I have never had a LinkedIn account, both out of general anti-data-vacuuming-social-media, and specifically anti-whatever-the-fucking-corphead-psychos-are-doing-on-LinkedIn tendencies, and managed to find a decent job out of uni just fine (software field). I’m now looking for a job again and the number one piece of advice I’m being given by concerned parties is “get on LinkedIn”.
I’m curious how many people into the whole “privacy” thing have had to make this choice, and which way you went with it.
Do the advantages (which it seems mainly boil down to “networking”) outweigh the icky feeling I’d get making an account? Of course only I can actually answer that question, but it sums up my conundrum.
LinkedIn is fine. I work in community-based healthcare and interact with a shit ton of people from other organizations, and having LinkedIn to look people up is incredibly useful. You don’t need to post on LinkedIn, or read the feed at all. For me, it’s purely a way to connect with other people I know. If someone does an internet search for your name, it’s also likely going to be the first hit, and can help prospective employers know who you are