BusinessWeek: LinkedIn and Reid Hoffman
BusinessWeek did a profile on LinkedIn's Co-founder, Chairman and President of Products Reid Hoffman. Senior Writer, Stephen Baker describes the business trajectory both of Reid and LinkedIn over the past years. The piece takes a unique look at why professionals need LinkedIn and why you should manage your personal career as if you are a small business.
As industries struggle, he says more workers shed the illusion that they're safe and protected inside companies. They face what Hoffman calls the reality of the modern career: "Essentially," he says, "every individual is a small business." He predicts that workers increasingly will be networking outside their companies, looking for the right leads or morsels of knowledge—and for this, millions of them will turn to LinkedIn.
The piece is live on the net now, but it will also be in the November 17th hard copy issue.
LinkedIn Tips for the knowledge worker:
1. Connect with your "real-world" connections on LinkedIn
- Use webmail import to see, in seconds, all the people you know who are already on LinkedIn. You can then select who you wish to invite to join your trusted network.
- Upload a contacts file from Outlook, Palm, ACT!, or Mac Address
- View our list of your colleagues and classmates that are already on LinkedIn.
2. Tap into knowledge markets like LinkedIn Answers
LinkedIn Answers is one of the best places on the web to share business knowledge:
- Ask your question and get fast, accurate answers from your network and other experts worldwide
- Showcase your knowledge, expertise, and interests by answering questions
- Stay up on the latest in your industry and functional area