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Or maybe the OP has a career that they admire from reading her profile and wish to connect with her in order to seek out advice on where's a good place to start building that career?
Also true, especially when so many of these college students the OP's whining about are being told by professionals to "Network! Network! Network!" in order to land the job they want. That's what LinkedIn is for.
The only way to Message a LinkedIn user is to add them to your connections. I added someone I did not know once so I could message him. He was an alumni of my school, we had a few connections in common, and he was employed by the ad agency of my DREAMS: Leo Burnett.
We chatted a few times via message about what it was like at the agency, what he was working on, etc. He was not well connected with the Leo Burnett in NYC unfortunately, only Detroit and I was not looking to move there so although that opportunity went nowhere, that same guy is now in Richmond, VA (where I plan to be in the next year) working at The Martin Agency, another power house agency. So, I may hit him back up if I am in the market for a new position.
I would ignore friend requests unless they have connections in common with you, are alumni from your school, or a recruiter (and can offer potential opportunities down the road).
As a paid member you can message people without having them as a connection.
Also true, especially when so many of these college students the OP's whining about are being told by professionals to "Network! Network! Network!" in order to land the job they want. That's what LinkedIn is for.
I've had a few college students add me in order to ask me questions about the company I worked for or about how I wound up in a certain field because I had an unrelated degree and they wished to get to that field with the same unrelated degree. Not all of these college students are trying to get you to get them a job, but generally want to know what kind of qualities they should cultivate to get there. I'd feel pleased that they thought that highly of me to seek out a connection.
When I was looking for a job some recruiters found my resume on linkedin. Also, on linkedin I was looking at companies where my friends & ex-colleagues were working & started applying there. Not all companies advertise on monster, career builder, etc. You need to go to their website to see job openings. Linkedin helped me find these companies. It also recommended other professionals in my field & where they worked so that helped a lot as well.
I've had a few college students add me in order to ask me questions about the company I worked for or about how I wound up in a certain field because I had an unrelated degree and they wished to get to that field with the same unrelated degree. Not all of these college students are trying to get you to get them a job, but generally want to know what kind of qualities they should cultivate to get there. I'd feel pleased that they thought that highly of me to seek out a connection.
And you never know. When these college students do this, they may eventually luck upon someone who takes a liking to them and will want to help them land a job.
But they'll never know if they're discouraged by folks like the OP.
Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
41,936 posts, read 37,286,506 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by harrisce4
The only way to Message a LinkedIn user is to add them to your connections. I added someone I did not know once so I could message him. He was an alumni of my school, we had a few connections in common, and he was employed by the ad agency of my DREAMS: Leo Burnett.
Also true, especially when so many of these college students the OP's whining about are being told by professionals to "Network! Network! Network!" in order to land the job they want. That's what LinkedIn is for.
So true, colleges tell you that in order to compete you have to network any way you can or at least have an on line presence.
If you don't want to network or mentor the "BOOTOM FEEDERS" who reach out to you then deactivate your linkedIn.
My old man is on LinkedIn, and they email me invitations all the time in his name, without his knowledge or consent, using his email address to do it. I don't trust any bunch that pulls that kind of sneaky stuff and will have nothing to do with them.
i tried to add one of my old supervisors but it kept asking me for her email address. i wanted to ask her if i could use her for a reference. i guess she has her settings set so that only people she work with now can add her.
it hasn't been useful at all for me, but i don't use it on a regular basis, either.
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i wanted to ask her if i could use her for a reference. i guess she has her settings set so that only people she work with now can add her. 
