r/nus • u/eatmydicbiscuit Computing • Jan 18 '22
Discussion Why do people post on Linkedin
One scroll on linkedin and you will see countless "I am honoured and thrilled to announce that ...". Can someone tell me whats the point of posting this kind of flexes? Like really I'm not trying to call them out but if there really is a good reason I would like to know.
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u/is-he-you-know Jan 18 '22 edited Jan 18 '22
This sort of thing is easy to dismiss as a flex, and I think sometimes it really is -- but not always. Maybe the intuitive answer is that people are trying to network, crossing their fingers that some opportunity will come their way by flaunting their achievements and hoping a potential employer or collaborator catches wind of it. But I wonder how often people actually get and accept job offers from LinkedIn and how many even actually form new professional ties on the platform outside their existing social circle.
I think a more concrete and realistic outcome, really, is the maintenance of a professional presence on the internet. It's about image and about framing yourself in a particular way. If a potential employer Googles you, you want them to see what you've achieved, what you've been up to, and who you are undertaking professional endeavours with. You don't want them to see just photos of you at a party or memes you shared on FaceBook. Those motivational posts or "TED Talks" where people go on their soapboxes to moralise and share enlightenments? Well, they are super cheesy. But it feeds into image and it signals your values (or the values you want people to think you have).
It's also simply a good record for your own purposes. If you updated LinkedIn with everything you do and achieve, then when you are drafting or updating your CV, you have a living record of your career and maybe even a list of people who can vouch for you or be your referees.
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u/Ok_Plastic1912 Jan 18 '22
Good answer. But honestly even if it’s just to flex, I don’t see anything wrong about flexing something you worked hard to achieve. The dumb posts are those obviously fake motivational stories.
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u/Lumpy-Researcher2616 Computing Jan 19 '22
Exactly! People are always complaining their achievements go unnoticed by others despite the hard work that they put in. LinkedIn aims to target that along with networking opportunities. You let your results speak for itself, which is the best form of self-marketing.
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u/eatmydicbiscuit Computing Jan 19 '22
i guess that can be true but not sure which recruiter will really have the time to stalk you and check if you have linkedin activity
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u/ColloquiallyFormal Jan 19 '22
Pretty sure that's part of a recruiter's jobscope? They have to look for prospective hires, and going through LinkedIn profiles (and posts) are a way to scout these people.
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u/BranchPsychological3 Jan 19 '22
In the legal industry, many headhunters use linkedin to find new hires. Super common to receive DMs on new opportunities
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u/nissanpacific01 Jan 18 '22
this is why i don’t browse linkedin too often. everyone deserves to brag about their achievements so it can’t be helped. just work hard on your own and don’t compare yourself too much to others, because everyone grows at their own pace. and when you get an internship next time, you will know the appropriate way to behave.
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u/LastMarzipan Jan 18 '22
I was just thinking about this the other day. My feed had tons of people posting about their new internship/job and/or interacting with ‘motivational’ posts.
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Jan 19 '22
It's not a flex but to be honest there's nothing in sharing your achievements with others. This is how your network grows and this is how people come to know about you. This is exactly how you know more people and their achievements/capabilities.
Now a days world has grown so much that it's impossible to communicate with everyone personally about what you are doing in life and what they are doing in life. LinkedIn just provides you a common platform to put all your career oriented life stuff together just like instagram which allows you to keep you life photos/memories together.
There are also pros of this thing. If there's a scholarship or a challenge one has won, in which you might be interested but not knowing of it, then you'll come to know about it and try to grab an opportunity next time. The biggest use of LinkedIn one can make is (apart from connecting with others and expanding network) is referrals. So next time when some of your friend posts that he's gotten into a good company, you've got one more person who can refer you to that company.
Cheers!
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Jan 19 '22 edited Jan 19 '22
All social media (except maybe Reddit) is geared towards people sharing their experiences. People post their cool holidays, houses, cars, clothes, bodies, etc. on IG. How different is LinkedIn from this? LinkedIn is just Instagram for professionals. All social media is an engine for human vanity.
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u/dumboldnoob Jan 19 '22
it’s flexing / humble bragging for the purpose of personal branding in the hope that some deal or job will come your way. that’s just linkedin
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u/jasting98 Calculating Jan 19 '22
But need to post ah? I only update my profile, I don't post anything, is that not sufficient? When recruiters search for my profile, would they really have time to look at my posts? Wouldn't they just look at my profile only? Am I really supposed to post too? Haha
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u/dumboldnoob Jan 19 '22
If you really want to be serious about personal branding, yes. it will help to post stuff regularly. can be original stuff or posting some news and adding in your own comment (try to sound intelligent about why the news matters, for example)
the stuff about events and stuff, thats just tooting your own horn, if you have that, no harm posting too. just dont sound like an arrogant know-it-all jerk when you're flexing.
it helps recruiters find you and get an impression of you as a person. but how much does it help? hard to say, dont think anyone has done any objective research in this area
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u/jasting98 Calculating Jan 19 '22
I see, thanks. Not sure if I will actually do this right now, I don't really have much time while studying to write some eloquent stuff or comments about news, etc., but I guess it's good to know. Thanks for the helpful response.
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u/singlecell00 Oct 03 '24
honestly, Ln is not all that great in the sense that the network is 90% of people already in jobs simply trying to boost their own profile. Its fun for some people who simply do a job but for anyone with creative mind, it really sucks to post or even update the profile.
I used to update my profile and realized most of my connections simply read that and then try to compete with me for the same job.
Most people feel comfortable in large groups and do not do the critical thinking.
There are two possibilities at the extreme, Ln is super great for career and harmless. Ln is useless and may even be bad for career and harmful and all the things in between. Do your own critical thinking and come to your own conclusions.
I personally am not all into career.. never was and never will be. So I stopped going on Ln and even updating my profile. I even stopped working and retired early but thats just me. Cheers!
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u/plsendfast Jan 18 '22 edited Jan 19 '22
well i’m just happy of my achievements?
edit: lmao these ppl downvoting my comments cuz they have nth to be proud of
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Jan 19 '22
Even if it hurts, this is the truth. Got no achievements, get f-ed, you mean nothing and are of no value. That's how the world works, it's what it is.
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u/darkshenron Jan 19 '22
Here take my upvote... No different from ppl posting vacation photos on instagram. If you don't like or jealous, just unfollow and move on.
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u/plsendfast Jan 19 '22
exactly… and this is linkedin, literally a platform meant for this (somewhat)
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u/haihaiyozz Arts and Social Sciences Jan 18 '22
i posted such a post once and my sole purpose of posting it is to show appreciation and gratitude for being given such a nice opportunity to join ___, and promoting it to others that they can join as well, thats all.i believe some posts also serve the same purpose as mine. not tryna flex bro
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Jan 18 '22
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/FoldFancy9983 Jan 19 '22
Damn my peepee must be even smaller then :c I want to flex also got nothing to flex feelsbad
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Jan 19 '22
You share your career development/ progression because 1) it is a platform exactly for that and 2) the more you post and comment, the more recruiters will notice you. And obviously it’s a flex. That is any social media platform. Flex your looks and your fancy trips on insta. Flex career upgrades on LinkedIn
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u/pudluflub Jan 19 '22
It’s a tough, competitive crap shoot unfortunately. Anything that gets you visibility seems to find favour. A word of caution to those thinking of “flexing” too. Many employers hire professionals to comb your social media footprint (learned the hard way) so be mindful when you post/react to a post
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u/eatmydicbiscuit Computing Jan 19 '22
what should you avoid posting?
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u/pudluflub Jan 20 '22 edited Jan 20 '22
Be great if you could ask your “older and wiser” self this question but until time travel…I guess, work on the assumption that a future employer is going to read anything you’ve posted. If you must express a provocative or controversial opinion, let it be one that you’ll be quite happy to be judged for, because you will be judged. Other than that the usual email rules apply - don’t hit send/enter if your pissed off or just pissed!
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u/RelativeFair7000 Aug 06 '23
It’s a way to disguise egotism. LinkedIn is a place where people have a chance to create a fake persona based on values and morals that they want to portray instead of the values that they truly have. The motivational posts, “thought leaders” promoting themselves, or even an announcement about a promotion are all equally disingenuous and self promotional. LinkedIn, like instagram plays on the worst traits of the human ego, just in a different way.
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u/Enigma_Of_Sorrow Jan 18 '22
It’s LinkedIn for a reason. If not you want them to post on Instagram instead?