For context, I wrote this article on LinkedIn in 2017 when I was 3 years into my Google career, so the tone of the article is more early-career energy. Nonetheless, I found the article still relevant today.
- Requesting people to give you jobs: LinkedIn is definitely a place to seek employment opportunities, but not everyone is a recruiter. Just because someone works in a company you would like to work for doesn’t automatically mean that they have the power to get you a job in the same company.
- Not requesting Human Resource Specialists to give you jobs: Now these are the people to talk to on LinkedIn. They are in direct contact with hiring managers who have informed them of the kind of candidates they are looking for. A HR specialist would be able to secure an interview for you based on how well you have written your CV and presented your case. These are the people you need to search for on LinkedIn and properly network with them. Not just inboxing them and expecting them to give you jobs, build relationships that can yield desirable results.
- Not requesting for advice/tips from people working in the company of interest: Someone may not be a HR Specialist, but there sure exist different ways through which they can help you. You could ask for interview tips, referrals and any other advice that may be of interest to you at a specific time. I would not be keen on asking for jobs, but information that can get you the job you are looking for.
- Lack of profile etiquette: Quite frankly I don’t understand the purpose of a LinkedIn account if you are not going to make it your digital resume. This is not Facebook or Instagram where you can afford not to upload a picture in 10 years. Outline your experiences in S.M.A.R.T way so that people begin to understand what you are about before you even talk to them. Imagine if you inbox a recruiter about a job opportunity and you have no picture or experience in your account? The recruiter might think this is one of those strange people that try to con people online.
- Zero networking: It might be okay to talk to your Facebook friends once a year when you are wishing them a Happy Birthday, but LinkedIn is not that kind of platform. If you are going to add someone in your network, be purposeful and really connect with them. Make it interesting to talk to you. I really don’t get why