I've been on LinkedIn forever and due to my work i need to be active basically everyday. Also due to my work, i have a lot of people as connections, basically the equivalent of friends on Facebook or followers on Instagram. Thus, i have seen the development of the platform throughout the years as well as what it has become.
To begin with, LinkedIn was and is a space to look for a job, to connect with like-minded people and basically have a 24/7 presentation and CV of yourself live, where mostly everyone can check it out.
All of the companies out there have a LinkedIn page and recruiters also use it to find people and hire them. At the same time you can watch some courses and also update your profile like you would update your CV with anything new that will happen. For instance, you completed a certification, you started a Master's degree, you found a new job, you can make the relevant changes and everyone can see it.
The past few years though, LinkedIn has become like most of other social media. There is always the hypocrisy where everyone there won't be as toxic as on another platform, for instance, you won't see a "fuck you" kind of comment but you will see tons of irony.
Also, he space is filled with self-congratulatory posts, humblebragging and emotional content in order to make us feel like these kind people are good people and with certain values. Mostly every day i see all of the above.
The self-congratulatory posts are on a whole other level. For instance you won't see a simple post like "i got my master's degree and i am happy" or "I have a new position and i am happy". Instead, you will see a long story about how everyone face extreme difficulties and still managed to do the above. At the same time they deeply share their thanks to people who supported them all way.
Reality
Because at least in my country "we are a small world" as we say, which means that basically everyone knows everyone or at least someone who knows the other person, we tend to easily be informed about a person's life and accomplishments. Most of the people who made posts like the ones i share above, they basically are toxic, managed to get a better job through politicians, relatives in higher positions or by simply trying to make everyone else look bad, behind the scenes.
The same applied to the humblebragging and emotional content. You will see them talking about how they constantly help people, giving money to others for no reason, declining half a million or a dollar deals because of a bad attitude towards an employee and such.
Not only this isn't the case but it's the exact opposite. These people are not humble, they crave for attention and have narcissistic tendencies. Also, as an employer, they are the worst people, they yell, they are toxic, they don't pay well and in general don't treat their employees in a good way.
The only reason they keep doing what they do and nobody speaks is because the average joe is afraid to talk and share their experiences because that way they may lose their job and also if the said employer is well connected, they might also lose other jobs as well.
Thus, i urge you not to pay attention to people like that at all. Instead, avoid them at any cost and act like they don't exist. That's what drives them crazy, as they have the need to be seen! Use LinkedIn simply as a free CV provider with visibility, and find new jobs and like-minded people and share your work!
Posted Using INLEO