What is the best way to use LinkedIn?
obtain
In the United States, LinkedIn has more than 214 million users, and of those who actively engage with the platform, 40% use it daily. That means more than 214 million people use LinkedIn. billion interactions Every month, on the most popular social media platform for businesses and job seekers. Whether you’re looking for a job or not, does it make sense to post on LinkedIn? How often is too often? Or is it smarter to stay silent, avoiding the embarrassment of the Spotlight Effect, while your online electronic resume does the talking? More importantly, is LinkedIn still relevant, or has the platform become a source of platitudes, bragging, and meaningless positivity?
According to The Morning Consult, 67% of Gen Z adults believe it is important to have a strong personal brandCompare that number to the 40% of the general population who believe personal branding is important. For many professionals, that personal brand footprint begins online.
For Gen Z, personal branding is important. And in the business world, the platform for your personal brand is LinkedIn, especially when it comes to career opportunities. Every minute, six people are hired through LinkedIn. The LinkedIn platformEvery second, 101 job applications are submitted to LinkedIn. Why not post and interact, given the amount of activity and potential opportunities available? The answer, it seems, largely depends on personal taste.
Where Indeed meets social media: LinkedIn and personal branding
Kaila Lopez says, “I don’t see the point in building an audience on LinkedIn.” She co-hosts the popular podcast, According to my last emailwith co-host Kyle Hagge. “There’s not a lot of room for nuance or authenticity[on LinkedIn]. At its core, it’s self-promotional or, at best, inspirational.” To be fair, he admits that he hasn’t posted on Instagram since 2019 and that he gets anxious about DMing people he doesn’t know. That’s not an admission of guilt or failure — it’s a reflection of his own wisdom and personal tastes. Indeed, posting on LinkedIn isn’t for everyone.
But Kaila goes on to say that when you have something to say, you shouldn’t hold back. Co-host Kyle Hagge, chief of staff at Morning beerHe notes that LinkedIn is a place to build connections and visibility, citing numerous occasions where partnerships have been formed, opportunities discovered, and yes, new jobs identified on the platform. “I think every possible role can benefit from posting on LinkedIn,” Hagge says. “If you want to grow in your career, if you want to become a leader of people, you need to be able to give credit where credit is due, demonstrate the ability to be motivational.”
Beyond the person It’s the person. Is LinkedIn a place for an authentic exchange of ideas, allowing you to be who you are and stand up for yourself in a way that’s career-friendly (not shame-inducing)? Maybe there’s a way to generate positive interaction without being self-centered or boastful. It seems that savvy LinkedIn users know how to avoid the Spotlight Effect, if we’re being realistic.
How to get out of the spotlight on LinkedIn
The spotlight effect is a psychological phenomenon in which people tend to They think they are realizing More than they really are. It’s the mantra of the oversharer, based on the classic Police song, “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic.” If you believe the online world is your spotlight, every accomplishment at work is evidence of your magic, you’re going to overshare. Or, taken to the other extreme, the spotlight effect can have you living under an imaginary, harsh, glaring spotlight, where you’re constantly worried about how you’re perceived, watched, and judged. The ultimate effect here is silence, even shame. Instead of chasing the spotlight, you fear it, because notoriety is something to be avoided, not pursued.
What if you stepped out of the spotlight and shared only what matters most to you? Instead of trying to be cool enough, smart enough, or fall in love with the smell of your aftershave, what if you sought service on social media, and specifically LinkedIn?
If your goal is to grab attention or hide from it, you’re missing an opportunity. False modesty is still false. Why not share your ideas, not to build your personal brand, but in a spirit of service? Maybe posting isn’t your thing, but how about commenting and engaging with thought leaders in your industry or other voices you respect on the platform? How about celebrating others and acknowledging progress whenever you can?
An unfounded judgment about your skills and abilities can prevent you from sharing your brilliance. There is nothing wrong with sharing or not. It is a matter of personal preference. But, when you do, ask yourself this question: Who is this helping?
You don’t work for LinkedIn (unless, of course, you’re literally an employee of LinkedIn). Similarly, you don’t owe Mark Zuckerberg or TikTok’s brass anything. Sharing, at its best, is a service. Not an obligation. Not an attempt to sell or influence, but an opportunity to serve. To demonstrate your unique perspective and skill set.
Your service to others, in turn, serves to illustrate your character and personal talents. Online or in person, who are you helping? And how? That answer appears on your resume and also on your LinkedIn profile, if you’re doing it right.
If posting about yourself feels selfish, consider Kaila’s advice: speak up and stand up for others. Be authentic and stand up for the ideas you admire, the people you respect, and the solutions you know you can offer.
Whether you like it or not, LinkedIn is the platform for doing business and an open forum for you to develop your personal brand. Taking the time to think about how you present yourself online isn’t a chore – it’s just good for business, no matter what stage of your career you’re at.
JOBs Apply News
For the Latest JOBs Apply News, Follow ©JOBs Apply News on Twitter and Linkedin Page.
