As long as people try to "connect" with people they don't have a relationship with, it's not a "trusted" network. It never was. It was and is a leads database, which just got bigger for people with Pro memberships.
Same with ERE. I'm all for people doing what they want, but I get invitations to connect from people I have never spoken with. And I decline those invitations (nothing personal...I just can't vouch for people I don't know...open to getting to know them though).
LinkedIn is just making their service offering better match the actual user scenario.
Fair enough
posted 8/9/2005 at 6:25 p.m. PT by David Manaster
The ERE Network started as something of an experiment for us, and we've been observing the way that people use it for a while now so that we can improve upon the service.
I agree with you that the vast majority of the utility that our members have found in the Network is NOT in the peer-to-peer friends list (and we encourage people to only accept invites from those they actually know). Fortunately, there are other, larger components to the Network, which are the groups and discussion boards.
The groups and discussion boards give our members the opportunity to interact with an entire group of people with similar interests at once, and the chances are good that one of them will be able and willing to help them out.
The real question is "are LinkedIn's 3 million + members aware that they are going to be have their information available to recruiters?" and "Do they want these contacts?"
Call me small...
posted 8/10/2005 at 2:19 a.m. PT by Maureen Sharib
Call me small...
but for the last couple months I've spent an average of 1/2 to 1 hr a day "managing" numerous requests to forward, to say nothing of the many "join" requests I get to increase the networks of others, "building" LinkedIn's position and effectiveness in the world, so I've begun to use the followinging "declined" message to forward requests...feel free to adopt it and make it your "own".
;)
UNTIL Linkedin gives credit for forwardings in their new "pay" system I can no longer afford to expend time forwarding numerous requests every day. Thank you for your cooperation in this unfortunate matter.
We’re all human beans tryin’ to get along in this world. Let’s make it so.
Maureen Sharib Names Sourcer www.techtrak.com 513 899 9628 Our fee structure can save your project an average of 85% to 95% in hiring fees. Maureen@techtrak.com
Visit the NEW names sourcing online training series “The Magic In The Method” live at www.techtrak.com!
David-ERE definitely adds value. How about opening up the membership listing on the front page with a search function so people can make direct contact without "connecting"? I can only speak for myself...I would welcome any opportunities to network with people that I can either help or that I could potentially share candidates with.
Maureen-you aren't small. That sounds perfectly reasonable. In fact, nice of you to send a response to people.
Balancing act
posted 8/10/2005 at 7:26 a.m. PT by David Manaster
Heather - not every contact is a wanted one, and we try to balance the privacy of our members with the desire to create new, lasting and productive relationships between them.
We do have a member search function at http://www.erexchange.com/search/default.asp?SEARCHMODE=PEOPL&ADVANCED=1
We have limited some aspects of the search function to ensure that it is not abused, but hopefully have made it functional enough so that you can readily find people who share your interests.
Also, you can send an email to anyone in the ERE Network - adding them to your friends list is not necessary.
Connecting through ERE
posted 8/10/2005 at 8:48 a.m. PT by Jason Bean
One simple feature that I think would be handy on the ERE site is the following: When I want to invite someone into my network, instead of a generic invite, it would allow me to include my own text to explain why I'm requesting them to "join" me in networking. This could be accomplished with a simple e-mail to the person prior to requesting them join your network, but to incorporate it into the request would be nice.
I also think it would be a nice setting in my "Profile" to have any e-mails sent to me through the system interface to automatically be forwarded to my actual e-mail address and not the internal system. Of course hiding my actual address until I've added someone into my network.
So isn't that basically what LinkedIn just did? Is the issue that they are making money from it?
See...this is the kind of dialog on blogs that I enjoy!
ERE is great!
posted 8/10/2005 at 8:54 p.m. PT by Brenda Lepi
David,
I have found ERE to be the best networking group around. In the 5 years that I have been a member, I have watched ERE grow, and maintain it's integrity. I am not sure I will want my email address out there on Linked In for the whole world to see. I get too many spam mails now, and I am convinced the spam preditors obtain email addresses from forums and groups who publish them. When I want my email address published, I will do it myself!
Brenda L.
Not great timing, but not so bad...
posted 8/10/2005 at 9:20 p.m. PT by Scott Kahle
I have to say that I was not excited to see LinkedIn make the "BIG MOVE" only days after I told a room full of people that I did not think that LinkedIn would start charging for access to their service any time soon. However, I did take some solice in the fact that they do still offer the basic service for free, and with little lose to the basic user.
Everything else aside, my suggestion to anyone that doesn't like the new LinkedIn structure is to protest by not using the service any longer. Personally, I can't image not using the site.
Break A Few Eggs
posted 8/11/2005 at 4:00 a.m. PT by Maureen Sharib
David,
You say, "we encourage people to only accept invites from those they actually know". So what comes first, the chicken or the egg? How do I get to know someone unless I ask them to dance with me? Is that so bad? Does that come so very too close to those scary privacy issues that everyone seems to be tiptoeing around everywhere? It seems to me by casting a wide net you sweep in a bigger catch - as you know, I'm one of the unrestrained-by-protocol users of ERE's Invitation system. I've met a far greater number of people online than I know in "real life". Maybe that's sad (I don't happen to think so) but it's true! And it's also by choice on my part.
I don't just want to know people who "share my interests". I don't have that many left to my own devices. I want to know people with other interests I might come to want to share. Nothing is more boring than homogenity and it's the edgier, rawer, racier sites that are getting my attention these days.
I'm reminded of that old adage about not wanting to be a member of a club that would have me as a member. I'm also thinking of thet Dutch saying, "You gotta break a few eggs to bake a cake".
My thots.
Maureen
I put this on Jason's Blog initially...
posted 8/11/2005 at 7:03 a.m. PT by John Correll
but thought it was worthwhile to toss out here also in light of the ongoing dialogue:
Jason, your point is well taken that, given the past direction of other social network sites, Linked In would inevitably alter their model.
It is most unfortunate that, with some creative direction, marketing and insight, they could have found a way to drive revenue/profitability for their investors AND provide a beneficial tool to us users. Then again that fits the old "you can't have your cake and eat it, too" adage.
I'll go climb back under my proverbial rock - although I don't think I'm alone there.
ERE (David, et al!!!): Don't follow suit! You have a good thing going here.
Now, I'll go back to reviewing the AARP application I received in the mail this week...
Good dialogue :-)
posted 8/11/2005 at 7:57 a.m. PT by David Manaster
Maureen - You won't catch me saying that a broad list of contacts is a negative for a recruiter. I would argue, however, that the quality of those relationships is more important than the quantity.
John - I never say never, but at the moment we have no intentions of turning the ERE Network into a paid service. We run it as a service to the recruiting community and as a channel to sell our paid services, such as our conferences, research and the new Journal of Corporate Recruiting Leadership. (We've got to pay the bills!)
Branda - Thanks! I take the privacy of our members very seriously - which is why we never trade or sell our lists to other companies. Even when we send promotions for other organizations, we keep your contact information confidential.
Jason - Good ideas! I've forwarded them on to Jim & Dave (our development team.)
Heather - I'm a capitalist, and LinkedIn is a business. I certainly hope that they find a model to monetize their audience and make their VCs very, very happy. I also don't have a personal issue with their changes - I just don't know if they will be well received by their users.
LinkedIn members join the service with the expectation that their contact information will only be seen and used by their extended network, and this move opens that information up to total strangers. The bond of trust that comes from actually knowing the people in your network (or having someone that you know vouch for them) is in jeopardy.
OK, call me crazy...
posted 8/11/2005 at 9:15 a.m. PT by Heather Hamilton
But if anyone wants to reach me, here I am:
Heather Hamilton | Staffing Programs Manager Microsoft Corporation | 425.706.2312 heathham@microsoft.com | http://blogs.msdn.com/heatherleigh
Incidentally, I've been very "findable" on the internet for
continued...(I miss my keyboard)
posted 8/11/2005 at 9:18 a.m. PT by Heather Hamilton
for a while now and it's been great. My personal perspective is that you aren't visible, it's true that the people that you don't want to hear from cannot find you easily. Neither can the people that do want to hear from you. And that is the problem. I respond to everyone and really focus the extra time on the people that I thikn I can help and can help me.
Anyhoo, it's a work-style thing. So, you cal call me crazy...you might already be doing that anyway.
A dead horse that needs beating???
posted 8/17/2005 at 12:19 p.m. PT by John Correll
You make the call... but, mysteriously, interestingly, and completely unexplained (acutally, completely unanswered by Linked In's customer service following two assistance requests) - I am no longer able to make any connections or extend any network invitations. Let's see... post a comment and speak your mind on one social network site about changes implemented by another; lose your privileges. Eric, don't take it personally. It's a big world out there, pal.
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