I have some questions re LinkedIn

[vhelp]

i have someone who keeps sending me this request.

the_name would like to stay in touch on LinkedIn.

the_name
VP of Operations at Stay Well
New York

Hi friend,

I'd like to add you to my professinal network on Linkedln.
- the_name

[Confirm that you know the_name]

Can someone explain a little bit to me what is this linkedin. I am not a part of it. I did not register with them. And, I don't want to, if I don't have to.

Also, lets say I were to allow this person to link me, can I change that to longer be linkedin later on ?

Thank you.

[DB83]

It's a professional list of like-minded people. Sort of like Facebook for adults who do the same type of work.

There is no obligation to join and your 'friend' can not show any details for you if you do not personally register a profile.

[vhelp]

I am working on some programming projects for him and a friend of his. But it slowed down (due to problems with my lack of knowledge about the cloud--I can't understand how it works and how I can put databases on it and link it (a subset of data) to clients that he wants to set this up with. To coin the phrase, "writers block" I guess I suffer from programmers block in this juncture of the project. Anyway.

What does he (or I) benefit by having me linked ? Is he trying to get my name out for others to see or something ? Does my name or email get posted ? I don't want that, I don't think, since i'm a private guy. I explained to him that I don't want to be searched by certain people since they will figure out where I work and what I do. I want to keep that private, so I don't want to link my business email. But I do have a gmail account w/out my actual name.

[DB83]

Well one of the main 'do's' of having an account there is that you set it up with your real name - remember this is a professional service. I do not think you have to share your email.

But, as I said, the whole point of having an account is to connect with like-minded people. So if you really want to remain 'private' there is little point in going there.

Of course if you wanted to promote yourself then you could consider this as 'free' advertising.

[Lilbar]

LinkedIn is kind of like online networking in a professional sense...you connect with people you work with or have worked with, and they can endorse you for certain skills etc. You list all your experience (similar to CV format) and there's also a job search function. I suppose you could describe it as an interactive CV / careers portal!

[TreeTops]

Then why am I getting so many requests from strangers that want to add me to their portfolio on Linkedln?

[DB83]

In that respect LinkedIn is no better than Facewash.

I get these 'spam' invites as well.

[El Heggunte]

Me too has been spammed through LinkedIn, BUT the "friend requests" never came from 'absolute strangers',
the friend requests always came from people with whom I had casually exchanged a couple of e-mails, many moons ago...

By default, every new LinkedIn account is configured to import one's address book from Hotmail, GMail and et coetera;
then, the perfect n00bs always click on the "Yes" buttons — therefore, ......

[tgpo]

Soon to be owned by Microsoft.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-36519766

[Lilbar]

Sometimes I think that people just add whoever pops up in their "people you may know" section, probably to make their professional network look bigger than it really is...

[andysimi]

It's normal, linkedin is a professional site where employees can connect with employers, it's good to expand your circle.

[divo2000]

Then why am I getting so many requests from strangers that want to add me to their portfolio on Linkedln?

Mostly, it's because there is an option at LinkedIn to invite people from your Gmail account - any people you've ever had correspondence with.
You can "clean out" your invitation list, but most of the times nobody does it our of laziness.

p.s. I'm a pro with LI Had premium accounts for several years, it was my first channel of income. Now I've backed out a bit, but LI is really worth it in terms of professional communication, useful articles, learning courses, and just a network of people who can be useful to you (and you to them).