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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?

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12

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

share|improve this question

edited 29 mins ago

Peter Mortensen

60257

asked 8 hours ago

M VM V

673

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.

• 
  
  
  

  
  34
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  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
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  23
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  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
  7 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
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  24
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?
  
  – Glen Pierce
  6 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
  5 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 13 more comments

12

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

share|improve this question

edited 29 mins ago

Peter Mortensen

60257

asked 8 hours ago

M VM V

673

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.

• 
  
  
  

  
  34
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  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
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  23
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  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
  7 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
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  24
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Isn't this one of the primary use cases for LinkedIn?
  
  – Glen Pierce
  6 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
  5 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 13 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

share|improve this question

edited 29 mins ago

Peter Mortensen

60257

asked 8 hours ago

M VM V

673

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.

share|improve this question

edited 29 mins ago

Peter Mortensen

60257

asked 8 hours ago

M VM V

673

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.

share|improve this question

edited 29 mins ago

Peter Mortensen

60257

asked 8 hours ago

M VM V

673

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 29 mins ago

Peter Mortensen

60257

edited 29 mins ago

Peter Mortensen

60257

asked 8 hours ago

M VM V

673

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 8 hours ago

M VM V

673

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

57

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.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

KeithKeith

3,2852721

• 
  
  
  

  
  35
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  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
  7 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
  6 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
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  7
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @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
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  8
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @sf02 yes of course it is.
  
  – edc65
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 7 more comments

-1

One of two things is true about this person

1. The person is offended you contacted them over social media without actually knowing them. In that case, chances are you shouldn't contact them again, because they don't like being contacted by people they don't know.




2. The person is not offended you contacted them over social media with actually knowing them. In that case, it doesn't make sense to apologize because they don't seem to be bothered and there's nothing to apologize for.

There might be some really weird edge cases but chances are they fall into one of these two categories, and in both cases you're safer not contacting them further.

share|improve this answer

answered 10 mins ago

corsiKacorsiKa

4,92911529

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The way I read it, the OP didn't contact the future colleague through social media at all. They looked at the colleague's profile on LinkedIn and later mentioned to their face that they had done so.
  
  – Clonkex
  42 secs ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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57

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.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

KeithKeith

3,2852721

• 
  
  
  

  
  35
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  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
  7 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
  6 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
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  7
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @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
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  8
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @sf02 yes of course it is.
  
  – edc65
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 7 more comments

57

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.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

KeithKeith

3,2852721

• 
  
  
  

  
  35
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  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
  7 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
  6 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
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  7
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @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
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  8
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @sf02 yes of course it is.
  
  – edc65
  4 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.

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

KeithKeith

3,2852721

share|improve this answer

answered 7 hours ago

KeithKeith

3,2852721

answered 7 hours ago

KeithKeith

3,2852721

answered 7 hours ago

KeithKeith

3,2852721

-1

One of two things is true about this person

1. The person is offended you contacted them over social media without actually knowing them. In that case, chances are you shouldn't contact them again, because they don't like being contacted by people they don't know.




2. The person is not offended you contacted them over social media with actually knowing them. In that case, it doesn't make sense to apologize because they don't seem to be bothered and there's nothing to apologize for.

There might be some really weird edge cases but chances are they fall into one of these two categories, and in both cases you're safer not contacting them further.

share|improve this answer

answered 10 mins ago

corsiKacorsiKa

4,92911529

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The way I read it, the OP didn't contact the future colleague through social media at all. They looked at the colleague's profile on LinkedIn and later mentioned to their face that they had done so.
  
  – Clonkex
  42 secs ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

-1

One of two things is true about this person

1. The person is offended you contacted them over social media without actually knowing them. In that case, chances are you shouldn't contact them again, because they don't like being contacted by people they don't know.




2. The person is not offended you contacted them over social media with actually knowing them. In that case, it doesn't make sense to apologize because they don't seem to be bothered and there's nothing to apologize for.

There might be some really weird edge cases but chances are they fall into one of these two categories, and in both cases you're safer not contacting them further.

share|improve this answer

answered 10 mins ago

corsiKacorsiKa

4,92911529

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The way I read it, the OP didn't contact the future colleague through social media at all. They looked at the colleague's profile on LinkedIn and later mentioned to their face that they had done so.
  
  – Clonkex
  42 secs ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

One of two things is true about this person

1. The person is offended you contacted them over social media without actually knowing them. In that case, chances are you shouldn't contact them again, because they don't like being contacted by people they don't know.




2. The person is not offended you contacted them over social media with actually knowing them. In that case, it doesn't make sense to apologize because they don't seem to be bothered and there's nothing to apologize for.

There might be some really weird edge cases but chances are they fall into one of these two categories, and in both cases you're safer not contacting them further.

share|improve this answer

answered 10 mins ago

corsiKacorsiKa

4,92911529

share|improve this answer

answered 10 mins ago

corsiKacorsiKa

4,92911529

answered 10 mins ago

corsiKacorsiKa

4,92911529

answered 10 mins ago

corsiKacorsiKa

4,92911529