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Permalink Reply by Jerry Albright on June 20, 2008 at 1:16pm

Actually Ryan - I am not at all confused or in dire need of figuring any of this out. I'm not the one who brings this topic back from the grave so clearly I am not the only one on my side of the topic.

There is a GIANT difference between the reasons for joining RBC and LinkedIN. A huge difference really. RBC is about networking WITHIN the staffing industry. None of my RBC "friends" have anything to do with my client base. Zero.

Please send me a list of all your clients (just the ones who have actually paid fees in the past 24 months) and I'll reconsider my stance.

Smile! :)

I think we should let this thing die. Your assertion that since they are both "Social" networks they should be treated with the same approach is not going to change my opinion.

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Leary on June 20, 2008 at 2:30pm

I do not recruit recruiters, no. I am not saying that all networks are alike at all. There are clear differences between all networks, the uses of these networks and for sure the user base. My time at RBC is pent providing industry info, sharing tips and best practices etc. I try my best to connect everyone and I also share my networks across groups being that my contacts are open networkers. My work on LinkedIn consists of business contacts, industry contacts as well as recruiters. Now, I am not going to just hand off my clients and there numbers email and how many kids they have, but I always try to make that connection should the circumstance be credible and trustworthy. I am very meticulous in managing my network, communicating with my network and providing any info I can to them. I do not simply have a massive network for numbers. I actually work the network, make a living off of those in my network (candidates) and if I can’t help them I do my best to get them to someone who can. (relationship building) Which you will find in turn pay off ten fold. At least it has for me, and I have been extremely happy with the folks I’ve meet along the way and the relationships that have grown from all of this.

LinkedIn and RBC can be similar depending on how you build and use your network, but in general my use of these 2 specific sites is drastically different.

I hope this helps in explaining.

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Permalink Reply by Candace on June 20, 2008 at 4:11pm

I agree! I thought the whole POINT of LinkedIn was to only have contacts that you know (or at least work at the same company as you).

I'm still working on the guilty feeling I get when I decline an invitation from someone I've never met, talked to or had an email conversation with.

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Leary on June 20, 2008 at 4:21pm

I am rushing out of the office at this time, but I wanted to post a quick response and than I am truly finished with this string, as it should be taken offline if needed. Reading your response, a few things come to mind. First, in building relationships; Relationships with my clients that I’ve built over years with my clients are far different than those relationships I’ve built virtually. They have different meaning, a different cause and require a different yet genuine approach. I would hope that at this point in our careers, a definition and understanding of the difference is not needed. Simply put they different.

Concerning the statements you are referring too, if you have taken the time to read the entire string, have looked into my work, you would understand that these comments are not contradictory and really are the basis for the disconnect in the original question to the string.

First, lets look at the entire passage, not just two lines that you chose to highlight.

The two comments you are questioning:

I try my best to connect everyone and I also share my networks across groups being that my contacts are open networkers>>

but I always try to make that connection should the circumstance be credible and trustworthy>>

The entire passage:

I try my best to connect everyone and I also share my networks across groups being that my contacts are open networkers. My work on LinkedIn consists of business contacts, industry contacts as well as recruiters. Now, I am not going to just hand off my clients and there numbers email and how many kids they have, but I always try to make that connection should the circumstance be credible and trustworthy. I am very meticulous in managing my network, communicating with my network and providing any info I can to them.

Explanation for your clarity:

1. You’re right, I do try my best to connect everyone who shares the same interest, thoughts etc. and YES I do share my network across my groups because IF you are a member of anyone of my groups on any of the social networks, you are an OPEN NETWORKER, and you upfront AGREE to be open to ALL invitations and are agreeing to for the better of the community you are participating in to SHARE your information in efforts to create a better and more educated group within our industry.
2. Now, prior to you dissecting the comment above and choosing the second quote, on my LINKEDIN (Professional Business Networking) I will ALWAYS be sure to the best of my ability make certain the source is reliable and the reason behind the intro in genuine. I never said I automatically connect people just for the sake of connecting. The connection and I have to have some type of connection, communication, a dialogue or something.
3. I never said that relationships are built through working a network. You have to understand the difference between “online networking and relationship building” and “in-person” business relationships. These are two totally different concepts and cannot and should not be mistaken.
4. Here is a best practice I follow weekly, without fail. I make direct contact with no less than 10 new people weekly that I have NEVER spoken with before in my LI network. I verbally speak with them, exchange a quick thought or two, and simply open a dialogue. I have successfully directly contact over 1280 people to date verbally through my network. In fact, 43 are international connections and 11 (domestically) and 1 (international relo) eventually became a placements for me out of shear trust and openness to our virtual relationship. It’s real, It’s here and the longer you avoid the quicker you will fall behind the curve, eventually becoming like this darn Dell I am typing on.  - Obsolete.

I am not quite sure what you are trying to accomplish here, but what I can say is that if you take away all of the fluff and text book sayings on how to build relationships over time, what one does etc., and really take moment to understand the true meaning of “social networking”…”web 2.0” and all of the other technologies that we work with, this conversation would not be happening. It’s a new world, it’s virtual and personal, it’s how you place yourself and how effective you can be at marrying the 2 schools of thought to create a happy medium.

There is no right or wrong way here, but there is ignorance and uneducated approaches.

Thanks for the thought provoking conversation, but I leaving for the day! I am always open to talk offline! 

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Leary on June 20, 2008 at 4:24pm

Candace,

You could not be more wrong. Research linkedIn and it's founders and you will get a great explanation. LI can be whatever you want it to be. I am assuming you are a recruiter since you are on here, and if that is the case, and you are only connecting to work friends, you are missing a great tool in your belt to recruit.

Contact me offline and maybe I can help out. I spend a lot of time in strategic sourcing, training teams etc.

Ryan

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Permalink Reply by Keith D. Halperin on February 20, 2014 at 2:53pm

In the last few years, except for the ongoing process of LI ******* over recruiters, what has changed re: this matter?

-kh

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