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Ask HN: Do you have to use LinkedIn to get hired?

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Re: Ask HN: Do you have to use LinkedIn to get hired?

#101

Post by bredren »

zmb_ wrote: post #43

I just completed a successful job search, including landing a great senior level IC role at a large tech company. I do not have LinkedIn (or GitHub etc.). Based on what I've read and heard from hiring managers, I optimized two things: CV and video call setup. My CV was customized for every application, a single page dense with information but designed to be easy to skim and pattern match to the role requirements. For…

I agree that video call setup is important. I’d suggest it is way undervalued.

People don’t understand how important production quality is. Virtual backgrounds and automatic cropping / lighting adjust can be good but aren’t as good as getting it right in the first place.

Setting up quality video conference production for remote interviewing is often easier than buying and caring for all of the clothes in the grooming often needed for in person interviewing.

Re: Ask HN: Do you have to use LinkedIn to get hired?

#102

Post by bityard »

I blocked all email from linkedin on my mail server back in 2005 or so when they were relentlessly spamming _every_ email address they could find. I still have them blocked. I never bothered to create a linkedin account because from what I hear, 99.9% of the content is inane self-promotion and a never ending stream of begging from low-quality recruiters with low-quality offers.

100% of all the jobs I've had in my two-decades-long technology career have been from my real, in-person social network. "Hey bityard, I work at this cool place and think you should too."

Re: Ask HN: Do you have to use LinkedIn to get hired?

#103

Post by AlwaysRock »

No. I'd just post a link to your resume in that spot. Companies like it but no one will hard pass on you because you dont have one. That being said making it easier for companies to hire you/reach out to you is good if you are actively searching for a new job.

Re: Ask HN: Do you have to use LinkedIn to get hired?

#104

Post by givemeethekeys »

DoubleGlazing wrote: post #67

I have never got a job through LinkedIn, even though I get loads of contacts from recruiters - as many as 10 per week. The problem is that those contacts are poor quality. They are spammy as heck, basically mass emailing anyone who has a specific search phrase anywhere in their profile. For the last year my profile bio has opened with the statement "Recruiters: Please tell me what your favourite colour is if you want…

I suggest putting the blurb somewhere in your employment history. Your LinkedIn profile gets scraped and imported by various recruiting software. They often don't import the bio blurb (although they probably should).

This won't eliminate the spam, but will increase your chance of a recruiter seeing the blurb.

Re: Ask HN: Do you have to use LinkedIn to get hired?

#105

Post by c64d81744074dfa »

The wide range of answers to this has been really helpful. What I'm getting out of it is this: If you're a linked-in refuser (like I've been so far) then it limits you somewhat, filtering out some potential employers, but possibly in a good way.

But you don't HAVE to use it. Good to know!

Re: Ask HN: Do you have to use LinkedIn to get hired?

#106

Post by fragmede »

No, but look at it this way. From a UX perspective, we're familiar with reducing friction to get people to sign up for our product, whatever it is. Even with some irelevent friction, you'll get some sign-ups, but you'll get more with a more optimized flow. Same for linked in. Is it possible? Yes, you'll get many answers saying they didn't. So you don't have to, but why make it hard for employees to hire you. Especially if you're at the start of your career.

Re: Ask HN: Do you have to use LinkedIn to get hired?

#107

Post by kradeelav »

I'm not a recruiter, but I am a (design) manager frequently on interview panels.

LinkedIn is useful for me behind looking at the design portfolio (most important), and the resume. I'll scan the connections to see if we have a mutual friend, college, previous job, etc as a topic to talk about in the interview, and it frequently brings up a great discussion that might not have happened otherwise. Definitely not required, though.

Re: Ask HN: Do you have to use LinkedIn to get hired?

#109

Post by nsxwolf »

DoubleGlazing wrote: post #81
CSSer wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love the bio bit. That's a hilarious and really nice touch.

It's interesting what happens when certain recruiters send a follow up message when I don't answer first time. When that happens I tell them to read my profile carefully. Some then get it and send me a colour and a few have got a bit shirty saying I am being unprofessional or that I am being unreasonable expecting them to read my profile given the pressures they are under.

I had one send me a 4th follow up email this morning which seems excessive. The funny thing is, all the emails are spammy - it's clear that she sends all 4 of these to everyone on some schedule.

Re: Ask HN: Do you have to use LinkedIn to get hired?

#110

Post by ineptech »

gregdoesit wrote: post #48

Former engineering manager here. LinkedIn is useful to get “sourced” for jobs. Sourcing refers to recruiters proactively searching for qualified candidates for a given job. The first place recruiters go to source for positions - especially for those that are harder to fill - is LinkedIn. So no: you absolutely don’t need to have LinkedIn to get hired if you apply directly. LinkedIn makes it easier for companies to fin…

Ditto. I work for a big company with several FT recruiters, and AFAICT the only thing they do to look for new candidates is spam people on linkedin.
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