Of all the social networks, I believe LinkedIn the most. This is important. If I believe what people actually write on there, then I give it much more importance.
People put their true, professional lives on LinkedIn, and it’s the best way to keep tabs on what is going on in their professional lives. Depending on what they fill out, LinkedIn tells you what they do, where they do it, and how long they’ve done it. And that’s just the information they put on the professional part of the site.
When I’m on LinkedIn, it becomes more than a social network. I call it The Game. I have to win The Game. I have to be the most interesting, the most relevant, the most professional. The rules of The Game are like any other social network: you communicate and connect with other people. The difference is that when you play The Game, your professional reputation is on the line. You can do everything from simple social connections to landing the job of a lifetime.
It’s entirely like being James Bond. You put on your pretty, professional suit, you put all of your awkwardness behind you and you act as cool as possible to get information about other people. You’re a spy, but you’re right out in the open, and you look good while doing it. That’s why it’s The Game. All the cards are on the table, and everyone is trying to get a piece of the pot without anyone else knowing.
Thankfully, for all the fervor and passion I put into playing The Game, I lose interest very quickly. It’s just not what I am particularly interested in or good at.
Still, there’s nothing like going onto LinkedIn and learning about the people around you. You won’t find better information anywhere else, and if you can do it discretely and put it to good use, maybe you can win The Game.