in technology and a Linked In presence is really required. I can see that someone who is not in technology might not consider it to be so, but so many jobs are posted there. I also use it strictly for business purposes, so I'm probably not going to be looking up past boyfriends, etc.

I do NOT use it for personal anything. It's 100% professional. Yeah, I get some weird stuff on it - people wanting to meet me, etc, but I quickly shut that down.

Facebook if you are being stalked, you need to change your settings. You can actually make it so no one can find you, and you have to invite people to be your friend. Any old boyfriends I wanted to find, I'm either friends with on Facebook, I know personally, or they have names like John Smith (seriously).

I'm definitely not trying to start an argument, but this bolded statement makes me uncomfortable. There are those of us who refuse to put our real names or pictures anywhere on the internet that can be accessed publicly. I understand that we can be found anyway bc nothing seems to be truly private anymore, but I am highly paranoid and distrustful of Big Brother. I am an outstanding and loyal employee a company would miss out on if they only hire someone with a Linked In account. (Obviously I have no interest in Facebook either.) Again, not trying to be argumentative, just giving my point of view.

[MsThistlebottom]

Originally Posted by NorthernStar

I love LinkedIn. It is a fantastic way to connect with other professionals and grow your network. You can't paint all social media with the same brush; different sites/apps are designed for different purposes. LinkedIn isn't about sharing all your personal details. It's for networking and promoting your brand.

Absolutely! I used to freelance in addition to my FT job and established many contacts via LinkedIn. I'm no longer freelancing, but I'd like to return to it when I retire from my current job. Maintaining those contacts will undoubtedly be invaluable when I return to self-employment.

[TinierTina]

Originally Posted by Vantreesta

I'm definitely not trying to start an argument, but this bolded statement makes me uncomfortable. There are those of us who refuse to put our real names or pictures anywhere on the internet that can be accessed publicly. I understand that we can be found anyway bc nothing seems to be truly private anymore, but I am highly paranoid and distrustful of Big Brother. I am an outstanding and loyal employee a company would miss out on if they only hire someone with a Linked In account. (Obviously I have no interest in Facebook either.) Again, not trying to be argumentative, just giving my point of view.

Yikes, I guess that rules out being in a pod on Diaspora* for you, too ... the one social network with no commercial data-mining, and on which your own submitted content remains yours, Diaspora* is nearly a veritable ghost-town ... I feel too bad in my life now with so many losses, to entertain returning to Diaspora* ... and I've been inactive on Facebook for years off and on ... As for being on Ello ... ? Not in the picture ...

[Vantreesta]

Originally Posted by TinierTina

Yikes, I guess that rules out being in a pod on Diaspora* for you, too ... the one social network with no commercial data-mining, and on which your own submitted content remains yours, Diaspora* is nearly a veritable ghost-town ... I feel too bad in my life now with so many losses, to entertain returning to Diaspora* ... and I've been inactive on Facebook for years off and on ... As for being on Ello ... ? Not in the picture ...

I've never even heard of Diaspora or Ello...

[marya]

Originally Posted by Vantreesta

I'm definitely not trying to start an argument, but this bolded statement makes me uncomfortable. There are those of us who refuse to put our real names or pictures anywhere on the internet that can be accessed publicly. I understand that we can be found anyway bc nothing seems to be truly private anymore, but I am highly paranoid and distrustful of Big Brother. I am an outstanding and loyal employee a company would miss out on if they only hire someone with a Linked In account. (Obviously I have no interest in Facebook either.) Again, not trying to be argumentative, just giving my point of view.

I so agree, Vannie! Others who might opt not to have an online presence, and for very valid reasons: crime victims (or potential victims). When I was young I was stalked. I moved across the North American continent to get away from the madman. That was long before personal computers arrived on the scene, but believe me, if I were in a similar situation today, I'd avoid social media like the plague.

[Vantreesta]

Originally Posted by marya

I so agree, Vannie! Others who might opt not to have an online presence, and for very valid reasons: crime victims (or potential victims). When I was young I was stalked. I moved across the North American continent to get away from the madman. That was long before personal computers arrived on the scene, but believe me, if I were in a similar situation today, I'd avoid social media like the plague.

That's so scary, marya! I'm glad you were able to move away and be safe.

[TinierTina]

Originally Posted by Vantreesta

I've never even heard of Diaspora or Ello...

There are so many others, as well, that I have not heard about either ... I am far from "sociable" (network-sociable) ...

But:

http://www.dailydot.com/technology/e...ds-social-web/

and

http://www.dailydot.com/technology/d...tle-of-social/

Really bugs me to think that the moment I return active to Facebook, there's always that same person "Like"ing twenty-five new consumer products/services every single day ... it's not enough to pretend you actually like cats/cat pictures being posted on your "Wall" ... as anti-commercialism as I am?

[lrb04]

Originally Posted by Vantreesta

I'm definitely not trying to start an argument, but this bolded statement makes me uncomfortable. There are those of us who refuse to put our real names or pictures anywhere on the internet that can be accessed publicly. I understand that we can be found anyway bc nothing seems to be truly private anymore, but I am highly paranoid and distrustful of Big Brother. I am an outstanding and loyal employee a company would miss out on if they only hire someone with a Linked In account. (Obviously I have no interest in Facebook either.) Again, not trying to be argumentative, just giving my point of view.

I agree with you 100%, Vantreesta!!!

[LynnO]

Oh my. Some of you are missing my point. I joined linkedin because my old boss told me I need to get on there if I'm thinking of getting a new job and to keep up with who is hiring.

I joined, let it lie for a while. Went back in and was trying to figure out the ins and outs, put in some of my info. Within a week, an old college pal messaged me. This was a surprise but not shocking. I never found her on facebook and guess she probably isn't active (and she is extremely computer savvy and has the career to prove it (and we were the second wave of women who went into an previously all male career path in STEM, in her case, she may have been the first wave of women in her career path.))

When I went in to message her, one of the first people who popped up as an - do you know was my realtor. I had not put in my company because I'm pretty sure me popping up on linked in after all this time might raise some eyebrows and my company tracks that kind of stuff. This is important because I did not allow linked in access to my contacts - had mainly used my work email to contact her (it is allowed) and my profile was set up when I lived in a different city.

One of the second people to pop up was family member Z- the family member that only one person out of about 40 allow contact with. Now, how the f did they show up. They don't have my email, my addresses, none of my contact info. Years ago, this much would have triggered nightmares. Now, it just made me decide social media is not for me. VF is the only place online that I EVER talk about anything personal. My facebook page was as bland as can be, but with a little non controversial chit chat. I'm surprised so few people are concerned that linked in so deeply data mining that they could make both those matches. It did not pull up a single coworker, anyone in my field, anyone in my contact list- which has work contacts since we all do text each other for work purposes or fellow college alumni. Just two obscure personal references.

I have never hidden from the internet and am truly surprised I don't show up more because my name is on 100s of government documents from more than one place. I also do have a facebook account and maybe even instagram or was that tumblr. I'm not sure how someone coming up on google with a few social media accounts makes someone feel better about hiring them. In fact All they have to do is call the places I worked, it's there.

I also just googled one of my bosses who passes stuff he sees on linkedin and nothing came up for him including his linkedin account- well tons of stuff came up as his name isn't unusual.

[bubbles76]

Originally Posted by LynnO

I'm surprised so few people are concerned that linked in so deeply data mining that they could make both those matches. It did not pull up a single coworker, anyone in my field, anyone in my contact list- which has work contacts since we all do text each other for work purposes or fellow college alumni. Just two obscure personal references.

This concerns me greatly actually. I am on LinkedIn, and the suggested contacts they come up with are staggering. I also don't allow anyone access to my email list, yet I still get hits. And I have an unusual name, which is unusually spelled. Sigh! It is CREEPY the data mining that goes on with LinkedIn and terribly invasive to me.

I only use LinkedIn for professional reasons and am a member of a few of their groups. Their groups are a great source for information and a space to converse with like minded professionals. I do love that about LinkedIn. I didn't know that it was considered a professional faux pas (or even a career deal breaker) not to have a LinkedIn account. That is ridiculous to me, but if I have to have one, I guess I'll keep it. I'm in Government, so it probably won't affect me that much.

Andtckrtoo, how detailed would a LinkedIn account need to be for you to consider hiring someone? Would they have to be active on forums? Have a certain number of endorsements? Have a certain number of contacts? My profile is not beefed up at all. Thanks!