2008 Woodie Awards
Tech Talk: Facebook for businesses: Productive procrastination
Zachary Leahan
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 1
I'll never forget the "genius business idea" phone call I received from an old friend and recent graduate from St. Joe's.
"Dude, you have to hear my business idea. Ready for it? A Facebook for Professionals. People can connect with colleagues, write recommendations..."
I let him go on for a while before bursting his bubble. "Are you near a computer? Go to LinkedIn.com." His idea was already taken and well-executed by LinkedIn.com, a popular professional networking site.
Networking is increasingly important. With the world becoming more technologically complex, no one can be an expert in everything. The best consultants in the world do not know everything, but can find someone with the required knowledge within one or two degrees of separation. LinkedIn helps make that networking possible.
Similar to Facebook and MySpace, LinkedIn is profile-based and has vast acceptance in the U.S. Once I set up a profile with professional information, I found old and current colleagues instantly. I skimmed through a list of employees from old jobs and checked the ones that I have worked with. Once connected to former colleagues (they must accept the connection), I was able to find more colleagues that I know through their profiles. Setting up a profile is very simple: if you have a resumé, just copy and paste the suggested information. Once you are connected with colleagues, they can comment on past experience and recommend skills, which show up on personal profiles. Such insight can lead to consulting offers and job opportunities. This type of networking is more important than you may think.
Considering the increasing turnover rates of America's workforce, having a company e-mail address or mobile phone number for a contact is not sufficient. If you are not one of the recipients in a farewell e-mail that mentions new contact information, you may lose touch. LinkedIn offers an alternative means of staying in touch that is more permanent than a phone number.
The site is even helpful if you have no work experience. It is common sense to research a company before an interview. How about researching the interviewer? In the LinkedIn world, that is not creepy but instead shows interest. Common hometowns, past employers, schools, specialties, and Greek organizations can liven up conversation. Any information posted is meant to be public. If a user does not want the information to be public, he can opt out of having a public profile.
The posted information is subject to the privacy preferences that the user sets. Within the settings, the user can alter reasons for contacting and what is viewed in public profile.
After spending time on LinkedIn, you have a professional, "Wow, this actually is productive" feeling, which contrasts the empty, "I just wasted an hour of my life that I will never get back" feeling of mindlessly clicking through Facebook albums.
"Dude, you have to hear my business idea. Ready for it? A Facebook for Professionals. People can connect with colleagues, write recommendations..."
I let him go on for a while before bursting his bubble. "Are you near a computer? Go to LinkedIn.com." His idea was already taken and well-executed by LinkedIn.com, a popular professional networking site.
Networking is increasingly important. With the world becoming more technologically complex, no one can be an expert in everything. The best consultants in the world do not know everything, but can find someone with the required knowledge within one or two degrees of separation. LinkedIn helps make that networking possible.
Similar to Facebook and MySpace, LinkedIn is profile-based and has vast acceptance in the U.S. Once I set up a profile with professional information, I found old and current colleagues instantly. I skimmed through a list of employees from old jobs and checked the ones that I have worked with. Once connected to former colleagues (they must accept the connection), I was able to find more colleagues that I know through their profiles. Setting up a profile is very simple: if you have a resumé, just copy and paste the suggested information. Once you are connected with colleagues, they can comment on past experience and recommend skills, which show up on personal profiles. Such insight can lead to consulting offers and job opportunities. This type of networking is more important than you may think.
Considering the increasing turnover rates of America's workforce, having a company e-mail address or mobile phone number for a contact is not sufficient. If you are not one of the recipients in a farewell e-mail that mentions new contact information, you may lose touch. LinkedIn offers an alternative means of staying in touch that is more permanent than a phone number.
The site is even helpful if you have no work experience. It is common sense to research a company before an interview. How about researching the interviewer? In the LinkedIn world, that is not creepy but instead shows interest. Common hometowns, past employers, schools, specialties, and Greek organizations can liven up conversation. Any information posted is meant to be public. If a user does not want the information to be public, he can opt out of having a public profile.
The posted information is subject to the privacy preferences that the user sets. Within the settings, the user can alter reasons for contacting and what is viewed in public profile.
After spending time on LinkedIn, you have a professional, "Wow, this actually is productive" feeling, which contrasts the empty, "I just wasted an hour of my life that I will never get back" feeling of mindlessly clicking through Facebook albums.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Chad D.
posted 10/25/07 @ 9:50 PM EST
LinkedIn offers only a fraction of what is available to help professionals market themselves and their business. In my opinion, it's a glorified resume service. (Continued…)
Daniel Galligan
posted 10/30/07 @ 2:53 PM EST
A social networking tools is only as useful as its ability to bring individuals together in a meaningful manner; LinkedIn certainly has a larger installed base, and no amount of features can compete with that. (Continued…)
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