Anywho, I’ve been trying to build up my own network lately and was looking for some etiquette-style articles on the web when I found this posting on how journalists can use LinkedIn by Penelope Trunk, the “Brazen Careerist”. I’ve recently become a fan of Penelope’s and really enjoy her blog. It’s refreshing to read candid career advice, especially about freelancing, a topic that’s awash in common-sense advice for beginners, not people who actually work on it full time. So, my professional friends, feel free to add me to your network. This time, I’ll actually pay attention.
Linking in
For a long time, I thought Linked In was kind of bogus. I’ve had an account for years — since 2004, I think — and until a month or two ago, I had five “connections”. The fact that my list had not grown on its own made me think no one really used it. Turns out, it was just me who was not using it. Even before the economy tanked, Linked In was growing as a legitimate source of resumes and references and — in the time I had been ignoring it — a place where professional people actually go to find other professional people. Now, unsurprisingly, LinkedIn is flourishing as people panic to network and keep/find jobs.
