Over the years, I have encouraged readers to share their job search frustrations. One of the worst things you can do is to end up feeling isolated and alone. Unfortunately, many have gone a little too far in the opposite direction. Every day, there are many cringe worthy social media posts online.
Recently, I saw a LinkedIn post by a job seeker who was declaring that she was giving up. She had enough with applying for jobs and with getting rejected. And, she would be back to applying in a few months, after she had time to recharge.
There are also countless posts from job seekers who were recently laid off. They are often angry, and are asking for assistance with their job search – in the same post. They cannot believe the way their former employer treated them this way.
On each post, there are many comments of support. Friends and colleagues applaud their prior work. And, they encourage the job seeker to keep going. They may also share the post, with comments about what a talented coworker the original poster is.
This is all very kind. And, it is hard to look for a job. It’s emotionally draining. But, LinkedIn is not group therapy. I know this opinion may be unpopular. But, this is the reality.
Almost always, when you are interviewing for a job, the company you are interviewing with will look at your profile on LinkedIn. Is this the first impression you want to give them?
Let’s think of it in another context: online dating. In a dating app, the profile is very short. The single person only has space to include a few sentences about who they are. Have you ever seen a profile that immediately mentions an ex-husband or ex-wife? If so, what do you do? Most people swipe left and choose not to match with that person. They are clearly still grieving their former relationship.
In the same way, posting your sadness on LinkedIn shows a future employer that you are not over your last experience. You may not be ready to focus. You may also not have great personal judgement, as you are sharing private information in a public way.
While we are on this topic, here is another unpopular observation. I have almost never known anyone to get a job by putting the “open to work” banner on their profile photo. If you still have a job, it encourages your current employer to off board you. If you are looking for a job, you simply look like a house that has been sitting on the real estate market too long.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s important to get support. Reach out to friends and family. Reach out to your faith community. Reach out to your therapist. But, do not use LinkedIn or Facebook to air your professional grievances. It will not solve your problems, and may only prolong your pain.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach
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