We hope that by busting some myths about LinkedIn, you’ll know what not to believe.
1. LinkedIn Only Has People Looking for Work
LinkedIn may have been set up with the purpose of helping people look for work, but this is not its only purpose. The platform has evolved so much that it is now being used by business owners, students, talent scouts, companies, marketers, bloggers, as well as people who are wanting to expand their professional network.
The platform does enable job-seekers to connect with potential employers. However, building a successful LinkedIn profile can do a lot more for you. You can join groups and communities on LinkedIn, connect with old classmates, and make vital industry connections.
2. Send Connection Requests Only to Known People
This is a valid point, so it is no wonder it’s a myth. Of course, you can choose to limit your network to only contain the people you’ve met in person. But, by doing that, you are limiting your experience of LinkedIn.
Connecting with people who are of interest to you, or who could some way benefit your career, even if you don’t know them in person, could pay off. For example, some people only allow their connections to message them, so if you want to reach out to a recruiter in a company you want to work at, you’ll need to send a connection request first.
3. You Don’t Need to Fill Out Your Whole Profile
If it sounds tiring to have to mention every single place you’ve worked, and every institution and course you’ve done, it may pay off if you do. You may not need to get to “all star status” but do your best to fill out the necessary parts of your profile.
By doing so, you’ll give yourself the best chance to get noticed by potential recruiters and showcase your talents. The key is to make the most out of your network, and filling out your profile will make it easier for others to find you.
If you leave things out, like your roles and responsibilities at a previous job, your profile will appear incomplete. Updating your profile regularly will ensure that you stay up to date with your network in case you need to reach out to your connections.
You might like to join groups or communities on LinkedIn to connect with people with similar interests, so filling out your profile will enable your network to get an overview of who you are and your background when you join.
4. You Can Treat LinkedIn Like Social Media
Each social media platform has unique perks and differences. For example, if you’re sharing baby pictures on Facebook and travel stories on Instagram, it doesn’t mean that your LinkedIn connections will appreciate the same amount of sharing.
If you’re only connected with people you know in person on LinkedIn, then you can determine the amount of personal information you want to expose. But if you’re using LinkedIn like a professional network, then there is a chance that your posts may not be applicable (or appropriate) for everyone.
There are times when sharing personal information on LinkedIn is perfectly okay. For example if you want to show your network something personal, and it will benefit you if you do, but be aware that some people are using the platform only for professional purposes. Which means that they only want to see career-related posts.
5. You Shouldn’t Write Directly to Recruiters
This is a myth. Recruiters expect to receive emails from potential employees or from people interested in the company they’re working for. It is part of their job to network, hunt for talent, and answer questions about the company they’re working at.
Reaching out to recruiters may open doors for you. However, it is important to know how to do it appropriately by using LinkedIn to show recruiters you are open for work rather than cold-calling or sending emails asking for a job.
6. If Someone Approaches You via LinkedIn InMail, It’s Legitimate
There are some LinkedIn scams you need to watch out for. There are also a lot of fake profiles circulating on LinkedIn. It is important to know how to spot them so that you don’t get scammed.
Just because someone is writing to you via LinkedIn InMail, and they appear to be from a legitimate organization, it doesn’t mean they are. Take some time to look into the company they say they’re working for to see if everything checks out.
7. You Should Only Post Serious Content
While you should keep things professional to a degree, and always keep your network in mind, there is some less serious content that the LinkedIn community also welcomes. Success stories, motivational stories, funny content with a meaning, and even movie and book recommendations may be appreciated by your network.
8. You Shouldn’t Post Often
When it comes to LinkedIn, it’s not so much about how frequently you post, it’s more about what you post. There are things you need to consider. For example, your post doesn’t have to be career related, but it should in some way, contribute something useful to your network.
If you are posting for self-promotion, consider who the audience is and if you will reach the right people. Likewise, if you are looking for leads or feedback, make sure that you use the right hashtags, links, or tag the people you want to respond to your request.
9. You Shouldn’t Make Connections With the Out-of-Industry People
This myth has been around for a while. You can connect with whoever you want on LinkedIn, but you should consider how useful the connection is to your time on LinkedIn. If you’re connected to someone in the entertainment industry, but your job is in retail, think about whether your connection makes sense.
If you are hoping to work in the entertainment industry, great. But, if you are connecting with people outside your industry just for curiosity, consider a different social network which will give you insight. At the end of the day, you want to be using your time on LinkedIn effectively.
LinkedIn Myths Debunked
With so many myths about LinkedIn floating around, it’s no wonder that people are confused about the platform. LinkedIn is an excellent platform that fulfills many purposes. It’s great for job-seekers, recruiters, big and small companies to promote themselves. In order to get the most out of it, study it, use it, and learn from it.
