How to Ruin Your Career Using LinkedIn in 4 Easy Steps

LinkedIn has served to advance the careers of numerous professionals, and while some members flourish with this premier business networking site, others just can’t seem to get it right.

Apparently forgetting the basics of good manners, along with the caveat, don’t do anything you wouldn’t want your mother (or boss) to see, some members treat LinkedIn as their personal sounding board and free sales tool. By the time the offending member is done, instead of enhancing their network and establishing a positive brand that adds value, they have become a source of ridicule and derision.

 Don’t do the following if you care about your reputation:

1. Answer a question in an insulting or attacking manner. If you wouldn’t make the same comments at a meeting with a room full of people and your boss at the table, don’t do it online.
2. Share too much information. Don’t reveal you are desperate, on the verge of bankruptcy, in a bitter divorce, or hate your boss. In a civil society, there is a reason why we have a distinction between public and private information. Even if those things are true, they aren’t meant for sharing with total strangers that aren’t in a support group with you.
3. Trick your audience. If you post a discussion or question, make sure it is genuine and not a veiled attempt to promote your agenda or what you are selling. Treat your audience with respect, and you have a much better chance that they will participate in your event or buy your service or product if they are interested.
4. Send impersonal and self-serving direct messages. Don’t spam your connections. This is a great way to get un-connected. Most LinkedIn members are very generous with their time and advice, and if you alienate them they won’t be inclined to help the next time you need them.

You never know who on LinkedIn might be your next manager, co-worker, or customer. Contributing to the community in a professional, informative way can provide a great return on investment if you manage your online brand appropriately. It is much better to be recognized as an authority in your industry than an aggravation. Don’t be THAT person.

August Cohen is a distinguished Raleigh-based resume writer and career consultant that holds the prestigious Certified Advanced Resume Writer, Nationally Certified Resume Writer, and Certified Professional Resume Writer credentials. She has recently been honored with 3 “Toast of the Resume Industry” award nominations for best executive resume, best cover letter, and best new graduate resume. August leverages the talents she acquired in her successful corporate career to assist professionals with high-impact resumes, confident interviews, and effective job search strategies.
 

Community Contributors - Career Advice by August Cohen