Why LinkedIn Is Under-Utilized

Common views of LinkedIn or what I like to call, misconceptions and fallacies:

• "It's just another social media website."
• "My industry doesn't use LinkedIn - it doesn't help me."
• "My career isn't built yet; I don't have a network to add."
• "Everyone on there is just trying to sell me something... ANNOYING!"
• "I don't want to put my picture on there and there is no point in having a profile with no picture, right!?"

The list goes on and on, but you get the point. There are endless statements that are mentioned when LinkedIn is brought up and I admit, I definitely added my fair share of opinions to the list prior to my career as a Recruiter (don't stop reading yet!). That is, before I knew the real benefit of LinkedIn and what it has to offer.

In today's world, most people have an Instagram, most people have a Facebook... TikTok, Pinterest, and more. All platforms where you share, to your own level, your life; your day to day, your family, your friends, your job, your FOOD, your workout routines, and everything that makes you, "you". Seems pretty personal to me. So why are most people so worried/scared/nervous/doubtful to share their work history or accomplishments on LinkedIn? It's a little something I call, "the fear of the unknown". Not many people fully understand the multi-functional, networking platform that LinkedIn is, so in their defense - I get it.

As a Recruiter, I have learned the "ins and outs" of the platform and would consider myself an advocate. Here's why. I'll take the five bullet points above and give my own opinion and explanation of why I strongly believe they are "LinkedIn Fallacies".

• It's a networking platform. When we think of our life, most people think of their career path, how they want to progress through jobs, what they want from jobs, wonder how to get those special things from jobs, or ponder how someone seems to just "climb the ladder". We all know the saying "it's not what you do, but who you know". One of the top fears in society is public speaking... kind of the same niche as networking. So why not utilize this internet-based platform that allows you to network behind the screen, not face to face, and that also formulates how to connect you to the "who's who".
• There are no longer any excuses for LinkedIn not being niche or job relevant. Plain and simple - everyone's using it.
• You won't have that network unless you start from scratch and build it. LinkedIn can be utilized to find internships, to find education programs, and to even learn via postings and what your built network provides. And it's FREE. Have you ever paid for a resume builder on a website, paid for a class that turned out to be simply videos, paid for a service to help you find an internship or job? LinkedIn can service all the above functions that you answered "yes" to and for FREE.
• Six degrees of separation. Yes, that Recruiter might be sending you a message and you find it annoying. You don't want to make a connection with them - you're tired of seeing the same templated message. Did you know that LinkedIn works in comparison to the "six degrees of separation" slogan that we all use so frequently? By accepting that connection request, you might be opening up a door to 100+ connections that your new connection possesses. The more connections you have, the more connections you can see and access, which leads to your network growth.
• You don't have to include a picture. That's not the point of sharing your job experience. Quit using that as an excuse!

As someone who didn't know where to start with my LinkedIn profile, someone who thought I was putting time and effort into creating this "thing" that no one would look at, I now know it's not as scary as it seems. I even find myself checking LinkedIn more than any other social media platform (and that's not because of my job). It's interesting! Help LinkedIn help you, by just getting started. Maybe your goal is to connect with five new people every day, maybe it's 20. Either way, it's a start. Follow some pages of interest; connect with your high school classmate; take a LinkedIn assessment; read about other professions; grow your knowledge.