LinkedIn Groups: Do you use them? Thoughts & Comments?

Continuing to ask questions about careers and career transitions; anyone here use the Groups feature of LinkedIn much?  For those that do, what are tricks or tips on making the most use of your time & energy there?  Any secrets in finding the most useful group for a focus or topic?  

I've been a member of a number of LinkedIn groups but never found them to be of much use.  Frankly they didn't seem that interesting or useful.  Have I been missing out on a good thing or have I not really missed out on much?  Purpose would be to ask questions of a different industry than the one I work in now but with some common technical elements (so I shouldn't be completely out of my depth).  Goal is to make some contacts and learn about jobs & who is doing what, basically.

Thanks!

In about 24 hours this got no responses.  I'll make the assumption that people here are generally not using LinkedIn Groups for anything really.

Not really. I'm a member of a few groups having to do with the software I converted two different companies to use. 

Other than that, most of the time it's recruiters messaging asking me if I'd be interested in a job I'm vastly overqualified for. I really should be more active on there, "build me brand" or whatever.

I use LinkedIn here and there but mostly for lead generation, assuring prospects that indeed I am real, and some interaction with our end users. If you're looking for some insight into a particular industry it's useful to get an introduction to someone who works in that particular sector. Typically I find that method to work the best.

The only group I really follow is Sandler Training because they have some useful resources.

I am a member of a few groups, but have never posted anything to any of them. I generally do not find them useful since I do not use them, but that is not to say they are not useful. I just don't know since I don't use them.

I occasionally use LinkedIn to talk with old friends that I don't stay in routine contact with. Other than that it is just a place for recruiters to reach out and try to offer me jobs. I only hope, that when the time comes when I am looking for a new job, it can help me find something.

I was invited by a friend so I joined.  Got all kinds of spam and fishermen, job offers totally unrelated to my experience-training.  YMMV.

I'm on LinkedIn but just didn't have the bandwidth to keep with the groups. 

David S. Wallens said:

I'm on LinkedIn but just didn't have the bandwidth to keep with the groups. 

Unfortunately, they seem to be making it more and more like other social media.

I don't get LinkedIn, does anyone except LinkedIn think LinkedIn has any relevance today at all?  It seems to just be another spam generation device to me.

I joined back when the economy was going down the toilet fast in 06 (Michigan remember, poo poo hit the blades a few years prior to the rest of the world here).  Back then it seemed to have some actual use for professional networking, keeping up with people and help in finding jobs.  Today it seems outdated.  Has anyone found an actual genuine use for it in the last few years?  

In reply to Adrian_Thompson :

It's a bit more focused than other social media which helps when you're trying to do some general networking or attempting to get an introduction. Other than that, not really. 

I think Microsoft bought them just to say that they're in the social networking game.

Those that have something to sell find LinkedIn groups very useful. They don't have to search for their targets you've done the work for them.

 I seem to be getting less emails about job openings, and many more emails with people trying to sell me IT services.

This was about LinkedIn Groups specifically.  The job I have now, and the job I had before this one, were definitely made possible by LinkedIn and being able to get in contact with / be contacted by people.  

The promise of the Groups, to me, was that it would be like a sound board or area to share information with people that share a similar interest.  I just don't... see it as being that great, and it seems like what I've been seeing is mirrored by others here.  And agreed on the idea that it's really just opening yourself up to being targeted by people trying to sell something in some form.

Do folks have a preferred method for online contact of people in industries that they aren't currently in but are interested in?  I've wondered about Reddit groups for this sort of thing but not sure how useful that is either.  It's hard when you live in an area that doesn't really offer the kind of work you are interested in (and you don't really want to live where you're currently at, either).

Adrian_Thompson said:

I don't get LinkedIn, does anyone except LinkedIn think LinkedIn has any relevance today at all?  It seems to just be another spam generation device to me.

I joined back when the economy was going down the toilet fast in 06 (Michigan remember, poo poo hit the blades a few years prior to the rest of the world here).  Back then it seemed to have some actual use for professional networking, keeping up with people and help in finding jobs.  Today it seems outdated.  Has anyone found an actual genuine use for it in the last few years?  

I've gotten multiple interviews and my current job from it. 

Of course it wasn't a recruiter, my boss found me through a connection that already worked with the company. And this is by far the best job I've ever had.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson :

I use LinkedIn for a "social media" connection to co-workers and bosses, as a way to stay connected with professional contacts.  Co-workers, bosses & customers do not get added on Facebook.  It does work for me - the last job I got hired for (July '17) used it as a way to verify some of my experience and references.

That being said, I don't use the groups much.

Anybody know how to show up on recruiters lists for people looking for work in a certain area? 

Like, how can I get noticed by employers in Asheville or Chattanooga? 

In reply to pheller :

Jobs Tab > Career Interests > Add Location