I’ve recently received several direct messages through LinkedIn from recruiters who are open LIONs that have gotten in the house some how. Luckily, they have to get my permission before entering my “house”, so I can just as easily decline their self-invitation to try to join my network. Obviously its nice to know recruiters at the right time, but letting them in on my network degrades the quality of my network.

For everyone, LinkedIn is used differently. Some use it as a “look who I know” tool, others use it as a potential new business tool, and I use it as a “my network=my resources” tool. I only add people to my network that I talk to on a regular or semi-regular basis. My network is also only comprised of people whom I’d personally recommend for a project or job, and people who are in different categories in my field and similar fields. No one way is right, or wrong necessarily, but just about personal choice. Because my network is, in my opinion, of great quality, I’m very wary of who I add to my network and I’m very conscious of who I let into my network because once you’re in my network, you can see who’s in mine. Maybe I’m just too nice, but I try to protect my network and keep it more on the private side.

Most likely, the way these recruiters have found me is by getting accepted into one network which I’m in and they have scoured the network from there contacting everyone, including me, to ask to be let into my network. The only time I accept is if it’s someone I already know and that we’re connecting on LinkedIn for the first time. Sorry LIONs, no free steaks here.