by Brad Hilderbrand

Created on: December 06, 2007   Last Updated: November 26, 2011

As a young professional eager to "climb the ladder" and seek out the best opportunities for a rewarding career, LinkedIn seemed like a sure ticket to making the right connections and quickly rising to the top of the heap. My optimism has been sorely misplaced however, as LinkedIn has proved to be little more than an even less useful version of Facebook (and that, in itself, is saying something).

The allure of LinkedIn is the concept of being able to build an expansive network by relying on individuals you already know. Of course, we are all taught that networking is the key to success, so surely a tool which allows you to quickly and easily seek out old friends and meet new colleagues, all while stuffing them into a virtual Rolodex, would be useful, wouldn't it? The answer is an unequivocal "no," as LinkedIn only really serves to help the well-connected and highly-respected members of the corporate world. In other words, it caters to the very people who don't need it.

LinkedIn's fundamental flaw lies in the fact that you have to use the people you do know to connect to the people you don't. While this system would work in a typical office environment, it is highly ineffective on the Internet. Sure, my boss can introduce me to her boss at the office, and we can strike up a conversation that leads to the exchange of business cards, but that dynamic simply doesn't exist in LinkedIn's virtual office. I cannot very well start connecting to senior members of my organization on a whim and expect to develop any meaningful relationship. They may accept my request out of courtesy, but no true relationship will come of it. This problem is double when you are trying to connect to people outside your own company. Why should a third degree connection who works halfway across the country give me the time of day? We've never met, and likely never will. So ultimately, I'm stuck with links only to those I already know, and that does little to advance my career.

Another significant issue is the fact that LinkedIn makes you a traitor to your own organization. As I have already mentioned, the only way to get started is to connect to people you know, most likely your current co-workers and boss. However, we all know that most people using LinkedIn are (not so) covertly trying to land a new job, and the fact that you are open to receiving "career opportunities" broadcasts to the world that you are unhappy in your current position and just waiting for something better to come along. Obviously, this isn't going to sit well with anyone working above you, so there is potential to find yourself frozen out of future promotions and opportunities because you've given the message that you aren't a "team player" and are only in it for yourself.

While members of my generation are very adept at using Facebook applications and sorting through our MySpace friends to crown the "top eight," I expect many shrewd millenniums to shy away from LinkedIn. A professional social networking site that provides no professional opportunities is not something I need to waste my time on.

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