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All of you who are getting jobs from LinkedIn, are not settling down with one employer for any length of time. If you are moving up in salary, I can understand this, or if you are doing contract work. However, if you are jumping from job to job, and you don't have a good reason, then I would question that, as an employer.
I don't live in an alternate universe. If you read all the threads to this post, there are some that find it useful and some that don't. I am at my salary cap for being a software engineer. I make extremely good money for what I do. So job hopping right now for me, is pointless.
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I am not job hopping at all. My current employment is so far 2.5 years, which started as contract, but then hired. Before that, contract employee for 3.25 at UBS, and before that contract 2.25 years at Deutsche Bank.
Recently, the CIO of the company I work recently connected with me via LinkedIn, and it is often the first place I go to connect with colleagues. I can look at someone's background before I talk with them to understand them better. Regardless of the recruiters, it presents your professional place in the world, even if you are a long-term perm employee. Some people will inevitably check out your profile and that will reflect on you.
If you want to move beyond being a software engineer, it likely pays to groom your web persona. Do you want to get found by someone that wants you as architect or as lead or as development manager, which in terms of title is the step above engineer? Clichés about networking aside, contacts and presence still matter, both internally and externally.
modified 21-Sep-15 9:44am.
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Minor point, although alternative universe sounds like an insult, it is true that we live in different spheres, with different perceptions, a personal alternative universe.
- Does web persona matter?
- Do you want to advance in your career?
- Do you think networking matters?
modified 21-Sep-15 10:28am.
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JamesIgoe wrote: - Does web persona matter?
No...it shouldn't. If it does then I think you are doing things wrong, but that is my opinion.
JamesIgoe wrote: - Do you want to advance in your career?
Only if it is done correctly. Any other way, can actually hurt you, rather than benefit you.
JamesIgoe wrote: - Do you think networking matters?
Absolutely, and if LinkedIN helps your networking, than go for it.
-- Ultimately, one does what works for them; that is all they can do.
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I would argue that all of these things matter.
It would be naïve to assume that appearances and persona do not matter to your career, regardless of whether or not it should matter. I am not advocating being false, but maintaining a professional LinkedIn profile would likely help your chances. Yes, some companies might prefer someone with no profile, or a very limited one, but even a tight-lipped presentation - hypothetically preferable to hedge funds and security companies - should still be professional, with a solid picture and some indication of ability.
Can you advance your career incorrectly? Obviously, lies and misrepresentations are 'incorrect' but LinkedIn is no less credible than having a good resume, GitHub repos, blogs, and websites. Yes, some of these things will not advance you internally, but not doing some external work closes one off to a range of possibilities.
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If someone has, it may be by mistake! I don't know how many jobs I applied for and received no response until one recruiter told me that everything they were receiving from LinkedIn was unreadable garbage. I won't ever use it for job applications again. I will only use it for professional connections.
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I did land a job from LinkedIN. I got an offer from there, but I took a different offer. That's not LinkedIn's fault.
I have a recommendation from a previous company there, and have professional contacts who validate my skillset. It shows how I know some people on there (i.e. working together at a company). I definitely think it's worth it. I get contacts from recruiters a lot there, but that's not big deal. It's like the officey version of facebook to me. Plus, you can search for jobs. The one I got the offer from I found from the linkedin suggestions. Plus, you can search jobs there.
Elephant elephant elephant, sunshine sunshine sunshine
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I'm not a big LinkedIn user, but I've had an account for a long time.
I was invited last week by a rep from Amazon to attend a hiring fair in Toronto through LinkedIn. A move to Seattle isn't in the cards for me given my particular circumstances, but it was nice to be asked.
My bosses keep endorsing my skills on LinkedIn --- to the point where I'm concerned their painting the porch in hopes a buyer comes along! 
Cheers,
Mike Fidler
"I intend to live forever - so far, so good." Steven Wright
"I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we met." Also Steven Wright
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Well, when you say 'landed a job', do you mean actually being contacted by a company? Then, no. But, LinkedIn is FULL of recruiters. And I have been contacted by recruiters on LinkedIn that then led to jobs. That's actually how I got my last 3 jobs.
But, if I'm not looking for work, then LinkedIn is absolutely useless, as it seems that 99% of all my communications on LinkedIn are all from recruiters. They are pretty relentless, like vultures, and it's really annoying. I don't ever really go on there and ignore all requests to connect unless I'm looking for work.
I do have connections there with ACTUAL friends and colleagues, but, we NEVER have discussions on LinkedIn. I tried going on some of the interest groups and having conversations with other programmers, but, the recruiters and/or freelancers always seem to take over the conversation. It usually goes something like this:
Initial poster: "I have a question about [insert programming question]"
Responses: "Oh, I have 10 years experience in [insert technology] and competitive rates, I would be happy to take care of that for you!" (Same response a few dozen times from different people)
No, they asked for help with a programming question NOT for someone to do it for them (for a fee). Just ANSWER the question! 
LinkedIn is full of vultures, and I find it impossible to have any sort of actual programming discussion there. Maybe it's changed, maybe some groups are better than others, but, for the most part I stay away and have actual discussions elsewhere.
I have always wished for my computer to be as easy to use as my telephone; my wish has come true because I can no longer figure out how to use my telephone - Bjarne Stroustrup
The world is going to laugh at you anyway, might as well crack the 1st joke!
My code has no bugs, it runs exactly as it was written.
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I get contacted a lot by recruiters with a "great opportunity". Mostly ends when I tell them I have zero interest in commuting to the other side of the city.
I wonder if anyone has ever lost a job because of LinkedIn though? Posting stupid stuff on your page sort of thing.
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I've gotten a job offer through LinkedIn, contacted directly by the company, didn't take the offer in the end.
I also paid for the Jobseeker Premium for a few months earlier this year, while looking for a new position, that was a waste of money, not sure if I wasn't using it correctly, but I didn't get any real leads from it.
Otherwise I use it as a social network to keep track of colleagues from previous jobs.
Pete
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I get contacted by recruiters at least once a week, though most of them are for opportunities I'm not interested in. There have been some interesting ones, leading to interviews and and some pretty good job offers, that I didn't accept but lead to a sweetened deal with my current employer.
The main purpose of LinkedIn from my perspective is that it facilitates networking, which is the way that the best jobs are usually found. I have helped more than one past colleague find jobs because we were connected on LinkedIn and I was able to let them know about openings.
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Yes. I got my last job after being cold-called by a recruiter who saw my LinkedIn profile. It was a great job for a senior person. I've had several very hot leads that didn't end up in a job from cold-calls based on my LinkedIn profile.
If you're a senior person with skills that aren't common, LinkedIn rocks. If you're just out of school and have completely generic experience, not so much.
Everyone establishes a LinkedIn profile when they get laid off. This sends a pretty loud signal. Less embarrassing to establish your profile while you're still employed.
LinkedIn is a decent place for networking if you are inclined that way. Most software developers are not, so it's less useful for them. You can establish and maintain contacts for consulting. But most devs like to work full-time instead of hustle work. So it's useful but it's a mixed bag. What you get out of LinkedIn depends on what you put in.
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As Facebook is for personal connections, so is LinkedIn for professional connections, nothing more than that.
Joshua
"Jesus loves you the way you are"
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I'm not a recruiter, but I do manage SW projects for which I occasionally need to hire someone. LinkedIn is always my first stop: it is a fantastic tool, not only for finding people in my extended network who might be interested in our line of work, but also for evaluating an applicant's background. Of COURSE you take people's profile with a grain of salt, knowing that many (most?) people tend to "embellish" their accomplishments. But how is that different than a resume or an interview? (On the other hand, job histories are hard to fake, and good recruiters can read between the lines.)
Bottom line: LI is an excellent professional networking tool. I strongly encourage all my job-seeking friends to have at least these three things: a well-trimmed beard, a well-crafted resume/CV, and a well-manicured LinkedIn profile. Cultivate your network like you would a garden and you will eventually find it fruitful.
modified 22-Sep-15 10:22am.
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I can't claim to have gotten a job because of LinkedIn, because I still have the job I had when I opened my account. I get offered jobs about once a month because of my LinkedIn account, though.
That said, my current job is with a company that does contract work for game companies, and the reason I created my LinkedIn account was that my boss felt it might be some nice low-effort marketing. I have no idea how many contracts we've gotten because of it.
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'Tis a fine day[^] to be runnin' out t' Jolly Roger! Arrrrrrr!
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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aye c'ptain
M.D.V. 
If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about?
Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you
Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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If you want to see pirates glorified, visit Tampa in Florida on Gasparilla Day, named after the pirate Jose Gaspar that used to troll Tampa Bay and the west coast of Florida. The next event is on Saturday January 30 next year.
Tampa even named their football team the "Buccaneers"! 
How do we preserve the wisdom men will need,
when their violent passions are spent?
- The Lost Horizon
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Ship ahoy![^] 
I hear that drunken sailor song at least once a year on one fantasy fair or another.
Other favorites are Whiskey In The Jar[^], Caledonia[^] and the Dutch Wat Zullen We Drinken[^] (translates to What Shall We Drink)
I heard that last song about five times by five different bands on a single day a few years back, that's how bad it gets...
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Sander Rossel wrote: What Shall We Drink
Isn't that rather a short song? Most people I know would just answer "Everything!" 
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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It's quite the party song actually.
What shall we drink, seven days long.
What shall we drink, what a thirst.
There is enough for everybody,
So we drink together.
Open up a barrel,
We'll drink together, not alone.
Some lines are repeated.
And then a same kind of stanza for food, partying and drinking beer.
It would put a smile to my face if I hadn't heard it a thousand times before
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Shiver me timbers, I'd been out splicing the mainbrace last evening and forgot about the day, I thank the kindley for the reminderrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...rrrrrrrr
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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Well shoot... Youtube hasn't a decent video of Adam Ant. 
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It's also my wife and I anniversary, but I don't think there is a correlation there... 
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