LinkedIn social hack

Aug23

LinkedIn social hack

Business

Would you like to contact people listed on business networking site LinkedIn without a paid account or even an approval? I have received a few calls from recruiters lately using LinkedIn as a prospecting service but paying anything for the service.

How? They simply look at my current company and search the web for corporate contact information. A quick call to a receptionist at a small company like Technorati and the recruiter asks to speak with me. It's not too difficult, and the recruiter just avoided the LinkedIn InMail cost of about $5 an e-mail.

The practice seems to threaten LinkedIn's business plan as recruiters I have spoken to seem very aware of the service hack.

Tags: jobs, linkedin

Posted on August 23, 2005 at 4:24PM
Updated at 4:28PM
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Comments [4]
By Niall Kennedy, a web technologist from
San Francisco, California, United States

4 Comments

Commentary on "LinkedIn social hack":

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Jackson West on August 23, 2005 at 11:56 PM wrote: #

It's funny, I had a similar thing happen to me on a dating site...the more personal information they provide, the easier it is to contact you.
austin on August 29, 2005 at 10:02 AM wrote: #

Amazing that the recruiter could 'remember' where they got your information. These guys are never honest about where the dig up contact information.
Jim Stroud on August 29, 2005 at 7:11 PM wrote: #

I have no problem paying for a service that I receive value from, my biggest gripe is what some people do with that service. Check out Why Social Networks Donâ€™t Work!
jdragon on October 9, 2005 at 11:53 PM wrote: #

The exact thing happened to me recently. I really dislike these recruiters. You know they'll make $10-$25k on referral bonus if they place you and you stay there for more than 6 months.