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I am constantly told that I need to maintain a very active LinkedIn Profile. What are your thoughts?
'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control,mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country! from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' - Jay Leno
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I've got a linkedin profile, not touched it for years. Still get messages about people are looking at it, and people it suggests I should connect to.
Really can't be bothered, it's just facebook for bragging about qualifications and promotions.
(Only plus point is no pictures of your freind's-friend's-friend's new baby or what your smartphone addicted mates had for lunch.)
Signature ready for installation. Please Reboot now.
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So do you use social media or anything else for your professional life?
'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control,mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country! from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' - Jay Leno
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Timothy W. Okrey wrote: So do you use social media or anything else for your professional life?
The day it becomes a requirement for me to have any sort of social media account "for my professional life" is the day I throw in the towel.
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dandy72 wrote: The day it becomes a requirement for me to have any sort of social media account "for my professional life" is the day I throw in the towel.
This! If I could manage to get my other thumb out of my ass I'd give it two thumbs up 
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Sentiment understood. I would be more inclined to use that towel, rolled up, to apply some old school locker room antics.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles
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Don't really use anything, direct approach, word of mouth.
(Almost semi retired, work only by request if it's interesting and/or to pass time as getting older and can only spend so many hours on my bike each week.)
LinkeIn is probably OK for younger folk but you must maintain it, almost weekly (minimally monthly) need be touching it up, checking layout/readability - for goodness sake do spell check - that matters to recruiters and their filter software - recruiters often run their keyword scans through it so it can help to find work.
I'd be wary of other social media particularly where other people can comment/reply or even link to it, last thing you want is to have put effort into a good write-up about yourself and have some moron post a stupid comment or joke - at least LinkedIn doesn't have that feature.
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I pretty much ignore LinkedIn these days: all I get are moronic recruiters touting jobs that probably don't exist in places it would take all day to commute to ...
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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I too get similar responses. What do you do to find work?
'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control,mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country! from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' - Jay Leno
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Bin everything from LinkedIn! 
I have a small network of clients who bring projects to me; that and word of mouth.
LinkedIn profiles are so ... inflated that they aren't worth much in practice, even if you are just trying to find out how useful someone else actually is. I'm pretty sure my profile includes several endorsements I've been "given" where I know sod-all about the subject!
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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If you're a consultant, then probably yes. When I was a consultant 15 years ago I updated my monster account daily. I'm now full-time employee who is not looking for a job outside of my organization.
I actually opened a linkedin account some 10+ years ago and never really used it. I've added some skills, education, and old certs but that has been several years ago. In fact, I have hidden my profile from public view because I don't want people contacting me about any jobs. I'll contact them if I find an interesting ad.
I will admit, I do have a fake linkedin account I use to lookup old friends and coworkers.
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I think LinkedIn is totally useless. I made a profile there during my last job search and I get exactly zero leads of any interest from it. I found all my interesting leads through personal contacts. This was actually a first for me. Previously I found my last several jobs from people asking me to work for them. The last time I had to do the searching myself. I ended up finding my current job through an add on Craig's List. I was rather surprised but it worked out for me and I've been here two years now.
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I got my best job via LinkedIn. I get contacted at least 5-10 times a month from recruiters via LinkedIn.
If you are looking for work, then get the Premium account and set up your account as if you mean business, or just don't use the service. Your call. It works, if you want it to.
Good luck.
Edit: unlike some of the posters in this thread, I have had excellent results using the LinkedIn service. I am currently a contractor.
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Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it.
Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.
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Slacker007 wrote: unlike some of the posters in this thread, I have had excellent results using the LinkedIn service.
Me too, even though I'm not looking for work.
/ravi
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I got three contracts and my current full time job through recruiters who found me on LinkedIn. I don't keep my profile "very active", just up-to-date.
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I agree with Slacker007.
I recently changed jobs and linked-in was great to reach out to old colleagues to see if they knew of any openings. But recently is really the only time I ever used it. I only update it when I change jobs.
Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it.
Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.
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as little as possible.
Except when looking for new employment.
Depending upon attitude that might be daily or yearly. <grin>
To err is human to really mess up you need a computer
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My LinkedIn profile is accurate and up-to-date. However, because my professional profile doesn't change that often, it's easy keeping it up-to-date. I also don't accept connection requests from people I don't know (e.g. recruiters and random folk) personally or professionally.
/ravi
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Not that much, but I do list my skills and have a profile photo. I've often been contacted by recruiters for potential new jobs.
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Timothy W. Okrey wrote: What are your thoughts?
That's between you and your profile. What we think matters not.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles
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I strongly disagree. This site is full of seasoned professionals who have been through the mill a few times. Their thoughts and ideas on what works and what does not can really help fellow developers navigate through tough spots like finding work. "What are your thoughts?" is a legitimate question, and is really what the lounge is all about.
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend; inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. -- Groucho Marx
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In terms of business profiles, LinkedIn is the the top dog currently.
A basic profile is good enough to set and forget for most people.
My view is that it is essential for anything where you often reach out to people. My top thoughts for <b>needing</b> a profile that is often updated:
1. Sales - you can reach out to people who your contacts are connected to!
2. Consulting - you can ask for recommendations that are publicly viewable.
3. Thought leadership - lots of people read the content on LinkedIn
4. Looking for a job - A LinkedIn profile can make you look more professional
Since people also often jump jobs, it is also an easy way to find lost business associates.
If you are a developer and are happy with your job/career, I wouldn't do anything more than the minimum.
<hr>
"Qulatiy is Job #1"
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