[RockyMcNuts]

If you have a position where part of the job is to be connected to other people in the industry, then yes. If you didn't have a LinkedIn account it would suggest you weren't too serious about building and staying in touch with your network. If it's not a client or industry-facing position then no. Doesn't hurt if you're looking, especially if you want headhunters to contact you.

[gkya]

So if somehow LinkedIn collapsed the people in the industry would cease to be interconnected? LinkedIn to me, seems unnecessary and silly. A web page with a link to a CV and a mailto: link would be enough. A tech/IT person w/o a website somewhere, that would make me dubious if I was hiring.

[RockyMcNuts]

if I was hiring a business development guy and one guy was connected to all the senior people I wanted to do business with and another guy didn't have a LinkedIn, I would favor the first one. For some things it's an important signal, if not a red flag that someone isn't switched on and plugged in.

If someone wanted to be my social media guy and wasn't on social media/Twitter, that would be a red flag too!

Just like there are jobs where one should probably have a Github or public portfolio, there are jobs where one should be on LinkedIn. It's a tool one should know how to use, not the sum of one's identity.