What do you DISLIKE about LinkedIn? (job hunting, credit, interview, employer)

[stuperprohero]

I paid $25 to send a measely 3 Inmails per month. I thought that was high considering only 3 messages.
When I finally go to send someone a thank you for a fantastic interview message with some key highlights I find out when I hit the send button that there is a mere 2000 CHARACTER LIMIT!!
Maybe I'm missing the point but I think for a paid service you should have a much higher limit than 2000 characters to get your point across. Oh lets make them use up 2 messages so they upgrade!
Although I didn't want to come across as a pest so I had to drastically streamline my message to one.

Your turn, what do you dislike about LinkedIn?

[manderly6]

What exactly do you pay for? I use it for free.

[stuperprohero]

You can't send anyone a message with the free personal account. Can recieve but not send. The messages you get with an upgraded account are limited to 2000 characters. Which it says nowhere here in the listing about character limits, only message quantity.

Personal Account - Free

1. 5 Introductions open at a time.
2. Can receive unlimited InMail messages.
3. 3 Saved Searches with weekly alerts.
4. Can view 100 results per search before upgrade is needed.

Business Account - US$24.95/month or get two months free and pay US$249.50/year

1. Can send 3 InMails per month, with a seven-day response guarantee.
2. Unused InMail credits roll over each month, up to a maximum of nine.
3. 5 Saved Searches with weekly alerts.
4. 15 Introductions open at a time.
5. Can view 300 results per search before upgrade is needed.
6. Save and organize Profiles with Profile Organizer and 5 folders.
7. Allow anyone to reach out to you by joining the OpenLink Network.
8. Send unlimited messages to anyone in the OpenLink Network.
9. Unlimited reference searches allow you to find coworkers of a candidate.
10. 1 business day customer service.
11. Access to additional search refinements.

Business Plus - US$49.95/month or get two months free and pay US$499.50/year

1. Can send 10 InMails per month, with a seven-day response guarantee.
2. Unused InMail credits roll over each month, up to a maximum of 30.
3. 7 Saved Searches with weekly alerts.
4. 25 Introductions open at a time.
5. Can view 500 results per search before upgrade is needed.
6. Save and organize Profiles with Profile Organizer and 25 folders.
7. Allow anyone to reach out to you by joining the OpenLink Network.
8. Send unlimited messages to anyone in the OpenLink Network.
9. Unlimited reference searches allow you to find coworkers of a candidate.
10. 1 business day customer service.
11. Access to additional search refinements.

Pro - US$499.95/month or get two months free and pay US$4999.50/year

1. Can send 50 InMails per month, with a seven-day response guarantee.
2. Unused InMail credits roll over each month, up to a maximum of 150.
3. 10 Saved Searches with daily alerts.
4. 40 Introductions open at a time.
5. Can view 700 results per search.
6. Save and organize Profiles with Profile Organizer and 25 folders.
7. Allow anyone to reach out to you by joining the OpenLink Network.
8. Send unlimited messages to anyone in the OpenLink Network.
9. Unlimited reference searches allow you to find coworkers of a candidate.
10. 1 business day customer service.
11. Access to additional search refinements.

[manderly6]

Ah. I only use it to stay connected with people I know.

[kodaka]

You are the only person I've heard of that paid for the premium version. Did you not see that you were limited to three when you paid, or did you not consider how many messages you would want to send in a month? Are you not aware that you can send email with the free version?

Although paid or not, I wouldn't use LinkedIn to send a thank you. Likely the employer will want all of the communications with an applicant in one location--their email box. Sending via LinkedIn means your thank you is in a different spot. And they likely won't even know about your email right away, since LinkedIn sends a notification of the message to the account the user signed up with, and most people use their personal email address.

I suppose for me the frustration is the '6 people have looked at your profile in the last 30 days'--but doesn't give me their names. But this isn't really a big deal. I think you just need to recognize LinkedIn for what it is. It has value. It puts your name out there, helps you maintain connections with professional peers, helps you find other people that may be useful or helpful to you. It isn't meant to replace person-to-person networking or job hunting or your resume or email.

[stuperprohero]

Did you not see that you were limited to three when you paid, or did you not consider how many messages you would want to send in a month?

Yes I did consider this and was well aware it was only 3. It's not the quantity of messages that bothers me. My complaint is each message is limited to 2000 characters which is not disclosed until you click send on a message AFTER you've paid to upgrade the account.

Are you not aware that you can send email with the free version?

I wasn't aware of that. Go find a total stranger outside of your network and click on *send an Inmail* and see if it takes you to an upgrade account page. Maybe you can message people in your network of friends but not a total stranger without an upgrade. Unless I'm missing something. After all I am new to LinkedIn. The idea behind this thread is to educate, even if it takes ranting. Lol

I wouldn't use LinkedIn to send a thank you

I do understand your point however it seems to be the only avenue I have to contact the hiring manager. I thought it to be asking too much or too awkward to ask the hiring manager for their email after the interview. Some are reluctant due to ticked off declined candidates spamming their professional work address.

It isn't meant to replace person-to-person networking or job hunting or your resume or email.

This is a good point as well. It took a lot of soul searching to even send a thank you through LinkedIn. I would have much rather used the *preferred* means.

I apologize if I come across as ranting. My intentions are to find out what others dislike about the site so we may educate ourselves. I know there have been times I read all these great articles and capabilities for a particular software and bought it only to find out it was chocked full of issues. It wasn't until I hit the message boards that I realized how I just wasted valuable time and money.

[kodaka]

Yes, if I click on 'InMail' it directs me to pay for an account. So instead I just click on 'send a message'.

[milnivlek]

The paid functions are geared towards recruiters and hiring managers. I've never heard (till now!) of a job hunter paying to use LinkedIn.

[annerk]

In all honesty, 2000 characters is a LOT of words for a thank you note. That's about 300 words/15-20 sentences (including spaces). You shouldn't need more than that.

[jhtrico1850]

I had it once, but I think it's kind of overhyped... I don't think you should contact someone unless you have their email.