Does LinkedIn actually work?

[john]

I don't understand how randomly connecting to various CEOs and HR managers will help you land a job if they've never actually met you, heard about you, or know you.... Not to mention the giant amounts of spam the website generates. And honestly, how often can they really be checking this website, or routing through tons of "connections" they probably get?

It doesn't seem worth it, as it just doesn't seem like it should actually work compared to actually being proactive with an actual application (i.e. not sending in your resume and then never speaking to them again... call the HR manager, ask about it, make yourself known...), asking friends about jobs they heard of, networking events where you can actually MEET people, or getting a referral from someone you know within the company.