Get ready for your first consultation

At Lynk we are committed to providing a secure, trusted environment for you to share your insights with clients. To consult for our clients, you must first complete this brief tutorial which will cover:

Start tutorial
(5 minutes)

Module 1

Working with Lynk

As a Lynk expert, you’ll provide on-demand consulting services on an independent basis to Lynk clients. You’ll have flexibility in the engagements you participate in as well as your overall time commitment.

Before you start, please check if your current employer has any policies prohibiting you from participating in Lynk’s activities. If you change jobs during your engagement with Lynk, please let us know by updating your profile immediately as this may affect who you can consult.

Much of the work you will do with Lynk is confidential. You should never disclose information to any third parties regarding:

  • The identity of Lynk’s clients
  • The content of actual, or potential consultations
  • Information about any actual or potential business investments, trading decisions, or transactions of any client
  • Any other confidential information related to Lynk consultations, Lynk, or its clients

Let us know about any follow-up arrangements you might make with clients after a consultation, so that we can ensure you’re compensated fairly and maintain compliance.

I've just stopped working in one industrial sector and now work in another. What should I do?

A) Immediately update your profile with the change

CORRECT

Correct! Updating your profile with any changes to your job status or background information (including areas of expertise) will ensure you are matched and recommended for more suitable consultations.

B) Update your profile after a while

CORRECT

Also correct. However, you could miss out on consultation opportunities during the time when your profile is not yet updated with the latest changes.

C) Nothing

INCORRECT

Incorrect. You will not be matched or recommended reflecting your latest experience unless your profile is updated to reflect the change.

How should I identify myself when participating in a consultation?

A) Independent consultant

CORRECT

Correct! As an expert in Lynk expert network, you will not be representing any company during consultations. You are participating at your personal capacity based on your relevant industry experience.

B) Employee of my current company

INCORRECT

Incorrect. You should not identify yourself as an employee of your current company nor discuss any matters related to your current company without prior approval from your company.

C) Employee or agent of an organisation

INCORRECT

Incorrect. When participating in consultations, you shall not identify yourself as an employee, agent, legal representative, partner or joint venturer of a particular organisation. You are participating in your personal capacity

I have recently secured employment with a governmental agency. What should I do?

A) Immediately update your profile with the change

CORRECT

Correct! You may now bear additional obligations and responsibilities as a current employee, advisor or consultant to any government, government department, government agency or any other state entity. Depending on your role with respect to the government agency and the engagement requests, you may or may not be able to participate in paid engagements. You should update your profile as soon as possible.

B) Nothing

INCORRECT

Incorrect. If you are, or have become, an employee, advisor or consultant to any government, department/agency of any government, or any state entity, you must update your profile as soon as possible.

A user whom I met through Lynk approached me directly for an engagement. What should I do?

A) Inform Lynk

CORRECT

Correct! Lynk expert network provides a trusted environment with appropriate compliance and legal framework for you to handle engagements. You also do not have to worry about contracts and invoicing for engagements on the Lynk platform. Also, some users are not allowed by their employers to reach out to experts directly, as engagements would happen outside of Lynk platform and cannot be easily tracked.

B) Agree to do so directly

INCORRECT

Incorrect. Please inform Lynk.

My firm has strict policies restricting my participation in independent consultations. What should I do?

A) Check with my firm on eligibility

CORRECT

Correct! All experts should secure consent (if required) before participating in consultations.

B) Accept consultation requests anyway

INCORRECT

Incorrect. Experts may participate in consultations only after they have obtained all required consent (if applicable), including those from current employer or any relevant third parties.

C) Decline consultation

CORRECT

You may of course decline to participate in any consultation. If you are interested to participate in a consultation, you should check with your firm to determine your eligibility.

Module 2

Understanding Confidential
Information

As a Lynk expert, you are responsible for understanding and maintaining confidentiality. Should you have any questions, you may refer to our general definitions and guidelines. If there is ever any doubt on what information must remain confidential, please get in touch with us at [email protected].

Confidential information

Confidential information is any information that is not known by the general public and should not be shared. This may include, but is not limited to:

  • Personal information
  • Information about your employer or about any other companies (e.g. strategic plans)
  • Information sensitive to your jurisdiction (e.g. classified military information)
  • Regulatory information applicable to any government or government-linked agency (e.g. proposed policy reforms)

See examples of confidential information.

Material nonpublic information (MNPI)

Material information is any information that:

  • Could affect or potentially affect the market price of a company’s securities
  • Is relevant to an individual or institution considering investing in a company’s securities, or a current shareholder wishing to sell
  • Could affect the financial fortunes of a specific industry or company, the more likely it is considered “material”
  • If this material information is not yet public it is classified as nonpublic information. Nonpublic information is any information that is not public through filings or public disclosure (including social media). If the information is scheduled to become public, it should not be disclosed before the date it is made public.

See examples of material information.

Please get in touch with us at [email protected] if you are unsure about whether information you wish to share with a client is confidential information or material nonpublic information.

A client approached me to participate in a consultation that involves a former employer whom I have left over a year ago. May I participate in the consultation?

A) Yes, since I am no longer employed there, I am no longer bound by contractual obligations to not discuss the company.

inCORRECT

Incorrect. Even after you have left a company, you may still be subject to nondisclosure agreements or other obligations with the company. You should check your past employment agreements, employee code of conduct, handbooks, compliance manuals, and any present or former consulting agreements to ascertain your rights and obligations and hence eligibility for consultations.

B) No, since I was once in a position of trust, I should never disclose or discuss what I have learnt there.

INCORRECT

Incorrect. While you have the discretion to decide whether to participate in consultations, you may discuss non-confidential information, provided you do not have any potential conflict of intest, and are not subject to any non-disclosure agreements or the equivalent. When in doubt, please contact Lynk with your questions.

C) It depends on whether there are any non-disclosure agreements or equivalent restrictions between me and my former employer.

CORRECT

Correct! Provided that you are not subject to any non-disclosure agreements or the equivalent, and that you do not have any potential conflict of interest, you may discuss non-confidential information. When in doubt, please contact Lynk with your questions.

Module 3

Conflicts of interest

A conflict of interest is a situation in which you have competing interests or loyalties, professionally or personally. Please review the subject and scope of each request to ensure that no conflict of interest exists. Accept or decline consultations at your discretion.

Conflicts of interest may arise where:

  • You have an existing vested interest in the topic that the Lynk client wants to discuss
  • The Lynk client is a direct competitor of your existing employer
  • You have obligations not to discuss the topic that the Lynk client wants to discuss

Get in touch with us at [email protected] if you are unsure about whether a conflict of interest exists.

I received a consultation request regarding my view as a customer or user on the functionality, benefits and drawbacks of software that is used widely across the industry (including the company I am currently working for). May I participate in the consultation?

A) Yes, provided the scope of discussion is restricted to the product and you do not discuss your current employer, and are not bound by any non-disclosure agreements or the equivalent that restricts your ability to engage in
outside consultations.

CORRECT

That's correct! As long as you have obtained all the necessary clearance and abstain from commenting on your own company, you are eligible for the consultation.

B) No, because I need authorization from the software manufacturer to discuss the product.

INCORRECT

Incorrect. You do not need the manufacturer's explicit permission to discuss your opinion as a user or customer of their product unless there is a standing contractual obligation or any equivalent.

C) No, because I do not have a professional qualification in IT or computer sciences.

inCORRECT

Incorrect. The consultation seeks your opinion as a user or customer based on personal experience and is not dependent on your educational background.

I was approached with a consultation offer, but I am unsure about my potential conflicts of interest. Which of the following documents should I review to fully ascertain my scope of responsibilities, obligations, duties and restrictions?  "1) Your current and former employment agreements",  "2) Any present or applicable former employee handbooks or compliance manuals",  "3) Professional and other codes of ethics and conduct",  "4) Any present and applicable former consulting agreements",  "5) All non-disclosure agreements"

A) 1 only

inCORRECT

Incorrect. You may be restricted by agreements and codes other than those listed in your employment agreement.

B) 1 and 5 only

INCORRECT

Incorrect. You may have other rules or codes that you would need to abide by.

C) 2, 3 and 4 only

inCORRECT

Incorrect. You will also need to abide by the terms laid out in your employment and non-disclosure agreements.

D) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

CORRECT

Correct! You should be comprehensive in ascertaining your eligibility before agreeing to participate in any consultation. If in doubt, you should decline the consultation invitation and please contact Lynk with your questions.

I am currently a subject matter expert on Lynk but have recently moved to a new company. Am I still automatically eligible to participate in consultations?

A) Yes

inCORRECT

Incorrect. You would receive engagement requests but before you accept a request, please update your profile and you should first review your new employer's relevant policies regarding consultations or external engagements. Your current employer may not approve of external engagements. When in doubt, please contact Lynk with your questions.

B) No

INCORRECT

Incorrect. It depends on your new employer's policies regarding consultations or external engagements.

C) It depends

CORRECT

Correct! You should always review your new employer's relevant policies regarding consultations and external engagements. You should also update your profile accordingly. As long as you receive your employer's clearance, you are welcomed to continue participating in consultations arranged through Lynk.

A client whom I am consulting for has asked me to disclose information concerning my previous employer that has not been disclosed publicly. Can I provide such information?

A) Yes, since I am no longer an employee there

inCORRECT

Incorrect. You may still be bound by other contractual obligations to the company even though your employment contract has ended. Even if there was no Non Disclosure Agreement, you may not disclose any information about your employer that has not been made public. At no point during any activity or engagement should you disclose confidential information concerning any of your employers, present or former.

B) No

CORRECT

Correct! You are not allowed to disclose confidential information concerning any of your employers, present or former, at any point during any activity or engagement.

I am an employee at a company that is going to be acquired or going to go public soon. I receive an engagement request at this juncture by a user for a consultation on an unrelated topic. May I participate in the consultation?

A) Yes, since the consultation is unrelated

inCORRECT

Incorrect. You should decline all consultations while any Initial Public Offering (IPO)/tender offer process is ongoing at your current company, even if the consultation is unrelated to the Initial Public Offering (IPO)/tender offer.

B) No, I should decline the consultation

CORRECT

Correct! You should decline all consultations regardless of their nature or subject matter while any Initial Public Offering (IPO)/tender offer process is ongoing at your current company.

The consultation I am participating in is veering in a direction that may present a conflict of interest to me or my employer. What should I do?

A) Decline to answer and move on to a permissible topic.

CORRECT

Correct! You should never discuss a topic that may present a potential conflict of interest to you or your employer. If the client persists, you should terminate the consultation and notify Lynk immediately. You are welcome to submit a payment request for the duration of consultation up to the point of termination, which will be honoured.

B) Answer anyway

inCORRECT

Incorrect. You should never discuss a topic that may present a potential conflict of interest for you or your employer. You should also never reveal any confidential or non-public information.

I am approached by a direct competitor of my employer for a consultation project that would not involve discussion of any confidential information or my present employer. May I participate in the consultation?

A) Yes, since the focus is not on my current employer and no confidential information would be discussed.

inCORRECT

Incorrect. You may not participate in any consultation that may present a conflict of interest. In this case, since the user is a competitor, there is a conflict of interest with your employer, and therefore you should not accept the engagement request.

B) No

CORRECT

Correct! You may not participate in any consultation that may present a conflict of interest. In this case, since the user is a competitor, there is a conflict of interest with your employer, and therefore you should not accept the engagement request.

To bolster my credentials, can I name the companies of the users I have previously consulted through Lynk on my LinkedIn profile, resume, or any document conveying my professional experience?

A) Yes, since the projects have been completed.

inCORRECT

Incorrect. At no point should you disclose a user's identity, his/her employer, or the subject matter of a consultation arranged through Lynk. Confidentiality must be respected at all times.

However, you may identify yourself as a Lynk Expert, and mention the general profile of clients and engagements that you have been involved in. E.g. "As a Lynk Expert, I have previously been engaged by investment firms and strategy / management consulting firms in the following areas: educational policy and regulation; the private education market in Europe; admissions procedures and best practices."

B) No, I may never disclose the client's identity or subject matter of the consultation at any time.

CORRECT

Correct! Confidentiality must be respected at all times.

However, you may identify yourself as a Lynk Expert, and mention the general profile of clients and engagements that you have been involved in. E.g. "As a Lynk Expert, I have previously been engaged by investment firms and strategy / management consulting firms in the following areas: educational policy and regulation; the private education market in Europe; admissions procedures and best practices."

During the course of a consultation with a user, the user shared some of their own research findings on the industry I am working in. Can I share the user's name and/or this information with my colleagues?

A) Yes

inCORRECT

Incorrect. You may not disclose any information shared to you during the consultation to any third parties, including the user's identity.

B) No

CORRECT

Correct! You may not disclose any information shared with you during the consultation to any third parties, including the user's identity.

During a consultation with a user arranged via Lynk expert network, I realized that the business which the user is focusing on has serious underlying issues that I can help with. Having raised this during the conversation, the user offered to retain me as an independent advisor to assist them with restructuring the business. Can I do so?

A) Yes

inCORRECT

Incorrect. If the consultation was arranged via Lynk expert network, for any kind of consulting, advisory or employment arrangement with a user you connected to via Lynk, Lynk will help arrange the engagement. This applies for a period of one year following the last consultation or engagement with the user.

B) Yes, but only if arranged by Lynk.

CORRECT

Correct! If the consultation was arranged via Lynk expert network, for any kind of consulting, advisory or employment arrangement with a user you connected to via Lynk, Lynk will help arrange the engagement. This applies for a period of one year following the last consultation or engagement with the user.

During any consultation, are there any circumstances under which I am permitted to discuss confidential information (including any information that I am obligated to keep confidential pursuant to a contract or fiduciary duty)?

B) No

CORRECT

Correct! You may never discuss confidential information of any kind during a consultation.

A) Yes

inCORRECT

Incorrect. You may never discuss confidential information of any kind during a consultation.

Module 4

Anti-bribery and anti-corruption

As a Lynk expert, you are required to abide by anti-bribery and anti-corruption legislation including the Foreign Corruption Practices Act, the UK Bribery Act, and all other applicable laws.

When participating in any Lynk engagements or activities, you should not offer or accept any money, gifts or entertainment for the purpose of influencing any government officials, or to obtain any business advantage or inside information. This is considered bribery.

If you are a government official or employee, an employee of a state-owned enterprise, or international public organization (e.g. UN, WHO, etc.), you should never discuss government legislation, regulation, policy, contracts, or other business that you would be in a position to vote upon or otherwise influence.

During a consultation, the user was very eager to source information regarding upcoming government policies in the Telecommunications space. I have contacts in the Ministry of Communications. I might be able to obtain the relevant information, and I may present gifts to these contacts to thank them for their time. This would allow me to secure a follow up consultation with the client. Shall I proceed?

A) Yes

inCORRECT

Incorrect. Regardless of the reason - offering, paying, promising to pay, or authorising payment of money, gifts, or anything of value to government officials in order to obtain any classified information or an unfair advantage is considered bribery. You should not bribe any government official to obtain any classified information/ information which has not been made public.

B) No

CORRECT

Correct! Regardless of the reason - offering, paying, promising to pay, or authorising payment of money, gifts, or anything of value to government officials in order to obtain any classified information or an unfair advantage is considered bribery. You should not bribe any government official to obtain any classified information/ information which has not been made public.

Module 5

Conditions for specific professions

Additional conditions apply if you work in specific professions.

Please select the relevant profession if any of these apply to you.

Investment professional

CORRECT

You should not give investment advice during consultations.

Lawyer

CORRECT

You should not give legal advice during consultations or establish attorney-client privileges with clients.

Accountant or auditor

CORRECT

You should not give accounting advice during consultations or consult for clients who you currently audit or have audited in the past three years.

Healthcare professional

CORRECT

You should not give medical advice or discuss patient information during consultations. If you are involved in any clinical trials, you should not discuss these trials unless results are publicly available.

Employee of a government, state-owned entity or international public organization (e.g. UN, WHO, etc.)

CORRECT

Inform us if you hold one of these roles and can vote on or influence government legislation, regulation, policy, contracts, or other government business. This will affect your eligibility to participate in consultations. You must understand who you will be speaking to in a consultation, especially clients who invest in publicly-traded securities, or advisors to these firms (e.g. management consulting firms and political intelligence consultancies). Clients do not want confidential information from you.

Employee of any publicly listed company, including subsidiaries and affiliates

CORRECT

Inform us if you are an officer, employee, or consultant of any publicly listed company, including subsidiaries and affiliates. This will affect your eligibility to participate in certain consulting opportunities.

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Terms & Conditions

Regarding your participation in consulting engagement with Lynk, we require your agreement to the following Terms & Conditions which are available on our website:

Please be kindly noted that translated Terms & Conditions in different languages are available on our website to help facilitate your understanding of the original English T&Cs. In the case of any disputes, the English version will prevail.

You’re all set!

Thanks for joining Lynk! We’re excited to have you as part of our knowledge sharing economy.
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