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I’m Over Being Solicited!!
I’m an active user of LI. I have about 2K connections in my network. I’m in the beauty industry and definitely see the benefit of connecting and having a wide circle. You never know who knows who, or where your next opportunity is. I actually got my last job on Linked In. I work for Wella and I also have my own beauty business as a makeup artist/hairstylist/wardrobe consultant and/On Air Beauty Expert.
My issue is I am constantly being solicited by connections for “opportunities” such as deals on hair extensions, wigs, makeup brushes, makeup or skincare.
I don’t want to stop connecting with people, but I’m also tired of being solicited. This has been going on for the last few years. Only once has someone contacted me with an actual opportunity for me to make money, as opposed to them trying to make money off of me. The simple answer is to ignore people, however, I always think that may be someone who knows someone and later on it will come back.
What thoughts do you have on trying to stop these requests/connections short of putting a “NO SOLICITING” banner around my profile picture!
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank you.
Anonymous
07/25/20 at 7:41PM UTC
Thanks everyone for your great advice. Your willingness to dive in and help with this LinkedIn issue brought up something in me that's been stewing for quite a while. I've become somewhat emotional about it and so I apologize in advance if what I'm about to say rubs any of you amazing, helpful, generous, and kind people the wrong way. That's not my intention. But after reading the fantastic suggestions above, I thought this:
LinkedIn stockholders and executives must be laughing all the way to the bank. Their website no longer accomplishes the basic task it was created to do - connect jobseekers with employers - and yet they have managed to manipulate users into taking responsibility for solving all of their problems for them! Pure genius. Not only does LinkedIn allow users to be victimized by solicitors, fake recruiters, expired job postings, scammers, and ID thieves, but it has become totally USELESS for jobseekers, even when we buy a premium account. Why do we take responsibility for figuring out all these workarounds to solve LinkedIn's problems? Why do we spend hours and hours managing our accounts and building profiles and writing posts and trying to network with ghosts? LinkedIn is worth $26 BILLION dollars but it's as if we have all unwittingly agreed to work for them for FREE. Aren't we in fact the reason why the company is worth so much money - we 706 MILLION users have become their unpaid interns, frantically posting content and driving traffic to their site regardless of whether or not we get anything in return?
Because LinkedIn has become the industry standard, jobseekers have no choice but to use it even though it doesn't work any more. It's soul crushing to be unemployed in the first place, but having to participate in LinkedIn when you know it's a waste of time is like being a desperate animal caught in a steel trap: the only way out is to gnaw your own leg off so you stay put and suffer. There has to be a better way. Isn't it time that we 706 million call BS, demand real results, or redefine the industry standard somewhere else?
Thank you for reading.
Elizabeth Stiles WestEnglish teacher, debate coach, and exam proctor
1.79k
07/31/20 at 5:57PM UTC
You practically read my mind regarding how I am feeling about LinkedIn right now. When it was new, it was a genuinely helpful site that helped me to secure some adjunct teaching jobs. Now much of it seems to be people selling gimmicky books, creepy men trying to find a date, and recommended jobs that are not even distantly related to one's career field. It also seems to have a generically male-dominated "vibe." So we've stated the problem. I am not anywhere close to being tech-savvy enough to start my own business networking website, but some of you on FairyGodBoss are. We need an innovative entrepreneur, preferably a woman, to create a site that successfully does what Linked In only claims to do. The site would need vigilant moderators/administrators to immediately ban those who are trying to use the site for anything other than the intended purpose, as well as fine-tuning the algorithms so that job recommendations are matched more closely with the applicant's skills and experience.
Amy GeffenPlan your job search, overcome your fears.
646
07/24/20 at 6:43PM UTC
You can block people by name on LinkedIn. I know becausecI have done it.
Marissa MacayanProject Manager | Employee Engagement
51
07/24/20 at 5:54PM UTC
Whatever move you choose to make, it's more about the energy exchange. If it wears on you to engage, don't. If it wears on you to not respond, then respond with something short and sweet. Claim your energy back from this.
Anonymous
07/24/20 at 4:54PM UTC
Loved your article. I have had many connection requests from random lonely hearts. I had a recruiter tell me I only had 167 connections and I should get more but I said I only want connections with people I know or have met. If I wanted a dating site I'd be on Tinder not LI!
Crystal Rhinebergerprofessional rofl nevermind lets just wing it
2.29k
07/24/20 at 2:17PM UTC
In a way this over soliciting is rude and unprofessional. It clogs up mental time for you leaving you to ponder what if .
Could you have a disclaimer such as “I would love to hear your product pitches in the future- along the lines of I will reach out to you for them?”
Unsubscribing is a good idea as well.
When I worked in clothing I would shop a few other places and I would rudely get asked if I liked my job and would I like to work for such place. My standard was a snall chuckle “I’m flattered, we have such a great team where I’m at. Thank you for the opportunity its not the right time”
This world has gotten very bold in approaching people making you feel like you stepped into a booby trap
Mindy GreenOn Air Beauty Expert, MUA, Hair Stylist
441
07/24/20 at 5:33PM UTC
Thank you for that. You’re the second person to suggest unsubscribing. I’ll have to check my settings to see how to stop connection requests,
Amy GeffenPlan your job search, overcome your fears.
646
07/24/20 at 1:48PM UTC
Just unsubcribe. Dont waste your time answering. I am bombarded and just click unsubscribe.
Mindy GreenOn Air Beauty Expert, MUA, Hair Stylist
441
07/24/20 at 5:31PM UTC
Oh, you can unsubscribe to connections on LI?
Chrishogg
647
07/24/20 at 12:39PM UTC
Would something like this work for you?
Only accept LI connection requests if they are made with a personalized note. Every time you see the standard LI invite, simply ignore it or delete it.
If you connect with someone and they immediately solicit you, either 1) ignore it or 2) disconnect.
I’m not you, but is it possible you’re spending way too much time and energy fretting over this?
Mindy GreenOn Air Beauty Expert, MUA, Hair Stylist
441
07/24/20 at 5:30PM UTC
You may be right, I could be spending too much thinking about it. I see it as a professional courtesy to respond on LI, even if I’m not interested. I subscribe to the thought of you never know who your boss could be, or who you have to ask for a job. But they could still be crappy to me for saying no.
Chrishogg
647
07/24/20 at 6:34PM UTC
A professional courtesy starts with the person contacting you, and that means a personalized note with the invitation. And I really doubt your next boss or your next job lead is going to be sending you these types of connect requests and immediately trying to sell you something if you do respond. So yes, you're spending too much time thinking about it. You've probably got more important things to do than worrying over cold callers at best and spammers at worst.
Anonymous
07/23/20 at 4:35PM UTC
I am right there with you. I have been including in my intro to them my info, what I do and that I am not in the market to purchase. I never hear from them again.
It is what is taught, everyone is told to do this. Connect with like minded individuals and send them your offer. And all of them are a repeat of someone else with a different spin.
Beginning next week, one day a week I am reaching out with a request to share work, otherwise my list is shrinking. I am developing resources, I connect with others because I have people ask me about services and recommendations, so it is great to have those available so I can refer. :)
I had one person send me his initial offer free, I read it, took two minutes, all same info I already know. Catch? upgrade to the next step, then upgrade after that and again. I sent him a note and said thank you, but that is info I learned a long time ago, not upgrading to get more info I already use and know. His reply ended our conversation, "Well, since you know it all...." I got no further. Not replying again. Realized if he has the same info I have, he cannot teach me anything except to upgrade my experience and move beyond.
Blessings.
KelliHelps senior-level women make career changes
1.46k
07/23/20 at 2:22PM UTC
Ugghhh, Mindy! I can't agree more. As a business owner and a former Director of Sales I LOVE LinkedIn but hate when people connect and immediately try to sell me. Honestly, that's not good sales practice at all and completely turns me off. No real advice here from me but I've been thinking the same thing lately. That's why I spend a lot of time on FGB. I feel like it's a place to make genuine connections and get advice without selling.
Alexis GladstoneHelping You Excel as a Leader
1.46k
07/23/20 at 12:58PM UTC
I'm not sure what the answer is but I'm with you Mindy. I can't stand it when people reach out and then try and sell something. I think it's happening more and more lately.
I actually have a rule for who I accept as a connection. First, if they send me a personalized note I will usually accept, unless I feel that it's obvious they didn't read my profile. (Like the person who said we had so many mutual connections, and there were only 3!) Or if I see they are connected to people I know and trust. Finally if they solicit as soon as I connect, I usually delete them.
I know all of this takes time, but I really want to have meaningful connections, not just numbers.
Mindy GreenOn Air Beauty Expert, MUA, Hair Stylist
441
07/23/20 at 1:24PM UTC
I think you are right. I need to be more selective with who I connect with. If they appear to be a manufacturer, not a professional, I should probably pass.
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