Best and Worst LinkedIn Groups for PCB Enthusiasts
Working in a business development role means that I spend a lot of time working my way into various communities and developing mutual beneficial relationships with potential customers and affiliates. One of the tools I use is LinkedIn – “facebook for professionals” is how I often describe it to those who have yet to hear of it. I find the ability to search for professionals worldwide very beneficial, although I spend a lot of time filtering out irrelevant content and have a fairly low reply rate to my personal messages that I send to fellow group members. Industry groups are a fantastic tool for any professional, but some are better that others. Below I outline a few groups that I am a member of that pertain to the industry.
THE GROUPS:
Electrical/Electronics and Computer Development Engineers Group (2,789 Members Currently)
This is the largest technical group I am a part of. Approaching 300 Members, this group remains dynamic, and posts are made every few hours. However, the more popular a group is, the more you have to filter through to find what you are looking for. I find that groups tend to hit an optimal size, at which point they take on a whole new feel and system of mores influencing how the members interact. Just as a small class in school allows for personal attention, so too does a smaller group. However, the access you gain to various professionals and your opportunity to put your name in front of a lot of people is valuable. Just make sure that you don’t come across like the spam/self-oriented members that many have learned to subconsciously filter out.
EMS Insider (Electronics Manufacturing Services) (2,663 Members Currently)
EMS Insider boasts a similar number of members as EECDE above does. There is a fair bit of membership overlap between the two groups. Fortunately/Unfortunately – I have a job, and so I am not interested in the headhunting posts that are so often present in most of these groups. It seems that these groups have shifted into more of a job seekers forum than anything else. If you are looking for employment and have the technical experience necessary, then be sure to check out the job sections of these two groups. Even recently over 100 positions have been advertised. Just be wary. There are a lot of job placement professionals who are rather cutthroat inundating these groups with posts.
Flex Circuit (42 Members Currently)
This is a much smaller group, and has the potential to be everything I could hope for. I enjoy learning about the frustrations of our customers so that I can develop better ways to serve them. Flex Circuits are the way of the future, and they are the type of business I am looking for. However, as applicable as this group is to me, there is little-to-no activity or discussion between members. I hope that as time goes on and 150 or so more members join, it will become a valuable resource for designers, project managers, and those seeking to meet their needs.
Printed Circuit Board Technologies and Solutions (330 Members Currently)
Slow and Steady, this group receives a new discussion every week or so. If you can work through the broken English of some of the posts, you might find a hidden gem here – depending on what you’re looking for.
VLSI (2,337 Members Currently)
This group can be valuble as well although I have been put off by the large number of personally irrelevant discussions posted by Michael Hughes.
A Few others (small member counts) that I have requested to join yet have not heard back are:
PCB/BGA Rework & Repair
The Circuit Board Group
Unexplainable PCB quality issues
RF/Analog/Mixed signal circuit design & product/test engineering
Feel free to share your groups and opinions by commenting on this post, or by writing to me at lmorris@cirexx.com.
Ironically, I find the electronics manufacturing industry is be one of the most DISengaged when it comes to taking full advantage of the benefits of social media, including LinkedIn.
As an industry, electronics manufacturing is wrapped in a culture of trade secrecy where competitive advantage is frequently tied to technical prowess and time to market. This environment doesn’t lend itself to the philosophy of sharing and transparency that permeates most productive social networks.
This “close to the vest” culture is frequently reinforced by strict limitations on outward communications, especially with regard to anything that might be construed as a company IP.
I tried mightily to create community within LinkedIn while I was in the PCB industry but even within my own company, it was easier for most industry veterans to fall back into their comfort zone than to embrace the opportunity born of engaging in communities based on sharing and collaboration.
Consequently, you’ll find the most ubiquitous industry presence on LinkedIn, but not because anybody wants to give anything, but just in case they need a job.
Thanks for your interesting post. The problem I find with some jobseekers groups are filtering out the agencies and being left with one or two engineers/companies to approach.
I get loads of emails from Chinese manufacturing companies, but the work is only one way. I would prefer a partnership type arrangement, so that precludes most companies.
So contract work from customers other than established customers continues to be difficult if you hate spamming and cold calling!
Malcom,
Thanks for your comment on my post! I took a look at your website and Resume. If you ever need prototypes built, I can put you in touch with some quick, reliable people.
Am I invisible, or does somebody have to buy boards to be acknowledged here?
Don,
No you are not invisible, in fact, I was intending to contact you concerning your views of social media and how it pertains to the industry. I was hoping to work with you to write an article on the subject to post here on the blog and to submit to a variety of sources.
Feel free to give me a call at (800) 217-0202 and ask for Liam. I am really interested in this.
I find the comments interesting. I have also found it difficult to professionally network on-line. Maybe it’s just the line of work (Printed Circuit Board Design). I don’t think all the contract and freelance jobs went overseas. But people don’t seem to want to talk about them.
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
EMSinsider is now the #1 LinkedIn group for EMS with 9000, up from 8000 when I took over 1 month ago. Shooting for 10000 this month.
EMSinsider now has subgroups to start conversations in the various niches that are of interest to members.
My background is Recruiting 20 years for EMS and OEMs.
But, I try to separate jobs from meaningful discussions to keep the group relevant to all.
EMSinsider.net has a job board $29/month with Free promo codes from time to time.
Link to subgroups
http://www.linkedin.com/groupsDirectory?results=&sik=1308145584727&pplSearchOrigin=GLHD&keywords=emsinsider
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