LinkedIn or Locked Out?

LinkedIn (in 50 words or less, per the Wikipedia entry) is

a business-oriented social networking site founded in December 2002 and launched in May 2003 [that is] mainly used for professional networking. As of October 2009, it had more than 50 million registered users, spanning more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

Pretty impressive numbers.

I've been on LinkedIn since I began my job search. I currently have over 40 connections (which I realize is peanuts compared to the number of friends and followers some folks have on Facebook or Twitter). How useful has it been to me? Well, I haven't gotten a job yet.

To its credit, LinkedIn lets me:

• Post my resume
  
• Include recommendations (that is, people acting as references/recommending me)
• Connect to colleagues and acquaintances (and see who they're connected to)
• Communicate with them via InMail
• Research individuals and companies
  
• Belong to/participate in various affiliation/discussion groups

In addition, LinkedIn offers a Blog Link application.

For me, LinkedIn is most valuable in allowing prospective employers to review my qualifications and read recommendations that tout my skills. From my end, I can use it to gain background information on people who work at targeted organizations.

A lesser, though still notable, benefit: it's helped connect me to people I haven't heard from in years. For example, I was invited to connect with somebody whose name I didn't recognize. I was stupefied until I looked at the person's profile. Yes, it was someone I knew -- she'd gotten married and changed her last name.

There's consolation in staying in touch with people: the guy you went to school with, the coworker who remembers you, the boss who'll gladly -- and effusively -- recommend you. But that only gets you so far. Not to sound crass, but you want someone to help get you a job. There's no substitute for face-to-face meetings with folks who are in a position to hire you.

LinkedIn's tag line is "Relationships Matter." May sound trite, but there's truth to it. As the old adage goes: it's not what you know but who you know. And "who you know" is more than just a name or a profile. It's more than a solid, iron-clad, time-tested relationship. Ultimately, as any Chicago resident is aware, "who you know" has to be someone with clout. There's the relationship that matters.