I keep mine updated, but other than accepting requests, it doesn't see any activity.

Thanks guys for your responses. :)

For a job search I would say it's a MUST. For other stuff I don't know that it's all that valuable. But I try to keep it current and make the occasional post or comment just so that people remember me when they think of using a travel agent. I also have sent out promotional emails to my entire list a couple times. No sales yet as a result, but my goal is to remind people I'm there.

One time LinkedIn told me that knight_shadow had looked at my profile. We have no common connections.

I do use it - I'm trying to put a contractor pool together for a project I'm working on and I've been poking about people's profiles a little bit. I need to update mine, though, it's a little out of date.

One time, LinkedIn told me that agzg was a person that I may know. We have no common connections.

#Illuminati

I'm glad you guys reminded me to update my profile.

The only thing I can think is that we have some kind of cookie in our browser that says "these nerds like SPSS and should therefore totes be besties."

Though I'm in music/academia and that's not quite LinkedIn's niche, I've found it useful so far--someone found my website through it and, ultimately, that led to new project opportunity for me. I don't think this is the norm though.

I've been on LinkedIn for years (free account). I interviewed with my current company 3 years ago for a job that was beneath my skillset, but it provided an opportunity to get my foot in the door. That job went to someone else, but I connected with my interviewer via LinkedIn and asked her to keep me in mind for similar opportunities. A year later she contacted me about a new position they were creating--my current job, which is truly my dream job. I doubt my boss would've taken the time to track me down without the LinkedIn connection, so I'm definitely a believer!

LOLz

I am a huge user of LinkedIn. I have used to secure jobs. Also, I keep my network up to date.
It is important to realize to not only keep contacts but also join groups. You can learn so much from industry groups.

Also, remember networking is about giving. You give more than you take. Like karma, it comes around.

I have a free account that I check from time to time. Hoping to utilize it more, but haven't really had much luck.

I use LinkedIn (free account) and it's a great way to network. It's how I got my current job! A former co-worker connected with me on LinkedIn a few years ago. We would go out to lunch or dinner when he was in town and I asked "Next time there's a job opening in LA, consider me". A few months later, I was hired WITHOUT HAVING TO INTERVIEW!

The job I currently have? The recruiter found me on LinkedIn. I was unhappy where I was, but was too busy and too stressed to think about another job search. But then about 2 years ago, some guy reached out to me with a position description and asked if we could chat. And I'm super happy I did.

Just came back from a job interview yesterday where in the hiring manager's office I could see my profile was up. He didn't even hide that he was using it, he would pull it up and ask me about some things that weren't on my resume.

What I like about it is that you can include more descriptions than your resume. My resume is tailored to get through automatic searches that robots and not people do (so I utilize power verbs even when a shorter one would be fine). LinkedIn is nice because you can apply for the job and you don't have to attach anything but a cover letter because they just get your profile sent to them and it isn't weird then to have more than a page's worth of resume because it's not a print out.

I've gotten approached about a couple interesting jobs through LinkedIn. Unfortunately, the suburban sprawl that is Southern California means just because it's in the metro doesn't mean it's reachable without moving. Or teleportation.