None of the meaningful help I've had since my layoff has come from people who are heavy LI users. I could leave the network today, and the same people who offered to put in a reference for my application or do a CV review would still respond to my emails.

The few times I've used the messenger to ask for an email from someone lacking a personal or faculty web page, it hasn't been super fruitful.

Kind of like with dating apps, it feels like a small pool of people are constantly searching -- either because they're very prized, or because they're very flawed, and it can be hard to distinguish between the two in either context "early career".

Like, despite reading this site, I'm not a "startup guy" -- my goal was always to find a stable, respectful workplace -- and every crazy side quest on my CV was a result of that quest.

Respect to folks who have a legit product and grow it, but there is a definite "bubble" in Silicon Valley, in the echo chamber sense.

Classic example: bar full of "LI types" demanded the TV be shut off when this scene came up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzAdXyPYKQo. Like, hands slamming on tables level anger about "what is this shit".

Anyways TL;DR I think the best professional network remains email.