I utilise Linkedin.com primarily for professional networking and maintaining contact with old colleagues and friends.

I am not into job search on Linkedin.com

What I also like is participating in the Q&A segment on Linkedin.com, a good way to refresh ones own knowledge while responding, to gain knowledge/information on new topics and ideas, apart from looking at and understanding global issues and concerns from different points of view.

posted June 26, 2008

Hi,

I am colleague of Mark Robinson. I have worked on various client and forwarded many candidates from LI which were not available on the job boards and the client was really pleased with the results.

I also like to get in touch with people from various countries. The best feature on the LI is the question and answers, you come to know question from around the world and the answers from the users are just awesome.

It’s great to be a part of LI.

posted June 26, 2008

Hi Liz,

Thanks for this question. I was looking for long for some qiuestion related to India specific on LI. I am enjoying it a lot. The most important feature which is helping me in my professional and Personal life is the incredible Q&A Section. Though I have only 4 years of work experience after my school,graduation, I am learning a lot from the Q&A.It helps me to read and learn all facets of preofessional life.

Also using the connections, I am able to help and direct many others to the concerned persons for Jobs,Career and for Business solutions.

I am also hearing from my connections that many Indian recruiters are also using for candidate seatrch and Job positions. I also did talk to few who made successfull closure in their business deals in India using LinkedIn. I also did see few areas where others across the world are contacting Indian Compnies for leads and vice e vers using LinkedIn.

It is really a boon for Indian Business Market, though still a lot of LIs potential is yet to be tapped by Indians at large.

I am also looking forward for LI operations in India.When is the most awaited day going to be real?

Thanks again
Prem.

posted June 26, 2008

Hi Liz

Pretty new on linkedin.
QA is very interesting. Have been able to interact with some members
on various topics. Not a huge contact list to boast about. But slowly building up a good database of people in various industries and places. Something, I am sure I will be able to bank on - when the need arises.
Have not made any break through for any business building, and am not as such looking for jobs via linkedin.
Understand that this is not the platform for direct selling or marketing - and do behave accordingly. Not sure whether my learning Guerilla marketing would help here :))

Overall - an experience which I am enjoying.

Rgds
Zia

posted June 26, 2008

Hello Liz

This is Raghav Pandit from New Delhi, India.

Following your question, I would like to contribute my experience and habitual practice on LinkedIN till now.

As you are aware, LinkedIn is one of the best networking websites when it comes to communicating with people across locations. I personally feel that Mr. Reid Hoffman has done a wonderful business for all of us.
I have been using LinkedIn for almost last 2 years, where, I communicate with lots of professionals from various domains & locations.

In particular, LinkedIn has worked best for me and all my team members when it comes to:

1. Networking: I assume we all know what it is and how it works on LinkedIn.

2. Hiring: As per my knowledge LinkedIn is a successful place for recruiters to find the right talent available in the marketplace and help clients to meet their reevant needs. It is also good to connect with more people through references on this site.

3. Posting jobs: For starters, I requested LinkedIn team to facilitate handful job postings on LinkedIn. These job positions have been in India as well as abroad. After posting the jobs, we have received a favourable response.

4. Interconnecting with your 3rd level connection: My team members are able to connect people in my 1st and 2nd level contacts through introductions.

5. Finding vendors and service providers: I have, in person, spoken with people who were able to assist me with solutions so that I can achieve my targets on time.

6. LinkedIn answers: The best place for me; it facilitates a lot of answers to work related queries. My past few questions have been responded with an enormous response. Example: Online e-recruitment technology, Desktop search utilities and indexing, Search engine optimisation (SEO), Recruitment consultancy roles VS Corporate HR roles, Which animal you relate to? and many more…

7. Personal relations: Through LinkedIn, I am able to connect with my class mates, ex-colleagues and meet more people across locations who share similar interests as mine.

8. Articles and blogs on LinkedIn: On weekends, I love to invest my time in reviewing the archives by Month, by Category like: Announcements, Awards, Feature Releases, Features, LinkedIn Events, LinkedInside, Press, Tips and Tricks, Using LinkedIn, weekly roundup and many more.

For your information, Ajay Jain - has written a book on LinkedIN, which gave me an opportunity to share similar feedback. Further, I don’t have a paid subscription however I will get one very soon. Let me know in case you need any further information or details, I would be more than happy to assist you in your projects.

Raghav Pandit | www.linkedin.com/in/raghavpandit
Mobile: +91-9810774814
Email: raghavpandit@hotmail.com

posted June 26, 2008

Thanks for the question Liz. I'm Asfaq Tapia and my jpb involves monitoring the Indian Online and Mobile space.

I use LinkedIN to stay connected to friends and collegues. It has also help me in getting introduced to other professionals and company CEOs in the same sphere. The Outlook plugin keeps me informed of any contact or job changes that are made by collegues and friend.

All in all, a great SaaS application (yes, I don't mind calling it that).

Best,

Asfaq Tapia,
Ed. Writer
AlooTechie.net
+91-9892113910
gtalk: asfaqtapia

posted June 26, 2008

Liz,

LI's Q&A section is what I use most. Second use is to network with Security Professionals.

Regards,
Amit

posted June 26, 2008

I use it for networking, Q & A. I made new contact with people of interesting backgrounds.

But I find that the Linkedin has an overwhelming presence of IT & Consulting people. Relatively less of people from engineering, process, and other traditional sectors.

Also the interface is complex. The benefits are not obvious. May be that's why rich usage patterns are missing.

How many people with real time pressure participate on linkedin?

I do not visit \ do things often enough here because practical utility is limited.

Hemant

Hemant

Links:

• http://www.learning-leadership.com

posted June 26, 2008

Its good to know that LinkedIn has got 1 million members from India. Like other Indians, I am also a member of LinkedIn and an avid user. I use liknkedIn for -

-Connecting with co-workers
-Connecting with people and sharing thoughts with them on the fields of mobile communications, technology
-Getting information that can be used in my work related projects
-Understanding the structure of a particular organization
-I am a regular on the Q and A forum and just love to ask questions and also answer them on areas of my interest
-Browsing answers given by people on different questions helps me in getting valuable insights on a particular topic
-Getting information that I can use to make my blog better
-Feedback from co-workers
-Finding jobs

I have also purchased the book that is authored by Ajay Jainon how to effectively use LinkedIn and I found it very interesting and I use the tips given in the book more often.

LinkedIn is the best thing that has happned to the professional networking space. I simply love it. I have registered on different professional networking websites but they dont give me a high that I get on LinkedIn. Keep linking and you will find yourself "LinkedIn" to someone who will be very much valuable to you.

Cheers,
Vikram
Not Another Mobile Phone Blog - http://www.nampblog.com

posted June 26, 2008

I am loving it. It's fast, global and modern.

I have 2500+ connections and 1700+ answers in two years.

Network, business and knowledge rising exponentially.

Finding more and more Indians actively involved in all activities.

I always believed Indians are great in networking. Linked In data proved that.

I can't share how much business or knowledge I gained, but it is worth the time spent.

posted June 27, 2008

One million Indians on LI is a great achievement! Congrats LinkedIn

LI for me has been a great tool to reach out to people in the Internet medium where I wanted to make a career in. In fact, it helped me land a job too in this space. Thanks LI and good luck...

posted June 27, 2008

Hi Liz,

It has been such a wonderful experience. I have connected with old business colleagues after years. Got connected with several people from a variety of backgrounds. Learnt so much from people's answers. Have shared my own little bits with people who had questions. Further it has helped me to know about people with expertise and specialised skills, and opened up opportunities for my own business at the world stage.

I have enjoyed sharing knowledge across industries and professions, on my desk like never before. And this is unique to LinkedIn.

I respect its private yet open environment yet I just hope that LinkedIn continues to keep its respectful image, and does not become too public, and evolve as a huge gossipy chat room.

Thanks for your enquiry.

Prabhat

posted June 27, 2008

Been a linkedin user for 4 years - use mainly to connect with old colleagues/business associates. Also to understand the industry trends. To do additional research on possible business partners.
To contribute my 2 cent to the world
To get an insight into the outsourcing world - has been helpful.
Build rapport with team members working in remote locations.
To evaluate opportunities and keep oneself updated on the kind of jobs which come to the market (& dont)

I like it with all the limitations it may have. Good to keep that. Use the tool for what it is rather than look for feature ridden networking platform.

posted June 27, 2008

Hi Liz,

Congratulations to you and your team on achieving this milestone [while we are a large country, the digital divide prevails and this indeed is an achievement]. Incidentally, recently a lot has been written about the founders of LI, in one of India's leading newspaper, The Times of India (am sorry tried to search for the url can't find it), including how LI is different.

I began by using LI to connect with those whom I knew. However, my network, thanks to a fabulous and vibrant Q&A section, helped me connect with like minded folks.

I used LI for the following:

1) To ask questions - questions relating to my career, issues relating to using LI!, and also issues relating to tax (I find this very useful for writing my monthly column in a daily newspaper as I get a perspective of things from people across the world).

2) To share my knowledge with others and add to my network of interesting people - ranging from dragon lovers to writers to CPAs.

3) To help others connect with recruiters who are part of my network

4) To read posts about my organisation from newspapers across the world - this is a very interesting concept and readily available on the home page of LI itself. (I guess this happens only if you are a part of a large global organisation as some of my friends wonder what I am talking about when I mention this feature).

5) I even wrote columns for two other LI members for their business portals in my area of expertise - hope this got me some visibility.

Wishing you full speed ahead.

Best regards
Lubna

posted June 27, 2008

LI is great for professional networking and maintaining contact with old colleagues and friends. Have re-linked with people I'd lost touch for years.
LI is also good for understanding industry trends, opinions & views of global issues and concerns. I've also used LI to prospect for recruits to my team.

posted June 27, 2008

1 Million Indians!!! Good to hear that.

I started using LinkedIn 2+ years back in my Post Graduation days and since then I have made quality contacts with people around. Have connected with my previous & current colleagues with ease. It has helped me in establishing a network which helps me in sharing knowledge and making contacts for career.

posted June 27, 2008

LinkedIn has helped a great deal to build profressional contacts, understand industry experts views and in a way will help in bringing technology meets its ends by connecting to right people.
Thanks
Nikunj Shah

posted June 28, 2008

Dear Friends,

i am Just in !!!!!!

This site gives me a great impressions in the beginning it self ... i do hope to find a place for myself as business man with visions to share and contribute my knowledge and expertized company informations...etc...
Let all of you can contact me for any kind of project support and services ... i hope this will be a great start for me ... thanks for your kind attentions.
you can reach me directly to : jp.vaijaeyonth@gmail.com

Links:

• http://www.theamsun.com

posted June 28, 2008

Hi Liz,
Congratulations on the milestone! I find Q&A one of the most useful features on Linkedin.
LinkedIn for me is the best place to ask people who have the professional experience and knowledge to answer business related questions. I also read insightful questions & answer threads started by other LinkedIn members. General Q&A places like Yahoo! Answers won't work for these types of questions.
Thanks a ton!
Ujwal

posted June 28, 2008

- my friends are present here and I can see what industry they are working on
- i am updated about news of my company as well as competitors company and also news tricker gives a broad overview about how industry is going on.
- only serious and right kind of people are here. This is one of the reason of my opening LinkedIn rather than orkut.
- I can see what other people on my list are doing and so I can track down them.

posted June 28, 2008

Hi Liz,

Personally I have benefitted with the services of Linkedin a lot. I am in touch with my professional friends through linked in. I use linkedin for sharing my knowledge with other professionals worldwide.

More over my current Job and past 3 offers came to me only because of my profile on Linkedin from where the companies where able to find me and get in touch with me.

I will be shifting to new company next month and they also came to know about me because of my linkedin profile only.

So I find Linkedin as a powerful tool for the companies to find quality resources.

posted June 28, 2008

Hi,
Linked in is not another social networking tool, but a robust and highly targeted professional link builder. I feel I have met, many professionals, corporates, individual genii and ideologists. As a Project Manager of Reputed MNC in India, I will be using Linked in services for hiring professional, new opportunities, new business relationships etc.
I suggest a separate section in Linkedin for Outsourcing companies, freelancing etc. Only those individuals for companies got at least some minimum recommendations can outsource or apply. Apply a job is different compared to job sites, Linked in companies can approach candidates whos status reflects something like 'ready for freelancing', 'accepts projects for my company', 'here for new business' etc.

Regards,
Najeem M Illyas
TCMS LLC

Links:

• http://www.linkedin.com

posted June 28, 2008

Hi Liz, LinkedIn has been a great place for professional networking. It has really improved the way people look and the way they pursue.

Yours sincerely,
--
Ryan Govindan

posted June 28, 2008

Hello Liz, and the LinkedIn team at large,

Congratulation for getting new investments and thank you for coming up with and maintaining LinkedIn – it is simple, stable, usable, useful and dynamic.

Professionals have always had the need to reach out to their global counterparts and clients. In spite of the best of the efforts at the work environment the cultural divide almost always remains to a certain degree. This in turn makes it a little awkward to get involved into social-networking effectively among global workforces. In my opinion this is where LinkedIn comes in and scores. It adds a rather interesting element into networking – profession; and helps one “cross the chasm” of the cultural disparity, if you like. (I know more people from our Brazil development centre through LinkedIn than through other channels, including internal one's!)

It gives me an added confidence, for example, to have my client added as a contact on a networking site in addition to my Outlook list. Whilst I may not be able to do so easily on a Facebook, LinkedIn proves to be more useful with her.

And I can later “socially” ask her for a “positive” feedback or recommendation, which further contributes towards enhancing my appreciation in the “reputation economy”, and which I can even reciprocate. On LinkedIn this has two additional and rather unique dimensions: one, it directly adds value to my professional worth; and secondly, it helps in job-hunt and “employability”. I must say that I have met with a certain degree of success with these. (I am getting more and more invites from HR executive from India to join their network on LinkedIn - they are one of the most active user lot that I have seen.)

I am currently based out of India and at the moment the job-search function of LinkedIn is not as accurate or effective for India as one would like. I see a lot of potential once that functionality is properly developed. (The other day I was daydreaming about LinkedIn and Recrut.net getting merged and the kind of “network” it could create... You may already know that www.recruit.net has a tie-up with payscale.com)

This is not to discount the usefulness of the common networking features that are available. I have also used LinkedIn for things like: getting back in touch and finding someone after a decade, finding new and likeminded people and joining their groups, pinging a CTO or a dept head of an organisation that interested me, connecting with a pottery maker from my city on LinkedIn, tossing up my answers in Q&A among the experienced and the wise, and to advertise my blog...

Congratulations for the million, and keep up the good work.

Regards,
Milind

Links:

• http://pagehtdnim.blogspot.com/2008/02/future-of-business-000-enterprises.h...

posted June 29, 2008

Congratulations to LI for this achievement.
I came to LI, after my blogging experience. I have been engaged in tech blogging for about an year or so, and know the importance of Social Networking, specially on the online world.
This is drawn me to LI, where it helps me to network on a professional platform.
Although I am new to LI, but finding it really useful. It had helped me discover, a few of my old pal, one of them after 19 long years.
I love LI.

posted June 29, 2008

Hey Liz,

I will put it in plain words...LinkedIn has helped to "FLATTEN THE WORLD" and that too by creating/continuing professional relationship...defining "The world is Flat..by..Thomas friedman".

Second best thing would be "THE INNOVATION" and sharing of ideas...which will actually define the future business...

Based on my experience I can even write a book on "LinkedIn" now and probably name it "LinkedIn...HUMAN NETWORK...Solution to professional problems"...that's how it has helped me...:)

Regards
Siddarth

posted June 29, 2008

Hi Liz & the entire LinkedIn Team

LI has been one of the best tools for professional networking, sharing ideas, views & solutions to common issues, contributing to make an impact and so on..

I am fairly new user to LinkedIn. I have 800+ connections and 7.6M+ users in a couple of months.

Though I am in India, my Connections are fairly widely spread across in different geographies and just not limited to India. This would be very useful, when any business interests is spanning beyond the country specific limitations. This is more so relevant, when I deal with global funding, global business, trade and investments.

Q&A is the one main section, which gives views and perceptions from many of the LI users from different parts of the globe, with different back grounds and this gives out-of-the box answers to many questions.

In my opinion, LinkedIn really helps to have people having common professional / business interests connected, in credible ways and a reliable forum for networking.

Best regards,

Sundar K

posted June 29, 2008

Keeping in touch with my professional contacts around the world, that I have met at focused industry conferences on antispam / security. And with a few personal friends.

Trying hard to keep the lions, toplinked.com types and various others out of my network .. people who seem to view linkedin as a gigantic MLM or recruiting ground .. either that or holding "my # of contacts is bigger than yours" contests. Linkedin desperately needs a "no LIONs" filter.

The answers section is not bad - but there are other, more focused forums for that. The jobs section is interesting. And quite useful if you are looking.

posted June 29, 2008

Hi Liz,

I've been on LI for some time, and I'm beginning to like the quality of people I come across from India, the few contacts that I've made in the Private Equity and Venture Capital arena..are great!

In the War for Talent - LI goes beyond being a social network!

You guys are awesome!

Keep at it!
Jose

posted June 30, 2008