27 Types of LinkedIn Users: Including That Guy Who Keeps Endorsing You for Skills You Don't Have

On LinkedIn you'll encounter a colorful array of characters. Keep an eye out for the 'Just Here for the Free Online Courses' Guy, diligently collecting certificates like rare Pokémon cards. Marvel at the Inspirational Quote Machines, who believe they can solve all of life's problems with a well-placed aphorism. Don't miss the Stealthy Job Hunters, masters of blending in while desperately hunting for their next opportunity. And of course, there's no shortage of 'Thought Leaders' who still haven't quite grasped the concept that LinkedIn is not Facebook. Oh, and let's not forget the dynamic duo of 'CEO of My Couch' and 'Professional Networkers with Zero Skills', making connections without ever leaving the comfort of their homes. Ah, the beauty of networking in the digital age.

1. "The Celebrator"

These LinkedIn users eagerly "celebrate" every insignificant social media post showcasing typically trivial, superficial, and inconsequential "accomplishments" of acquaintances they barely know or only assume familiarity with. If we took a shot for every click of their "celebrate" button, we'd have developed cirrhosis ages ago. Perhaps they should consider sipping a drink with each click to assign more significance to their casual "celebrate" gestures. They find cause for jubilation in even the most minor achievements. Examples include posts like "Managed to schedule a meeting today! #Victory" or "Successfully stapled 100 pages without jamming the stapler. #WorkLife #Efficiency." No achievement is deemed too insignificant for this perpetual reveler.

2. "The Poster"

These people have mistaken LinkedIn for an early version of Facebook and share mundane aspects of their daily lives without infusing any semblance of professionalism or business relevance. Their posts feature snapshots of breakfast cereals, office spaces, pets, vacation snapshots, significant others, random street encounters, health updates, shopping hauls, and even their latest bubble tea flavor - everything except content related to their actual work. Ironically, given LinkedIn's shift away from purely professional content, they seem to have inadvertently chosen the right platform. Their contributions often toe the line of cringe-worthy "content," leaving you to question the very essence of professionalism. They liberally sprinkle hashtags like "#entrepreneur" and "#grind". These users may also inundate your feed with recycled memes, gifs, and tired jokes that lost their humor after the first hundred repetitions. They've essentially transformed LinkedIn into their personal journal, revealing more about their bodily functions than you ever cared to know. They treat their LinkedIn feed as a personal blog, sharing insights ranging from "Mastering Work-Life Balance" to "Optimal Coffee Consumption Strategies at Work." At times their primary objective is to piggyback on viral content, hoping to ride the wave of engagement it generates. Their feed is a mishmash of popular content with minimal original input.

3. "The Motivational Quote Aficionado"

These individuals have a deep affection for those ubiquitous "inspirational" business quotes that you've likely encountered countless times. Every time they share one, they invest considerable effort in copying and pasting. However, this dedication rarely translates into taking tangible actions aligned with the sentiments these quotes espouse. Instead of actively pursuing the aspirations these quotes inspire, they spend their time curating and disseminating them. These LinkedIn users also tend to subscribe to numerous "inspirational" channels, including those of Tony Robbins, Gary Halbert, and similar figures. You'll often encounter phrases like "The only limit is your imagination!" or "Dream big, achieve bigger!" They embody the essence of a walking, talking motivational poster, albeit in the form of a LinkedIn profile. Occasionally, their posts pivot to hyping up the latest business trends, technologies, or buzzwords: "Blockchain is the key to the future!" or "Prepare for the metaverse revolution!" They eagerly jump on every passing trend, regardless of their comprehension of the subject matter.

4. "The LinkedIn Modest Boaster"

These users' posts walk a fine line between promoting themselves and downplaying their achievements. For instance, they might say something like, "Just sealed a multimillion-dollar deal, but it's all thanks to my incredible team!" This leaves you uncertain whether they are genuinely modest or subtly seeking praise.

5. "The Corporate Parrot"

These individuals mindlessly echoe their company’s press releases and mission statements word for word. Their LinkedIn feed serves as a shrine to their employer, saturated with corporate buzzwords and jargon. If you hear "synergy" from them one more time, you might consider severing your connection out of principle. Each sentence they utter seems to be a rehearsed script of corporate language, leaving you to question if they speak any other dialect. They might as well have “synergy” tattooed somewhere on their body. Every post they make serves as a staunch defense of corporate culture and capitalism. For instance, they might claim, “Workplace stress fosters resilience!” or “There's no 'I' in 'team,' but there's one in 'success'!” They epitomize unwavering loyalty to their company, prepared to defend their employer fervently under any circumstance.

6. "The Life Coach"

Dispensing wisdom on personal development, these people position themselves as experts with solutions to life's most challenging queries—except for the conundrum of sustaining a livelihood as a life coach. They promise to enlighten you on how to manifest success, doling out vague aphorisms with each interaction. Their repertoire includes ready-made solutions to your professional dilemmas. For example, they might inquire, “Feeling trapped in a routine? Here are 5 strategies to elevate your career!” While their advice tends to be generic, their unwavering confidence almost convinces you they invented the concept of work-life balance.

7. "The Algorithm Hacker"

These individuals craft posts solely to exploit the platform: for instance, "Give this post a like if Fridays are your favorite!" or "Comment below with your go-to emoji!" They've deciphered the formula for maximizing engagement on LinkedIn, though their tactics are more aggravating than admirable. Their triumph demonstrates that even average content, when executed skillfully, can still garner attention. Occasionally, upon connecting with them, you'll promptly receive a direct message pitching their latest offering or service. They bypass pleasantries, diving straight into the hard sell. Their audacity is almost commendable—almost.

8. "The Perpetual Learner"

These LinkedIn users proudly share their completion of short, often irrelevant MOOCs, such as a 15-minute crash course on the fundamentals of YouTube viewing or a brief tutorial on the latest Chrome browser features. Accompanying their posts are exuberant messages, laden with emojis, expressing their excitement at yet another "graduation" from a free MOOC. The "Celebraters" inevitably chime in, praising their brilliance and celebrating their latest milestone. Many of these "graduates" choose to post about their achievement immediately after the MOOC closes or becomes unavailable, ensuring no one else can follow the link and complete the course—they must remain unique. Constantly enrolled in new courses, they eagerly share certificates from various free online learning platforms, seemingly on a mission to amass more certifications than there are days in the year. While many of us are busy binge-watching Netflix, they're immersed in binge-learning, delving into topics like "Optimizing Your Workflow with Excel Macros."

9. "The Ambassador"

These individuals proudly represent companies offering mostly trivial services, whether it's bubble tea or any other leisurely offering. They operate under the illusion that they've been anointed as ambassadors by these companies, considering themselves more significant than the actual CEOs. They view their role as a divine calling, dedicating their online presence to incessantly hashtagging the company they supposedly represent and exuding boundless enthusiasm about their ambassadorship. This self-assurance stems from their desire to believe they've achieved the pinnacle of human evolution as a [insert company name's product] ambassador. Their posts overflow with hashtags, resembling a game of tic-tac-toe gone awry. They believe every fleeting thought warrants a hashtag, transforming your feed into a chaotic mosaic of buzzwords.

10. "The Pollster"

These users inundate their feed with polls, convinced that every inquiry, no matter how insignificant, merit a survey. Whether it's "What's your go-to office snack?" or "Do you lean towards blue or black pens?" they seem to believe they're amassing valuable data. However, in reality, they're merely cluttering your feed with trivial questions.

11. "The LinkedIn PerFashionista"

With a profile picture and their banner always meticulously curated to reflect the latest fashion trends and professional elegance, these individuals effortlessly exude style. Each post subtly showcases their impeccable taste, making you question your own sense of fashion adequacy in comparison to their sartorial finesse.

12. "The VIP"

When faced with an issue—whether it's a botched pizza delivery or an unjustified overcharge—these LinkedIn users refuse to settle for anything less than top-tier resolution. Unable to find satisfaction through traditional customer service channels, they leverage the one-month Premium Trial of Sales Navigator on LinkedIn to gain access to direct messaging capabilities. Their mission? To reach out directly to the high-ranking executives of the offending company, whether it's Uber, AliExpress, or Airbnb. By communicating with the big bosses and potentially securing promo codes or compensatory offers for their inconvenience, they bask in the glow of elevated self-esteem, fueled by their Premium User status and the attention received from prestigious companies. Of course, once the trial period of LinkedIn SalesNav expires, they must patiently await the next opportunity to reactivate their free premium status, again, for a month.

13. "The Linkledin Lurker"

These individuals exist in a state of perpetual LinkedIn invisibility. They neither post nor share content, and you'll never catch them celebrating achievements or engaging with posts. They may not even bother to view their newsfeed, and if they do, it's with a grimace of disdain. They rarely expand their network, and their profile might be a hollow shell, devoid of any meaningful information. When they do log in, they might glimpse recommendations for people who attended their alma mater, but they recognize none of them. They remain entirely passive, never interacting with any content. They're like silent phantoms, leaving you to wonder if they're even real or merely ghosts haunting your feed.

14. "The Name-Dropper"

Their social media updates are peppered with mentions of prominent figures in their (and sometimes any) industry, seemingly hoping to bask in the glow of their prestige. For instance, they might post, "Just had an insightful lunch with [insert well-known CEO]! We delved into innovative strategies." Mastering the subtle art of humble-bragging through association, they aim to elevate their own status through the connection with industry heavyweights.

15. "The Personal Brand Evangelist"

Everything they do is meticulously curated to align with their personal brand, from their meticulously coordinated profile picture to their thoughtfully crafted posts. They speak about "curating their personal brand" with a fervor that suggests it's their most crucial undertaking. You can't help but wonder if they have a personal brand manager on speed dial. Occasionally, they inundate their feed with humblebrags about their recent philanthropic endeavors. For example, they might share a post proclaiming, "Just donated $10,000 to support whale conservation! #Grateful #GivingBack." This leaves you questioning whether their motives genuinely revolve around making a positive impact on the world or if they're merely leveraging charitable acts to boost their personal brand. At times, their ultimate aspiration seems to be to purchase an advertisement in Times Square and be photographed with their own glowing ad as a backdrop.

16. "The Pet Promoter"

They've transformed their beloved pet into a veritable LinkedIn icon. Each post showcases their dog in a necktie or their cat lounging next to a laptop, accompanied by some contrived lesson about productivity or work-life balance. For instance, they might declare, "If Fluffy can master time management, so can you!" Surprisingly, their pets boast more followers than some individuals on the platform.

17. "The Open To Work"

They voice their desperation by prominently displaying "Open to Work" on their profile, driven by financial urgency. They fervently apply for job openings on LinkedIn, utilizing both the "apply" and "easy apply" functions in hopes that companies will notice and consider them for employment. They earnestly believe that LinkedIn serves as a primary platform for companies to recruit new talent. Their profile is meticulously curated to present themselves as ideal candidates, often seeking endorsements from various sources such as janitors, acquaintances of their parents, or romantic partners, and celebrating each recommendation received. They frequently update their resume, eager to showcase every minor achievement, certification, or skill to underline their qualifications.

18. "The Hiring"

Almost the same as "Open To Work", - they signal to the LinkedIn community that their company is still actively hiring and strive to project an image of being an equal opportunity employer, even willing to offer (competitive) salaries. However, despite their declarations, they rarely review CVs and instead end up hiring acquaintances or relatives who do not even have a LinkedIn presence at all.

19. "The Newsletter Funnelist"

These people relentlessly pursue your subscription to their newsletters, which often contain little more than AI-generated content, images, or stock photos subtly promoting their company's or personal services. They inundate you with all possible links, leaving no stone unturned in their quest for subscribers. Occasionally, they venture into abstract, existential musings that seem more fitting for a college philosophy class than a professional networking site. Questions like, "What is the true essence of connection in the digital era?" or "Is leadership an art or a science?" provoke deep contemplation, perhaps making you question why you logged on to LinkedIn in the first place.

20. "The Reposter"

These individuals indiscriminately repost content regardless of its relevance or sensibility. The pinnacle of this behavior manifests in those who create dedicated groups solely for the purpose of reposting. They are so engrossed in their relentless reposting activities that they seldom have time to respond to any messages directed their way. With a constant influx of content awaiting their repost, they seem to be perpetually preoccupied with their task.

21. "The Trivial Achievement Champion"

These individuals proudly showcase their participation in inconsequential showcases or awards, often sharing images of themselves holding dubious certificates or posting stock photos related to awards. They kick off each post with expressions like "I'm so honored" or "I'm humbled," drawing attention to their supposed accomplishments. Their celebrations are amplified by the "celebrators" who shower them with praise. Their posts form an ongoing stream of success narratives, detailing new ventures and partnerships that appear too good to be true. They frequently claim to be "crushing it" or "killing the game," although you suspect that their actual job entails far less noteworthy achievements and more trivial pursuits.

22. "The Event Evangelist"

These LinkedIn users eagerly participates in every webinar, virtual conference, and networking event imaginable, ensuring to shout out about their attendance (albeit after the event concludes). Their posts consistently revolve around the "incredible insights" they gleaned from the latest "game-changing" seminar. It seems they've never encountered a keynote speaker they didn't admire. They particularly cherish attendee or participant certificates, eagerly posting them on their profile. They make it a point to attend any event offering such certificates, often capturing a photo of themselves, preferably alongside other attendees, even if they happen to be waitstaff or technical support personnel.

23. "The Serial Endorser"

They're on a mission to endorse every skill listed on your LinkedIn profile, treating it as if it were an Olympic event. Even if you've never crossed paths with them, they seem to have more faith in your abilities than your own family does.

24. "The Career Change Chameleon"

Every couple of months, they unveil a new professional identity, proclaiming a radical career change. "Transitioning from marketing to tech, and now diving into the realm of culinary arts!" Their frequent transformations leave you feeling disoriented, wondering if they'll ever find their niche.

25. "The LinkedIn Devotee"

These LinkedIn users dutifully adhere to every recommendation offered by LinkedIn, whether it entails sharing news about a "promotion" (even if it's not truly a promotion, but rather the opposite), or indicating their pronouns, despite it not being mandatory. They enthusiastically respond to requests to engage with the newsfeed, offer congratulations, or complete any available fields on their profile. They willingly sign up for newsletters or follow specific individuals, much to the satisfaction of "newsletter funnelists." Their wholehearted adoption of every LinkedIn feature often leads to a cluttered and overwhelming profile, making it difficult for others to navigate.

26. "The LinkedIn Abuser"

These individuals exhibit indiscriminate behavior on LinkedIn, adding as many people as possible regardless of actual connection or relevance. They actively seek out individuals from specific countries or continents or within particular fields of activity, often sending connection requests without any accompanying message due to the high volume of people they still have to add. They frequently surpass weekly limits for adding connections, sometimes resulting in warnings or threats of being blocked by LinkedIn for their excessive activity. They send connection requests to anyone and everyone, irrespective of whether they've ever interacted, worked in the same industry, or reside in the same geographic location. Their underlying belief is that a larger network leads to more opportunities, although the effectiveness of this approach remains questionable.

27. "The Dormant User"

These people, perhaps the most rational of all, have long forgotten their LinkedIn passwords and remain locked out of their accounts due to two-factor authentication being enabled. Despite sporadic attempts, typically once every six years, they are unable to regain access.

They continue to live contentedly without the need for LinkedIn in their lives.