by By Marcella Jones
As a soon-to-be college graduate, navigating the professional world can be extremely stressful, especially when living in the era of digital media. With social platforms like LinkedIn becoming increasingly popular for professional networking and job searching, it is easy to form the bad habit of comparing ourselves to other people’s success and letting it impact our self-esteem. However, it is critical to keep in mind that LinkedIn is merely a tool that we should use for our professional benefit. Below are some of the things I have learned to keep in mind to prevent self-comparison on LinkedIn. Hopefully, you find them useful regardless of where you are on your professional career journey.
- “Comparison is the thief of joy.” – President Theodore Roosevelt: Just because you have not been given the opportunity to share a post on your LinkedIn about being promoted or securing a new job like other people on your feed have, does not make you any less successful or capable. Simply by being on LinkedIn, you are on the right track. Do not give it the power to steal your joy or undermine your own success.
- Think of LinkedIn as a tool: LinkedIn is an excellent resource for networking, job searching, and career growth, but it should not be used to gauge your value as a professional. Focus on using it as a tool for connecting with people who align with your career goals to build your network and gain insight from their experiences.
- Do not get caught up in the number of connections you have: Like Instagram, it is easy to get caught up in the numbers on LinkedIn. However, remember that your worth is not determined by how many connections you have. Instead, focus on the quality of your connections and the interactions you have with them.
- Take a break: It is important to take breaks from all social media, including LinkedIn, to prioritize your mental health. Constantly comparing yourself to others can negatively impact your self-esteem. Give yourself a break from job searching and scrolling on your feed and come back to it later.
- Patience is a virtue: It is hard not to compare your professional journey or job title to others. Everyone is on a different career path, so whether or not you have a job lined up after graduation does not determine your success as an individual. There is more to life than work and your time will come.
- Be genuine: Genuine connections on LinkedIn can only be made by being real. Do not fabricate a persona on LinkedIn or compare yourself to others because, for all you know, they could be portraying an exaggerated image. Be proud of what you have accomplished as an individual.
Overall, LinkedIn can be a powerful tool for professional growth, especially being a college student. However, it is important to use it mindfully and not let it play a role in how you measure your worth or success. Like many, I have had to learn to accept that everyone is on their own unique professional journey and timeline. Try your best not to rely on validation from social platforms like LinkedIn.
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn so we can support each other on our professional journeys!
LinkedIn like all social networks can definitely impact mental health. Comparison is hard to deal with especially when you’re about to graduate. Acknowledging that social media is a highlight reel and taking breaks can both be very helpful. Thanks for your insight on this topic!
I found this piece very insightful. I agree with what you were saying about LinkedIn being intimidating when you first start to use the platform. I remember when I first set up my LinkedIn profile I didn’t think I was ever going to use the social media app because it was too professional for my career goals. However, now that I am about to graduate, I have found myself using the platform almost daily. Whether I am updating my own profile or looking at my connections posts, I do enjoy using the platform.
Hi Marcella! What a creative post! I honestly never really thought about the dark side of LinkedIn, but your points definitely resonate with me! I think it’s fun to see what former and present classmates are up to, but yes sometimes it does feel like a competition. I do compare myself, but I’m to try not to as much. Thank you for sharing!