Closed out my LinkedIn account

[MichaelL]

I searched my Linkedin on the key word "retired" and was surprised at how many hits I got. Many were taking sabbaticals too. I like browsing and see where people have moved to. What I don't like is all of the self promotion and especially these fake human interest stories that constantly come up in the feed.

 

[RobbieB]

Never closed but lost access after retired and emails were changed.

 

[Major Tom]

I have a Linked In account, but I didn't really use it while working and sure don't use it now.

That's my situation too. When I see old work colleagues and friends making their various blog posts on LinkedIn, talking about the state of our industry, and similar business-related topics, it only serves to make me realize how glad I am that I was never involved directly in the corporate world, or any kind of corporate hierarchy. That whole world is anathema to me.

 

[W2R]

I have never had a LinkedIn account.

When I was working, I preferred being difficult to find for interviews. We had a Public Relations person to handle the press and she was very good at it.

Now that I'm retired, there isn't much point in having a Linked In account.

 

[BeachOrCity]

I use LinkedIn for investing. Vetting sponsors and their backgrounds and connections with private investments for example. Helps weed out people who have no basis / experience etc. Its a good tool, very useful, and doesn't cost me any time suck because of spam etc.

 

[maestro]

I still have my account but updated the 'Headline' to say "Finished the Race, Drinking from Victory Cup"�� My only regret is that I didn't own LinkedIn stock when Microsoft bought them out.

 

[Global Wizzo]

I’ve still got mine, but I check it less often. Seems to be getting as bad as FB with reposts, shares and likes. The original networking value seems to have been lost.

 

[mcbraemer]

I only used my old account to keep a list of contacts “just in case” I got laid off and had to do another job search. After ER I changed my company to “Galaxyboy Brewery” and my title to “Head Bottle Washer” but still kept getting spam, so I eventually just deleted it. I have no desire to try and keep up with any of the old captives.

For what it's worth, I deleted mine about 6mos after retirement in 2018. Was just tired of posts from the annoying bunch who are most active on Linked-in

 

[arch57]

In 2015 when I retired I changed my status to “LinkedOut” and have held true to that ever since.

 

[FIREarly]

While I was working at mega corp, LinkedIn was a pretty big deal to connect with peers, check out job openings, and stay 'in the game". Even after FIRE I would look at it occasionally and get my ego stroked when recruiters would hit me up for jobs.

However, I closed it out/deleted my account the other day, more as a symbolic gesture that that part of my life is over and there is no looking back! Overall not a big deal but it did feel good as a means of letting go of the past

Congratulations on your FI!

A buddy of mine retired from mega corp and changed his LinkedIn to his NAME working for NAME Inc. LinkedIn after all is another social media platform. If you're into it, keep it going. If you want to experience life Mon-Fri while most others are working than possibly remove it.

The right answer is whatever is right for you.

 

[carty1]

Surprised to see so many closing their LinkedIn account.


I love going on there once in awhile because it gives me sooo much gratitude that I'm not working anymore!


Seeing articles like "how to be more productive" and "why morning meetings are great" ugh... spare me the BS

Right on +1.
-------------------------------------
Everyone is unique...except me. UNKNOWN.

 

[ychuck46]

Same as many

Like others have stated, I keep mine open for s--ts and grins. There are some good human interest stories that get posted, and I guess I still get a kick out of seeing people my age still working, either because they are still trying to climb the ladder, or they need to for financial reasons, or just that they have a miserable home life they don't want to be subjected to for long periods of time.

 

[PointBreeze]

I’ve been thinking about closing my account too. I’ve kept it open in case former colleagues want to contact me, as well as to help others who may need a referral to my contacts. However, it’s been 5 years now since I retired, I have no intention of ever going back to work or doing any consulting, etc, so not sure having an account is valuable. Hmmmm

+1

I was just thinking about this today. It’s been 4 years for me, and I’m trying to figure out my reluctance to close the account. There are fewer and fewer updates that I care about, and most old work friends have my email address and/or cell phone number, so I should probably just let it go, but something emotional is getting in the way.

 

[Steevo]

I closed my LinkedIn account several years BEFORE I retired. I was so sick and tired of people who visited my office as sales/business reps for companies I had never worked with sending me "link" requests within hours of leaving my presence. Why would I willingly attach my name and reputation to anyone I did not actually know and have a history with?? They could be child porn dealers on the side, and later on I'd find myself answering questions about some shmuck I didn't give a sh#t about to some legal authority. If I know you and we are "friends" we already know that and don't need electronic linkages to validate that connection

People I worked with have reached out to me for referrals post-retirement, and I have been happy to oblige them and to wish them well in their pursuits. People I did business with and had an actual personal relationship with know my email address and phone number and know they can reach out to me any time.

I fully understand why those who are actively working and career-building find benefit in systems like LinkedIn, but I also caution them against befriending those they know nothing about.

The same goes for Facebook and all other social media environments. Having a few real friends is far more beneficial and useful than having hundreds of artificial "friends" who you only know by their made-up screen names on some group on some site on the web.

 

[ERhoosier]

Changed my profile to private financial advisor.

Great idea.
And 100% true for those of us self-managing our nest eggs

 

[Lstansbury]

Wish I'd thought of that title

Changed my profile to private financial advisor. Just used it to send my son's resume to a former colleague in IT.

I keep my open because I am still doing some consulting. But the Private Financial Advisor will be my next profile update, if you don't mind me stealing it. That's basically what I do all day!

Ditto to all the other commenters about the B*S* "humble brag" posts. Yuk.

 

[Gumby]

I closed my LinkedIn account several years BEFORE I retired. I was so sick and tired of people who visited my office as sales/business reps for companies I had never worked with sending me "link" requests within hours of leaving my presence. Why would I willingly attach my name and reputation to anyone I did not actually know and have a history with?? They could be child porn dealers on the side, and later on I'd find myself answering questions about some shmuck I didn't give a sh#t about to some legal authority. If I know you and we are "friends" we already know that and don't need electronic linkages to validate that connection

People I worked with have reached out to me for referrals post-retirement, and I have been happy to oblige them and to wish them well in their pursuits. People I did business with and had an actual personal relationship with know my email address and phone number and know they can reach out to me any time.

I fully understand why those who are actively working and career-building find benefit in systems like LinkedIn, but I also caution them against befriending those they know nothing about.

The same goes for Facebook and all other social media environments. Having a few real friends is far more beneficial and useful than having hundreds of artificial "friends" who you only know by their made-up screen names on some group on some site on the web.

My young wife was a high school teacher of Child Development and Early Childhood Education. More than any other teacher in the high school, she was teaching future teachers. Often, the girls she taught would ask to "friend" her on Facebook. For obvious reasons, she always declined them. She would tell them - "I don't even friend my own husband on Facebook." And they would be properly scandalized. "Why not?" they would gasp. "Because I get to see him every day. We're friends in real life." she would reply. And, the kicker, "I get to see you all every day and we can talk to each other every day. We don't need Facebook." She did allow them to "friend" her after they graduated (and many of them did). That allowed her to see how they were doing on their path to becoming teachers and also led to her writing recommendation letters for them several years later (for grad school and jobs and such. She wrote college admission letters while they were Seniors). She is very proud of their accomplishments.

 

[Koolau]

I have never had a LinkedIn account.

When I was working, I preferred being difficult to find for interviews. We had a Public Relations person to handle the press and she was very good at it.

Now that I'm retired, there isn't much point in having a Linked In account.

My feelings exactly. I see little downside in folks not knowing how to find me. In any case, I'm willing to take that chance. This is the only "social media" I participate in. YMMV

 

[GalaxyBoy]

Congratulations on your [-]FI[/-] FU!

FIFY

 

[athena53]

I’ve still got mine, but I check it less often. Seems to be getting as bad as FB with reposts, shares and likes. The original networking value seems to have been lost.

I agree- and many of the posts belong on FB, not LinkedIn.

 

[CardsFan]

I have never had a LinkedIn account.

When I was working, I preferred being difficult to find for interviews. We had a Public Relations person to handle the press and she was very good at it.

Now that I'm retired, there isn't much point in having a Linked In account.

My feelings exactly. I see little downside in folks not knowing how to find me. In any case, I'm willing to take that chance. This is the only "social media" I participate in. YMMV

Count me in this group

Never had it, certainly don't need it now.

 

[NuttyVermonter]

Lol . I just changed my title to COO at My Life..

 

[FIREarly]

Lol . I just changed my title to COO at My Life..

That's too funny!!

 

[kgtest]

I kept mine going too (put in a message: "retired") because it remains a convenient way to stay in touch or to be able to reach former colleagues. Maybe once a year or so, it comes in handy.

That said, there is an issue that arises over time in that they do not have any mechanism to inactivate or delete accounts after a certain time of non use. This means when people pass away, LinkedIn keep sending out notices to the networks unless someone goes through the trouble of finding out how to access the deceased person's account and deletes it. Case in point, last week I got an announcement from LinkedIn of a former colleague of mine celebrating their 20th work anniversary with xyzzy megacorp - except they died back in 2012... This made me think that perhaps I should delete my own account before it is too late....

I put my login info in my Will so if I pass away my network can be notified. I realize I and many others enjoy closure. Maybe I am OCD.

 

[FIREarly]

I put my login info in my Will so if I pass away my network can be notified. I realize I and many others enjoy closure. Maybe I am OCD.

PW: password
PW: 1234