By Chana Wakslak, Senior Business Editor and Business Manager
We’ve all been there – catching ourselves scrolling through LinkedIn, jealously eyeing the accomplishments of others as we contemplate our lack of job satisfaction. Everyone else seems to be thriving, posting about their successes, awards, or career advancements while we know that we are missing out.
Hailed as one of the most important tools for business majors, LinkedIn has proved to be the hub of modern networking and career development. The platform provides a space where professionals can find opportunities, like-minded individuals can find community and one can craft a significant online presence. From discovering jobs to forging connections, LinkedIn gives people the chance to move a career forward. It’s the ultimate resource for crafting a personal brand and marketing oneself in the professional world.
LinkedIn’s job board and networking features are invaluable tools, bridging job seekers with potential employers and presenting a wide array of career opportunities. Students leverage the platform to secure internships, while professionals use it to share job openings with their networks. Posts not only showcase individual achievements but also foster knowledge-sharing, enabling others to learn and grow from shared experiences.
However, it’s not all smooth sailing.
While the dangers of social media, such as Instagram or TikTok, have been well studied, LinkedIn appears to have slipped under the radar. Of course, it is primarily a professional platform, not a place for posting dances or funny videos. But LinkedIn is still a mixed bag and comes with many of its own potential problems.
At its core, LinkedIn thrives on both collaboration and competition, and the boundary between the two can be blurry. Encouraging users to post and share their accomplishments to attract employers also creates a highlight reel of everyone else’s success. Scrolling through it can feel like an extended episode of “What Everyone Else is Accomplishing While You’re Not.” Everyone’s certificates, internships and job offers are laid out in front of you, ideally sparking motivation, but more often spurring feelings of inadequacy. It’s professional FOMO at its finest – a constant barrage of “what ifs” and “why not me?”
This doesn’t mean LinkedIn is inherently bad, and it’s definitely not going away. Like any tool, its value depends on how it’s used. It’s essential to approach LinkedIn with mindfulness, recognizing that people are curating their lives as much here as they are on Instagram. Just because someone shares their successes doesn’t mean they haven’t faced challenges or setbacks along the way.
The next time you find yourself scrolling through LinkedIn and feeling like you’re falling behind, remember: success is not a race. Celebrate others’ wins while focusing on your own journey. Instead of using LinkedIn as a measure of your self-worth, use it as the powerful networking tool it’s meant to be.