How does this all work?
Chris Commander
Consulting Engineer and Project Manager in the Mid-stream Oil and Gas Industry
I started thinking about LinkedIn this weekend and after a few days letting it linger in my brain for a bit, decided I was going to start a few posts just to see where it goes.? I have used LinkedIn almost since its inception. I think (or at least thought) the idea behind it was fantastic.? Like Facebook for work, but with the idea and direction of having a community where we can easily reach out to our peers, especially those we have never met before, and share ideas or upcoming events, or ask questions on problems we are facing, etc.
But at this point, I feel it has just become a large electronic Rollodex.? Maybe I am just using it wrong?? Maybe I am not on the site enough or truly harnessing it for what it is worth.? But when I stopped and thought about it this weekend, I could not think of one time I have ever got business out of it, or felt I walked away benefiting either myself or others. And yet at the route of all this, should that not be what we are here for?
I could care less if people use this as their actual Facebook, although I skim past it. But when I have questions or ideas to share or even just updates, I find I use other means to achieve that.? So that brings me to the point of all this, I had a few ideas I wanted to try. In the coming posts I will do that and everyone can choose to participate, ignore, or even heckle.?
But for this first, all I want to hear is:
领英推è
- What do you get out of it??
- How do you use the site and have you or others been successful in doing what you achieved here??
- Feel free to through in ideas on what it should be, but just a general discussion on what works or doesn’t and what you WANT to work.?
Or I guess just you know, ignore me!
So leave a comment.
Retired to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
1 年Chris, As you know, I’m retired but like you a long time member of LinkedIn. There was a recent survey which I was extremely critical of the current product. The only value I see currently is staying in touch with a group of friends. Even that has less and less value because I find myself having to sift through unrelated business postings (politics) and paid advertising posts. I am not involved in Facebook because I originally liked the LinkedIn business approach. Since META purchased it the business concept has changed so META can monetize (make a profit). I continue to wonder how useful LinkedIn is?
Senior Project Manager / Engineer
1 年To me, it has been primarily a source for employment opportunities. Some I’ve found from here, other opportunities that have found me here.
Vice President of Construction at Mason Construction, LLC.
1 年I appreciate the post, Chris. I am personally not a social media guy. I don’t use Facebook, TikTok, SnapChat, or any of the other platform, but have used LinkedIn for several years now just to try and track down old friends or partners from past projects and keep up with them. So far it is one of the few ways I can keep up with colleagues that have changed roles, moved on to other areas or businesses, and still be able to reach out when you have a question, want to compare notes, or just reconnect. I think you and I have even used it to stay in touch a few times as well. Overall, I like what it has to offer. In business we are resource dependent and I appreciate all the resources, networks, and connections we have available to navigate various situations. I definitely think there is a lot of content that has no business here, but that is my perspective from my specific line of business. Overall, I use it almost every day. I probably don’t post as much as I should or know how to get the most views from my content, but that is not what I use it for. I prefer to learn, stay connected with outstanding folks in our industry, and recognize our employees, business partners, or others doing great things in the community.
Retired - Supply Chain - Oxy
1 å¹´As an old retired guy, I use it to see what is going on in the industry. Also to see what is happening to colleagues and to see where they are moving too. Ever once in awhile learning something on articles posted here.
I enjoy LinkedIn and have found it helpful in keeping up to date, reading a few interesting articles, and following fellow colleagues industry progression. I have not used it for customer searches, but, it sure is the correct platform as opposed to cold calling which nobody likes. Enjoy it for what it is and not for what you want it to be.