I looked up a future colleague on LinkedIn before I started a job. I told my colleague about it and he seemed surprised. Should I apologize? The 2019 Stack Overflow Developer Survey Results Are InDoes the average candidate have any recourse when they encounter an unethical recruiter?Mistakenly received confidential e-mail detailing unethical behaviorBoss didn't give me a w-4 to fill out before I started working and now I can't get paidHow much information about my job should I reveal on my LinkedIn profile?Manager reveals private information about other employees offhandedly: best way to approach?Is it ethical to share what questions I was asked in a technical interview to someone applying for the same position 10 months later?What to do about unethical or possibly illegal behavior at work?Need insight- recruiter reporting to employer that employee resume is in circulationBeing indecisive to report the immediate manager to HR manager before leaving the companyOwner of company practicing unethical behavior
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I looked up a future colleague on LinkedIn before I started a job. I told my colleague about it and he seemed surprised. Should I apologize?
The 2019 Stack Overflow Developer Survey Results Are InDoes the average candidate have any recourse when they encounter an unethical recruiter?Mistakenly received confidential e-mail detailing unethical behaviorBoss didn't give me a w-4 to fill out before I started working and now I can't get paidHow much information about my job should I reveal on my LinkedIn profile?Manager reveals private information about other employees offhandedly: best way to approach?Is it ethical to share what questions I was asked in a technical interview to someone applying for the same position 10 months later?What to do about unethical or possibly illegal behavior at work?Need insight- recruiter reporting to employer that employee resume is in circulationBeing indecisive to report the immediate manager to HR manager before leaving the companyOwner of company practicing unethical behavior
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
I was thinking about this and was wondering if my behavior is unethical - the information was public, and I didn't think much of doing so at the time.
ethics
New contributor
|
show 14 more comments
I was thinking about this and was wondering if my behavior is unethical - the information was public, and I didn't think much of doing so at the time.
ethics
New contributor
38
Would absolutely not consider this creepy. You have every right to research a potential new company/team/coworker prior to joining the group. Now if you started digging into their home life or friending them on Facebook, that's a little different.
– Havegooda
9 hours ago
26
LinkedIn is the professional face that they present to the world. There is absolutely nothing wrong with checking it out the LinkedIn of a contact in a professional setting.
– Myles
9 hours ago
6
@Fattie LinkedIn is different than social media. The goal of the platform is for professionals to connect. If you put a public facing profile online, you shouldn't be surprised if someone views it.
– SaggingRufus
8 hours ago
25
Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?
– Glen Pierce
8 hours ago
12
If you don't want people looking at your LinkedIn profile don't create one. Otherwise yes it is fair game. I research whom I will be working with just as I research the employer sort of a no-brainer. I research Dr. profiles as well before I go and visit them. I like to know the skill levels of whom I will be working with, for, or supervising a head of time. Also can be used as a conversation starter. "Hey I noticed on your LI profile you know C++ I would like to know more"
– C0r3yh
6 hours ago
|
show 14 more comments
I was thinking about this and was wondering if my behavior is unethical - the information was public, and I didn't think much of doing so at the time.
ethics
New contributor
I was thinking about this and was wondering if my behavior is unethical - the information was public, and I didn't think much of doing so at the time.
ethics
ethics
New contributor
New contributor
edited 2 hours ago
Peter Mortensen
60257
60257
New contributor
asked 9 hours ago
M VM V
7213
7213
New contributor
New contributor
38
Would absolutely not consider this creepy. You have every right to research a potential new company/team/coworker prior to joining the group. Now if you started digging into their home life or friending them on Facebook, that's a little different.
– Havegooda
9 hours ago
26
LinkedIn is the professional face that they present to the world. There is absolutely nothing wrong with checking it out the LinkedIn of a contact in a professional setting.
– Myles
9 hours ago
6
@Fattie LinkedIn is different than social media. The goal of the platform is for professionals to connect. If you put a public facing profile online, you shouldn't be surprised if someone views it.
– SaggingRufus
8 hours ago
25
Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?
– Glen Pierce
8 hours ago
12
If you don't want people looking at your LinkedIn profile don't create one. Otherwise yes it is fair game. I research whom I will be working with just as I research the employer sort of a no-brainer. I research Dr. profiles as well before I go and visit them. I like to know the skill levels of whom I will be working with, for, or supervising a head of time. Also can be used as a conversation starter. "Hey I noticed on your LI profile you know C++ I would like to know more"
– C0r3yh
6 hours ago
|
show 14 more comments
38
Would absolutely not consider this creepy. You have every right to research a potential new company/team/coworker prior to joining the group. Now if you started digging into their home life or friending them on Facebook, that's a little different.
– Havegooda
9 hours ago
26
LinkedIn is the professional face that they present to the world. There is absolutely nothing wrong with checking it out the LinkedIn of a contact in a professional setting.
– Myles
9 hours ago
6
@Fattie LinkedIn is different than social media. The goal of the platform is for professionals to connect. If you put a public facing profile online, you shouldn't be surprised if someone views it.
– SaggingRufus
8 hours ago
25
Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?
– Glen Pierce
8 hours ago
12
If you don't want people looking at your LinkedIn profile don't create one. Otherwise yes it is fair game. I research whom I will be working with just as I research the employer sort of a no-brainer. I research Dr. profiles as well before I go and visit them. I like to know the skill levels of whom I will be working with, for, or supervising a head of time. Also can be used as a conversation starter. "Hey I noticed on your LI profile you know C++ I would like to know more"
– C0r3yh
6 hours ago
38
38
Would absolutely not consider this creepy. You have every right to research a potential new company/team/coworker prior to joining the group. Now if you started digging into their home life or friending them on Facebook, that's a little different.
– Havegooda
9 hours ago
Would absolutely not consider this creepy. You have every right to research a potential new company/team/coworker prior to joining the group. Now if you started digging into their home life or friending them on Facebook, that's a little different.
– Havegooda
9 hours ago
26
26
LinkedIn is the professional face that they present to the world. There is absolutely nothing wrong with checking it out the LinkedIn of a contact in a professional setting.
– Myles
9 hours ago
LinkedIn is the professional face that they present to the world. There is absolutely nothing wrong with checking it out the LinkedIn of a contact in a professional setting.
– Myles
9 hours ago
6
6
@Fattie LinkedIn is different than social media. The goal of the platform is for professionals to connect. If you put a public facing profile online, you shouldn't be surprised if someone views it.
– SaggingRufus
8 hours ago
@Fattie LinkedIn is different than social media. The goal of the platform is for professionals to connect. If you put a public facing profile online, you shouldn't be surprised if someone views it.
– SaggingRufus
8 hours ago
25
25
Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?
– Glen Pierce
8 hours ago
Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?
– Glen Pierce
8 hours ago
12
12
If you don't want people looking at your LinkedIn profile don't create one. Otherwise yes it is fair game. I research whom I will be working with just as I research the employer sort of a no-brainer. I research Dr. profiles as well before I go and visit them. I like to know the skill levels of whom I will be working with, for, or supervising a head of time. Also can be used as a conversation starter. "Hey I noticed on your LI profile you know C++ I would like to know more"
– C0r3yh
6 hours ago
If you don't want people looking at your LinkedIn profile don't create one. Otherwise yes it is fair game. I research whom I will be working with just as I research the employer sort of a no-brainer. I research Dr. profiles as well before I go and visit them. I like to know the skill levels of whom I will be working with, for, or supervising a head of time. Also can be used as a conversation starter. "Hey I noticed on your LI profile you know C++ I would like to know more"
– C0r3yh
6 hours ago
|
show 14 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
No. Don't apologize. Had it happen to me, and I've done it myself. If a person doesn't want their profile accessed, they shouldn't make it publicly available. There is nothing wrong with that.
37
Not only is there nothing wrong with it, but LinkedIn essentially exists purely to allow and support professional networking. Checking out the people who work for a potential or future employer is a very common use case of "professional networking" and I would be quite surprised if someone found it unusual.
– dwizum
9 hours ago
4
But the OP did more than accessing the profile. He also made a point of telling that he did. I have LinkedIn account. I expect people to access it. I would find it creepy if someone I don't know came to me saying he'd checked me out on LinkedIn.
– Abigail
8 hours ago
3
I imagine you'd think it would be REALLY creepy if he had asked to connect? I don't see a problem with someone accessing my public social media profile that I create. They can then feel free to discuss it with me if they want.
– Keith
7 hours ago
8
@sf02 Uh, "colleague", not anonymous person. I get people contacting me via LinkedIn to ask questions. Sometimes I know them. It gives them a way to break the ice too by knowing how long you've been at the company, where you previously worked, went to school, etc. What's creepier? Someone states where they learned something about you or when they don't tell you where they learned it?
– mkennedy
6 hours ago
8
@sf02 yes of course it is.
– edc65
6 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
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1 Answer
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No. Don't apologize. Had it happen to me, and I've done it myself. If a person doesn't want their profile accessed, they shouldn't make it publicly available. There is nothing wrong with that.
37
Not only is there nothing wrong with it, but LinkedIn essentially exists purely to allow and support professional networking. Checking out the people who work for a potential or future employer is a very common use case of "professional networking" and I would be quite surprised if someone found it unusual.
– dwizum
9 hours ago
4
But the OP did more than accessing the profile. He also made a point of telling that he did. I have LinkedIn account. I expect people to access it. I would find it creepy if someone I don't know came to me saying he'd checked me out on LinkedIn.
– Abigail
8 hours ago
3
I imagine you'd think it would be REALLY creepy if he had asked to connect? I don't see a problem with someone accessing my public social media profile that I create. They can then feel free to discuss it with me if they want.
– Keith
7 hours ago
8
@sf02 Uh, "colleague", not anonymous person. I get people contacting me via LinkedIn to ask questions. Sometimes I know them. It gives them a way to break the ice too by knowing how long you've been at the company, where you previously worked, went to school, etc. What's creepier? Someone states where they learned something about you or when they don't tell you where they learned it?
– mkennedy
6 hours ago
8
@sf02 yes of course it is.
– edc65
6 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
No. Don't apologize. Had it happen to me, and I've done it myself. If a person doesn't want their profile accessed, they shouldn't make it publicly available. There is nothing wrong with that.
37
Not only is there nothing wrong with it, but LinkedIn essentially exists purely to allow and support professional networking. Checking out the people who work for a potential or future employer is a very common use case of "professional networking" and I would be quite surprised if someone found it unusual.
– dwizum
9 hours ago
4
But the OP did more than accessing the profile. He also made a point of telling that he did. I have LinkedIn account. I expect people to access it. I would find it creepy if someone I don't know came to me saying he'd checked me out on LinkedIn.
– Abigail
8 hours ago
3
I imagine you'd think it would be REALLY creepy if he had asked to connect? I don't see a problem with someone accessing my public social media profile that I create. They can then feel free to discuss it with me if they want.
– Keith
7 hours ago
8
@sf02 Uh, "colleague", not anonymous person. I get people contacting me via LinkedIn to ask questions. Sometimes I know them. It gives them a way to break the ice too by knowing how long you've been at the company, where you previously worked, went to school, etc. What's creepier? Someone states where they learned something about you or when they don't tell you where they learned it?
– mkennedy
6 hours ago
8
@sf02 yes of course it is.
– edc65
6 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
No. Don't apologize. Had it happen to me, and I've done it myself. If a person doesn't want their profile accessed, they shouldn't make it publicly available. There is nothing wrong with that.
No. Don't apologize. Had it happen to me, and I've done it myself. If a person doesn't want their profile accessed, they shouldn't make it publicly available. There is nothing wrong with that.
answered 9 hours ago
KeithKeith
3,3232721
3,3232721
37
Not only is there nothing wrong with it, but LinkedIn essentially exists purely to allow and support professional networking. Checking out the people who work for a potential or future employer is a very common use case of "professional networking" and I would be quite surprised if someone found it unusual.
– dwizum
9 hours ago
4
But the OP did more than accessing the profile. He also made a point of telling that he did. I have LinkedIn account. I expect people to access it. I would find it creepy if someone I don't know came to me saying he'd checked me out on LinkedIn.
– Abigail
8 hours ago
3
I imagine you'd think it would be REALLY creepy if he had asked to connect? I don't see a problem with someone accessing my public social media profile that I create. They can then feel free to discuss it with me if they want.
– Keith
7 hours ago
8
@sf02 Uh, "colleague", not anonymous person. I get people contacting me via LinkedIn to ask questions. Sometimes I know them. It gives them a way to break the ice too by knowing how long you've been at the company, where you previously worked, went to school, etc. What's creepier? Someone states where they learned something about you or when they don't tell you where they learned it?
– mkennedy
6 hours ago
8
@sf02 yes of course it is.
– edc65
6 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
37
Not only is there nothing wrong with it, but LinkedIn essentially exists purely to allow and support professional networking. Checking out the people who work for a potential or future employer is a very common use case of "professional networking" and I would be quite surprised if someone found it unusual.
– dwizum
9 hours ago
4
But the OP did more than accessing the profile. He also made a point of telling that he did. I have LinkedIn account. I expect people to access it. I would find it creepy if someone I don't know came to me saying he'd checked me out on LinkedIn.
– Abigail
8 hours ago
3
I imagine you'd think it would be REALLY creepy if he had asked to connect? I don't see a problem with someone accessing my public social media profile that I create. They can then feel free to discuss it with me if they want.
– Keith
7 hours ago
8
@sf02 Uh, "colleague", not anonymous person. I get people contacting me via LinkedIn to ask questions. Sometimes I know them. It gives them a way to break the ice too by knowing how long you've been at the company, where you previously worked, went to school, etc. What's creepier? Someone states where they learned something about you or when they don't tell you where they learned it?
– mkennedy
6 hours ago
8
@sf02 yes of course it is.
– edc65
6 hours ago
37
37
Not only is there nothing wrong with it, but LinkedIn essentially exists purely to allow and support professional networking. Checking out the people who work for a potential or future employer is a very common use case of "professional networking" and I would be quite surprised if someone found it unusual.
– dwizum
9 hours ago
Not only is there nothing wrong with it, but LinkedIn essentially exists purely to allow and support professional networking. Checking out the people who work for a potential or future employer is a very common use case of "professional networking" and I would be quite surprised if someone found it unusual.
– dwizum
9 hours ago
4
4
But the OP did more than accessing the profile. He also made a point of telling that he did. I have LinkedIn account. I expect people to access it. I would find it creepy if someone I don't know came to me saying he'd checked me out on LinkedIn.
– Abigail
8 hours ago
But the OP did more than accessing the profile. He also made a point of telling that he did. I have LinkedIn account. I expect people to access it. I would find it creepy if someone I don't know came to me saying he'd checked me out on LinkedIn.
– Abigail
8 hours ago
3
3
I imagine you'd think it would be REALLY creepy if he had asked to connect? I don't see a problem with someone accessing my public social media profile that I create. They can then feel free to discuss it with me if they want.
– Keith
7 hours ago
I imagine you'd think it would be REALLY creepy if he had asked to connect? I don't see a problem with someone accessing my public social media profile that I create. They can then feel free to discuss it with me if they want.
– Keith
7 hours ago
8
8
@sf02 Uh, "colleague", not anonymous person. I get people contacting me via LinkedIn to ask questions. Sometimes I know them. It gives them a way to break the ice too by knowing how long you've been at the company, where you previously worked, went to school, etc. What's creepier? Someone states where they learned something about you or when they don't tell you where they learned it?
– mkennedy
6 hours ago
@sf02 Uh, "colleague", not anonymous person. I get people contacting me via LinkedIn to ask questions. Sometimes I know them. It gives them a way to break the ice too by knowing how long you've been at the company, where you previously worked, went to school, etc. What's creepier? Someone states where they learned something about you or when they don't tell you where they learned it?
– mkennedy
6 hours ago
8
8
@sf02 yes of course it is.
– edc65
6 hours ago
@sf02 yes of course it is.
– edc65
6 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
M V is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
M V is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
M V is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
M V is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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38
Would absolutely not consider this creepy. You have every right to research a potential new company/team/coworker prior to joining the group. Now if you started digging into their home life or friending them on Facebook, that's a little different.
– Havegooda
9 hours ago
26
LinkedIn is the professional face that they present to the world. There is absolutely nothing wrong with checking it out the LinkedIn of a contact in a professional setting.
– Myles
9 hours ago
6
@Fattie LinkedIn is different than social media. The goal of the platform is for professionals to connect. If you put a public facing profile online, you shouldn't be surprised if someone views it.
– SaggingRufus
8 hours ago
25
Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?
– Glen Pierce
8 hours ago
12
If you don't want people looking at your LinkedIn profile don't create one. Otherwise yes it is fair game. I research whom I will be working with just as I research the employer sort of a no-brainer. I research Dr. profiles as well before I go and visit them. I like to know the skill levels of whom I will be working with, for, or supervising a head of time. Also can be used as a conversation starter. "Hey I noticed on your LI profile you know C++ I would like to know more"
– C0r3yh
6 hours ago