Earlier quoted context omitted.
They ask. Are you just supposed to lie or refuse to answer?
Refuse to answer. It's none of their business, and nobody can compel you to answer a question.
Look them straight in the eye and say "prison"
Is LinkedIn Cheating Employers and Job Seekers Alike?
71–80 of 88 posts
Re: Is LinkedIn Cheating Employers and Job Seekers Alike?
#72Earlier quoted context omitted.
I feel like the "network" benefit of LinkedIn is close to zero. That is, when was the last time anyone said "I would like to talk to person X at Company Y. Oh, one of my friends is connected to person X. I'll ask that person for a warm introduction" Is anyone seeing or doing that?
I've certainly done that. When job-hunting, if I find a job posting I'd like to apply for, I'll check to see if there's anyone in my 2nd or 3rd-level network who's worked for that company.
I do the same, but somewhat differently. The primary reason is that I only accept connections to people I have personally met and interacted with. (The few exceptions to that rule are people whom I've had extensive online dealings with.) The network information tells me who is likely to know more, and more importantly, could probably help to skirt the "Great Wall of HR" by introducing me personally with the people doing the actual hiring. Outside LinkedIn.
When someone in my personal network pings the hiring manager and asks if they can connect me with them, I'm already ahead of the rest. Even if the response is to send the application in through the regular channels, the hiring manager now knows to expect my application. And perhaps most importantly, they know that I have been already vetted for fit and sanity by a person in their personal network. I can refer to that link in the application cover, and help it stand out even further.
The in-system introductions at LinkedIn I consider worthless. Use those, and you get flagged as someone just clicking buttons.
Networking is crucial on any creative field. But if you're willing to artificially "enhance" your network, you're just devalueing that very network - and by extension, yourself. The only things that really matter are the personal connections. They are the ones that can help you - and the ones that you are willing to help yourself.
Re: Is LinkedIn Cheating Employers and Job Seekers Alike?
#73Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have a hard time believing that if the employer is in desperate need, and a potential employee has the skills, they cannot come to an agreement, especially if you make it in for an interview. This does not make sense. Someone is not motivated enough.
Who specified that either one of those conditions was true? If it's an example, let's be honest: If the employer is not desperate they may not respond well to being told that their question didn't pass muster. Real people who are struggling to find work are asked these questions, and real people are being discriminated against by not answering.
You say, "I don't feel comfortable sharing that information" instead of the more hostile, "I don't have to answer that"
One needs to consider it as offensive as, "Are you planning to have a child soon" or "How old are you" or, "You look real purty"
Also if a company is going to invite you all the way to their office and use up their current employees' time, it would be a very stupid thing to not want an applicant just because they don't want to discuss their current salary.
Re: Is LinkedIn Cheating Employers and Job Seekers Alike?
#74> But the question for everyone else is, why are employers > (who pay to access the database) and job seekers (who > pay for database positioning) playing along while > LinkedIn sells everyone out with this game of payola? There is no "payola" in searching the database. Job seekers aren't paying for database positioning, they are paying only to be at the top of the list of "here are people who applied for your job".…
This
I don't pay for this "featured job seeker" thing, havne't gotten in the way.
It may backfire since some people may filter the paying candidates as 'ads'
Re: Is LinkedIn Cheating Employers and Job Seekers Alike?
#75And they keep extending their footprint (http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_20568679/linkedin-expands-offi...). Sigh!
Re: Is LinkedIn Cheating Employers and Job Seekers Alike?
#76Earlier quoted context omitted.
How can that happen? It's not like your new employer will know what you were making at the last job, and even so why should that matter?
They will certainly know what your title was. If you've been management for 10 years and then accept a job as a peon to "fill the gap", your new company might see that as a negative and/or use it as an excuse to offer you less.
Titles are meaningless. I'm my own boss now. I could call myself CEO or Extra-Senior Architect or something. I just call myself Programmer.
Re: Is LinkedIn Cheating Employers and Job Seekers Alike?
#77Earlier quoted context omitted.
They ask. Are you just supposed to lie or refuse to answer?
Valid dodging answers include: - I took a sabbatical - I did private/contract work for a while - I took a working holiday - I spent some time renovating my house - I took some time off to look after a sick relative Take the Jesuit line that if there is a kernel of truth in the statement (eg you fixed your gutters one time while unemployed) then you're not actually lying. Really, this HR obsession with "zomg a gap in…
Absolutely. It doesn't matter much what your reason for the gap is, as long as you make it sound like something you were in control of. Something that you chose, based on your own life priorities. Don't sound like a victim.
Re: Is LinkedIn Cheating Employers and Job Seekers Alike?
#78I wish the internet could actually solve high unemployment.
Re: Is LinkedIn Cheating Employers and Job Seekers Alike?
#79I think the broader principle of this post is solid. It's one that I've been thinking a lot as a friend asked me to advise his dating-site startup. I don't like the space for one major reason (and job hunting is isomorphic with dating): to optimize making money you have to fail to deliver on the expectations of those for whom you're matchmaking. With dating/jobhunting if you create a supremely efficient market place…
The difference is that people in relationships feel guilty shopping around. I know many people with jobs who keep one eye on LinkedIn in case they see a great opportunity.
Which is weird because the great opportunities are based on recommendations almost only. Someone pulls you somewhere, you pull someone to you. You match a friend with another friend in trouble.
I have yet to see (in IT) someone that get great job by the standard interview process.
Also not all persons in a relationship feel guilty of that.
Re: Is LinkedIn Cheating Employers and Job Seekers Alike?
#80Earlier quoted context omitted.
They will certainly know what your title was. If you've been management for 10 years and then accept a job as a peon to "fill the gap", your new company might see that as a negative and/or use it as an excuse to offer you less.
Titles are meaningless. I'm my own boss now. I could call myself CEO or Extra-Senior Architect or something. I just call myself Programmer.
Come on, we're obviously not talking about contractors or people who are their own boss. When you're actually applying for jobs with real companies, titles are certainly not meaningless. If you're screening applications for a programming manager and one person has this work history (earlier first):
Programmer (Firm 1)
Programmer II (Firm 1)
Senior Developer (Firm 2)
Manager, Programming (Firm 2)
Programmer II (Firm 3)