Cynthia Ware has an interesting perspective on whether LinkedIn or FaceBook is better and Rich has some thoughts on social networking, as well.… » [more]

Dear Kara,

So, about the people who are “similar to me?” How does Jobster know this? Are there Jobster agents stalking me night and day, cataloging my habits, observing my style, noting my table-manners? Or is it simpler than that?

Does God tell you who’s like me and who’s not?

Or is my tag showing?

And if it’s my tag, which tag? I have so many, I can’t keep track. Is my superstar tag super-charged? Does my tag order ordain my inner circle? Should I organize them — say, keep my naughty tags away from my nice tags? Or is it safe to let them mingle indiscriminately?

I wish I had a set of “people I like” tags, or something. Wouldn’t that be cool?

Because, what if girls who ride Harleys and get greasy with engine gunk really aren’t all that similar to CEOs sacrificing bunnies on the altar of corporate progress — even though they both share a tag reading “hands-on worker?”

In curious regard,

Rich

Yes. These are the things that keep me up at night. I should get a job.

Rich
BlogRodent

@Dan,

Yeah, it’s pricey for me, about $20 a month for the most basic level of access, but that buys me several “introductions” a month if I want to contact somebody outside of my network. So, it’s worth it. After I get a job, I doubt it will continue to be worth it. But, so far, this is the only professional/social networking site I’d even consider paying for.

I’ve looked at Ryze, Hi5, Jobster (tied in to the FaceBook API), YorZ, InterCristo, Tribe, Konnects, BrightRays, and others, but none of them really seem to have either the features or the widespread use like LinkedIN does. And none of them have generated click-throughs to my site like LinkedIN has.

Over the last four months I’ve gotten 31 visitors from LinkedIN, compared to 20 from FaceBook, and 2 from Jobster (and that profile was created only in the last week). There were zero hits from any of the other social networking sites, period. None.

And the only site that has generated anything like an interview was LinkedIN, where I was able to connect with four or five different folks before getting interviews lined up.

Nevertheless, I don’t rely on these networks for getting face-time. It doesn’t work that way. Instead, I use them to connect with people that are working for the company I’m applying for or already have an “in” at. And that’s been useful.

If I weren’t job hunting, it probably wouldn’t be worth the $20 a month.

Rich
BlogRodent

I found LinkedIn’s costs too steep for a paid membership. I can only write off so many business expenses before it stops bringing returns.