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;
21
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
edited 5 hours ago
Peter Mortensen
60257
asked 13 hours ago
M VM V
11213
New contributor
M V is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
|
show 17 more comments
21
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
edited 5 hours ago
Peter Mortensen
60257
asked 13 hours ago
M VM V
11213
New contributor
M V is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
44
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
13 hours ago
30
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
12 hours ago
9
@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
12 hours ago
30
Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?
– Glen Pierce
12 hours ago
14
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
10 hours ago
|
show 17 more comments
21
21
21
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
edited 5 hours ago
Peter Mortensen
60257
asked 13 hours ago
M VM V
11213
New contributor
M V is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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
edited 5 hours ago
Peter Mortensen
60257
asked 13 hours ago
M VM V
11213
New contributor
M V is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 5 hours ago
Peter Mortensen
60257
asked 13 hours ago
M VM V
11213
New contributor
M V is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 5 hours ago
Peter Mortensen
60257
edited 5 hours ago
Peter Mortensen
60257
edited 5 hours ago
Peter Mortensen
60257
60257
asked 13 hours ago
M VM V
11213
New contributor
M V is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 13 hours ago
M VM V
11213
asked 13 hours ago
M VM V
11213
11213
New contributor
M V is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
M V is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
M V is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
44
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
13 hours ago
30
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
12 hours ago
9
@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
12 hours ago
30
Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?
– Glen Pierce
12 hours ago
14
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
10 hours ago
|
show 17 more comments
44
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
13 hours ago
30
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
12 hours ago
9
@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
12 hours ago
30
Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?
– Glen Pierce
12 hours ago
14
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
10 hours ago
44
44
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
13 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
13 hours ago
30
30
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
12 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
12 hours ago
9
9
@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
12 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
12 hours ago
30
30
Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?
– Glen Pierce
12 hours ago
Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?
– Glen Pierce
12 hours ago
14
14
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
10 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
10 hours ago
|
show 17 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
77
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 13 hours ago
KeithKeith
3,4152721
47
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
13 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
11 hours ago
5
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
11 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
10 hours ago
10
@sf02 yes of course it is.
– edc65
9 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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votes
77
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 13 hours ago
KeithKeith
3,4152721
47
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
13 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
11 hours ago
5
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
11 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
10 hours ago
10
@sf02 yes of course it is.
– edc65
9 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
77
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 13 hours ago
KeithKeith
3,4152721
47
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
13 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
11 hours ago
5
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
11 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
10 hours ago
10
@sf02 yes of course it is.
– edc65
9 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
77
77
77
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 13 hours ago
KeithKeith
3,4152721
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 13 hours ago
KeithKeith
3,4152721
answered 13 hours ago
KeithKeith
3,4152721
answered 13 hours ago
KeithKeith
3,4152721
answered 13 hours ago
KeithKeith
3,4152721
3,4152721
47
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
13 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
11 hours ago
5
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
11 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
10 hours ago
10
@sf02 yes of course it is.
– edc65
9 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
47
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
13 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
11 hours ago
5
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
11 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
10 hours ago
10
@sf02 yes of course it is.
– edc65
9 hours ago
47
47
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
13 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
13 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
11 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
11 hours ago
5
5
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
11 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
11 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
10 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
10 hours ago
10
10
@sf02 yes of course it is.
– edc65
9 hours ago
@sf02 yes of course it is.
– edc65
9 hours ago
|
show 7 more comments
M V is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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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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44
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
13 hours ago
30
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
12 hours ago
9
@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
12 hours ago
30
Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?
– Glen Pierce
12 hours ago
14
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
10 hours ago