I looked up a future colleague on LinkedIn before I started a job. I told my colleague about it and he seemed...

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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.

edited 3 hours ago

Peter Mortensen

60257

asked 10 hours ago

M V

7713

New contributor

40

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
10 hours ago

27

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
10 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
9 hours ago

27

Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?

– Glen Pierce
9 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
7 hours ago

|
show 15 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.

edited 3 hours ago

Peter Mortensen

60257

asked 10 hours ago

M V

7713

New contributor

40

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
10 hours ago

27

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
10 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
9 hours ago

27

Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?

– Glen Pierce
9 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
7 hours ago

|
show 15 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.

edited 3 hours ago

Peter Mortensen

60257

asked 10 hours ago

M V

7713

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

edited 3 hours ago

Peter Mortensen

60257

asked 10 hours ago

M V

7713

New contributor

edited 3 hours ago

Peter Mortensen

60257

asked 10 hours ago

M V

7713

New contributor

edited 3 hours ago

Peter Mortensen

60257

edited 3 hours ago

Peter Mortensen

60257

edited 3 hours ago

Peter Mortensen

60257

asked 10 hours ago

M V

7713

New contributor

asked 10 hours ago

M V

7713

asked 10 hours ago

M V

7713

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.

40

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
10 hours ago

27

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
10 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
9 hours ago

27

Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?

– Glen Pierce
9 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
7 hours ago

|
show 15 more comments

40

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
10 hours ago

27

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
10 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
9 hours ago

27

Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?

– Glen Pierce
9 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
7 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
10 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
10 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
9 hours ago

Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?

– Glen Pierce
9 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
7 hours ago

|
show 15 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.

answered 10 hours ago

Keith

3,3532721

39

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
10 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
9 hours ago

4

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
8 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
7 hours ago

8

@sf02 yes of course it is.

– edc65
7 hours ago

|
show 7 more comments

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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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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.

answered 10 hours ago

Keith

3,3532721

39

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
10 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
9 hours ago

4

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
8 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
7 hours ago

8

@sf02 yes of course it is.

– edc65
7 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.

answered 10 hours ago

Keith

3,3532721

39

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
10 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
9 hours ago

4

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
8 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
7 hours ago

8

@sf02 yes of course it is.

– edc65
7 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.

answered 10 hours ago

Keith

3,3532721

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 10 hours ago

Keith

3,3532721

answered 10 hours ago

Keith

3,3532721

answered 10 hours ago

Keith

3,3532721

answered 10 hours ago

Keith

3,3532721

39

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
10 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
9 hours ago

4

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
8 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
7 hours ago

8

@sf02 yes of course it is.

– edc65
7 hours ago

|
show 7 more comments

39

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
10 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
9 hours ago

4

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
8 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
7 hours ago

8

@sf02 yes of course it is.

– edc65
7 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
10 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
9 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
8 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
7 hours ago

@sf02 yes of course it is.

– edc65
7 hours ago

|
show 7 more comments

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