I finally broke down and joined LinkedIn. Does this finally put me in the cool kids club?* For those of you (like myself) still living in 2005, it’s a professional networking site that aims to help people mine one another’s contacts. Or something like that. I’m not really sure about the whole thing. Granted, I haven’t had to hunt for a job in more than six years so maybe I’d feel differently if I was a sales manager, freelancer, or someone else whose livelihood depended on his ability to network. Or maybe it’s just my natural inability to schmooze that makes the whole thing slightly uncomfortable. I can’t really imagine contacting a stranger and saying, "Hey, I know you’re a buddy with so-and-so, and I am too. How about giving me a job (or buying my manuscript)?" Not saying that there’s anything wrong with that–to the contrary. I’m just saying that it makes this introvert uncomfortable even thinking about it.
Anyhow, I’ve had two people ask me about LinkedIn in the past month, so I figured it was about time. After signing up, I loaded my Yahoo address book and sent off invitations. If you’re not already in LinkedIn, I didn’t send you an invite. Honestly, I hated getting them before I was in the club, so I didn’t want to be similarly responsible for spreading ill will. Being totally unfamiliar with the etiquette of LinkedIn**, I tried not to invite people who were mostly strangers to me. There are a few addresses in my address book belonging to people who are in my industry, and with whom I clearly must have communicated at least once, but I can’t honestly say I know them. With no other guidelines to follow, my general rule of thumb was if I’d e-mailed you in the last three months or more than 10 times ever, then I sent you an invite to join my club network. I apologize if I invited you inappropriately, or if you feel slighted because I didn’t invite you. If you’d like to be in my network (or vice versa), please be my guest. Just send me an invite.
So… I’m in. Now what?
*Somehow I doubt it.
** You know, I’m starting to get tired of all these companies and websites who can’t be bothered to put a simple dash in their names.
Ya know, I come here everyday looking for cool stuff. This is extremely boring man! Couldn’t care less about networking!
Write something better man…it’s expected!
LOL
Hey man, if you wanna talk the talk how about walkin’ the walk? You have a blog too, ya’ know!
I do? Nah, I lost the password! I need to set up a new one, but don’t really want to take the time to learn.