LinkedIn Conundrums

LinkedIn Conundrums There Are Few Absolutes Every individual on LinkedIn has a different interpretation of how they want to use the tool. I hope you have goals for how you plan to use LinkedIn both as a job seeker and as someone who is truly managing their career. (FYI: LinkedIn is not just for finding a jobit is for building relationships while you are employed!) Keep in mind standard business etiquette- be polite, considerate and respectful of differing opinions and views. Here are some of the sticky-wicket questions commonly posed. Thanks for the Endorsement (or not) LinkedIn’s new Endorsements is promoted as a way to give kudos with one click. Yet, if it is so simple to give, do you really need to respond with a thank you? Old fashioned etiquette would say, yes, thank someone. However, that takes time and effort; more time and effort than it took the person to endorse you. Several clicks later, you can and probably should thank someone in a message through LinkedIn. If you chose to return the favor and endorse them, that is another option and decision you can make. If you do decide to send a thank you, know that it will probably be one of very few the recipient receives. This might be the very reason you decide to take the time to do it! Someone wrote a recommendation for me. Do I need to return the favor? Often people use the give to get principle to entice someone to write a return recommendation. Does this mean you must accept and post their endorsement as well as write one for them too? If you did not ask for their recommendation, it is up to you to decide how and if you want to make it visible on your profile. Also note that if there are typos or if the message isnt quite to your liking, you can ask for the author to modify what theyve written. If you feel comfortable and confident enough to write a recommendation of their work, then you could return the favor. However, you are not obligated to do so. In either case, you should thank the individual for their recommendation. I dont remember (or know) the person who has endorsed me. What should I do? Have you ever received a request to connect on LinkedIn from someone you didnt know or cant remember? If you are open to new connections, then most likely you will accept the request to connect. If you prefer to connect only with people you know, then your choice is a bit more difficult. Maybe you did meet this person and they havent reminded you. You could chose to send a message to them and ask for a reminder of how you have met or how each other. Or you could simply ignore their request. If you do chose to ignore the request, also think about the potential opportunities you may miss out on or the additional relationships you may not forge. Interactive or static? Should LinkedIn be a network where you exchange ideas or just a place to post your experience? Perhaps this isnt a question you have thought about. Now would be a good time to think about what you want to get out of using LinkedIn. What are your goals for using it? If youre employed, have you considered how you can use it to improve your job performance, keep current with industry trends, or build new partnerships? If youre unemployed, are you only using LinkedIn to search for jobs? In either case, consider how you can get more from using the site. Think about how it can add value to your career. Challenge your beliefs and think about new ways of learning, connecting, and building relationships. This post originally appeared on US News World Report