Anyone ever found a contract through LinkedIn

[Greasy Chip Butty]

I was just going to reply in the thread, but it's probably worth a thread all of its own and is slightly unrelated anyway.

I love Linkedin for this. I try to make sure that whenever I do a contract, somebody of importance at the site is a linked in user, and then ask them to give me a recommendation. I then include 4 or 5 of the recommendations at the bottom of my (using the term but it does not really apply) CV,, with my linked in profile URL. Most people are happy to go with that.

Has anyone ever actually found any work through LinkedIn? I've had plenty of consultants gagging to join my network, but I never let them unless I've worked with them before. I'm sure that most are just wanted to contact/harass people in my network (who won't be too pleased with me if they do!)

Most people have interested in "business deals" on their profile, but has anyone ever actually been contacted with a real opportunity, whether completely cold or because of a referral from someone in your network?

I can't help but think that it's just a glorified way of bragging about how big your 'network' is.

[The SMG]

Originally Posted by Greasy Chip Butty

I was just going to reply in the thread, but it's probably worth a thread all of its own and is slightly unrelated anyway.



Has anyone ever actually found any work through LinkedIn? I've had plenty of consultants gagging to join my network, but I never let them unless I've worked with them before. I'm sure that most are just wanted to contact/harass people in my network (who won't be too pleased with me if they do!)

Most people have interested in "business deals" on their profile, but has anyone ever actually been contacted with a real opportunity, whether completely cold or because of a referral from someone in your network?

I can't help but think that it's just a glorified way of bragging about how big your 'network' is.

Believe it or not but i've actually found more work through facebook than linkedIn. As you say, LinkedIn is packed full of recruiters trying to locate that 'difficult to find contractor'.

I ignore most connection requests.

G

[jaffab]

I havnt actually gained a contract directly through it. However, what I have done is found out where contracts are available (a post from a contract saying that they are working in a department of such and such who are needing a *whatever*), then found out which agency the location uses, and gained a contract them them - so yes, via an indirect route. However, I use it to stay in touch with work based people, and I am very selective of my network - not just to gain people. For every person I add to my network, I reject 10 or 11.

[Michael Rose Esquire]

I see LinkedIn more as a 'post-contract' tool, i.e. an online CV with recommendations from former employers, etc.

Never thought of using it to gain work but I know the people who interviewed me most recently did a google search and snooped on LinkedIn before the interview. I got the job. So... indirectly... Yes?

[Cameron]

I've got work through Twitter and Facebook. LinkedIn not so much.

[CliveP]

Wow!, I mean Wow!

I really do need to get down with the kids more. How on earth do you find contract jobs through facebook and twitter?

I'm all ears

Clive

[PatchGirl]

'Has anyone ever actually found any work through LinkedIn?' was a question I was going to ask in this forum recently and then out of the blue I was contacted by a guy who'd found me on LinkedIn. Although the contract is only a small one at the moment it could lead to more work later.

And the good thing about this particular small contract is the company concerned is currently re-branding and the marketing agency they use have now promised me Social Media work!

So don't discard LinkedIn! You never know when opportunities may knock on your door.

[Daisyhall]

I find Facebook a little too tedious to maintain. Plus, there are just too many addictive time-wasters in there

I use Twitter and it's a very effective social networking tool. And since it's basically micro-blogging, it's simple enough to understand.