A question for #tech people who use #LinkedIn. Do you consider adding someone to your network an endorsement of their skills? Would you assume that someone is competent/admirable if they are connected to someone you know and admire?
If so, what do you do when a colleague who you absolutely would not recommend to even your worst enemy sends an invitation to connect?
@lucy_who Lots of people tend to use LinkedIn connections lots of different ways. The most common one I see is "I want to expand my 'network' to include people who know people I know."
That said, I only connect with someone on LinkedIn that I have actually worked with. That means I don't accept invitations to connect from random people. In my case, a connection only means "I can speak about this person."
I'm connected with managers I worked for that I don't like. If someone were to solicit my opinion of them, I'd be honest. I don't have endorsements posted for these people, and I don't have them "followed" so I don't see their posts. (Then again, I don't "follow" most of my LinkedIn network.)
Ultimately it's your call whether you want to connect with these people, but I don't personally equate a connection to an endorsement.
lucy_who
Ryan Clough 