Another thing I like about LinkedIn

by Dave Staats May 13th, 2008

I thought I’d start this post with a ‘grabber’ headline for those who know me. As I’ve noted lately LinkedIn is very valuable for a number of things. I think gradually I am finding that my problems are more with the way people use it than LinkedIn itself. It feels like the people with 1000s of contacts are like the boisterous drunks in the bar who make it hard for others to communicate. I finally got around to setting up a few RSS feeds and one was for LinkedIn. It’s really cool when a past candidate or client links up with someone I need to go prescreen or someone I know gets a new job and I get an automatic reminder to follow up. On the other hand, I get those same notes about people I barely know whose invitations I accepted years ago. I only have something like 50 or 60 connections so it is not too bad to find the stuff I want. I just wonder what a mess people with 1000s of connections must have. They probably need a search engine just for the updates on people they don’t know and never need to know. Hey, these martinis are good. Let’s have 8 of ‘em. Ok ,back to the phones. Looks like we all got busy last week. If I could spare more time I’d rant some more on the nutty connections thing on random people I see on LinkedIn. I seem to be “connected” to everyone…It’s such a great feeling…just like when I go through O’Hare Airport and see all my friends there…

Dave Staats places top executives as well as implementation consultants with software companies. He also has made more placements in Artificial Intelligence than any other headhunter. His career began during the SDI (Star Wars) years and included placement of scientists in laser, stealth, and other high-tech fields. During a short hiatus from the recruiting industry in 1994 he obtained a Private Investigator's license which he keeps as a constant reminder that a headhunter is what he really is. Dave is on the Board of Directors of The Pinnacle Society and a founder of The Tennessee Recruiters Association. He has a BA from Western Illinois University. Dave also blogs at Truth, Justice & the American Way of Headhunting