How do you balance privacy with the need to show enough information to have a profile that works? Do you allow your connections to see your contacts? If not, why have you chosen not to?
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About Sean NelsonSean has been a Keynote speaker at Norvax University, conducts social media workshops and webinars, and has released three books on LinkedIn and written several social media guides.
Sean currently runs Social Media Sonar, which in addition to providing free resources, manages social media strategies and tactics for companies. He is also a partner in Surge Labs, a conversion rate optimization company, helping companies improve conversions and profitability through scientific testing of Landing Pages, Websites, Email communications, and Shopping Carts.
I was told it was a good idea to not let people see your contacts because if you’re in a job search and a hiring manager or recruiter contacts them to get dirt on you, it could be harmful becase you never know what people will say. Also, I’m currently using my LinkedIn contacts to find a job. I don’t need my compettion trying to get a connection through me to do the same thing. Competition is fierce enough. Once I start working again, I’ll allow people to view my contacts. Until then, its Linkedout!
Jeff,
Thanks for the comment and good luck in the Job Search. If I were in the job search I would not worry too much about what my contacts might say about me. The ones I know I only connect because we have a good relationship. Also if the hiring company is serious about using LinkedIn in the Job Search, they are likely going to do a reference search (available to only paying members. With this search they search the companies listed on your resume and it brings up everyone that lists that company in their profile. then they pick the phone up and contact them. Showing or not showing your contact will not affect that.
Second, even though you don’t show your contacts, when one of your contacts is included in search results, it will show that they are connected to you when it shows how the searcher and each person in the search results are connected.
Third, I always try to help my connections by there is a difference in how far I will go between those who show their connection and those who don’t. My perspective is those that are not allowing me to see their connections are short changing me in the value they provide to my network.
Finally, as people’s networks grow and they connect to others with large networks, it’s less efficient to look through each of your connection’s contacts. It’s easier to conduct a search for a specific target and then see how you are connected. (doing this allows you to see if you are connected to the people in the search results).
In the end whether you show or don’t show your connections is your prerogative. It just may not be as effective as you hoped and could have other unintended consequences.