Reasons Not To Use LinkedIn
7 Reasons Not To Use LinkedIn (And What to Use Instead)
LinkedIn social network has 756 million users worldwide. 87% of recruiters use it on a regular basis, and the number of jobs advertised accounts for 14 million. Plus, having an informative LinkedIn profile is a great way to get noticed by prospective employers, right?
Well, not always.
While LinkedIn can be beneficial for your job search, it is not a must-have for your job search. Many professionals opt out of LinkedIn in favor of in-person networking and traditional ways of job search. Today, we'll weigh all the pros and cons of having a LinkedIn account to help you decide on whether LinkedIn is essential for your career.
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Is LinkedIn used anymore?
On LinkedIn profiles, people share their career history, professional accomplishments, professional interests, and future goals. Plus, you can use it for networking, for example, to connect to the hiring manager of your target company or your former alumni.
As of 2024, LinkedIn has over 1 billion members in 200 countries. Here's how you can benefit from this social media network:
- Search for jobs posted by employers in your country and beyond
- Use it for professional networking to expand your connections and get more professional opportunities
- Create a digital resume with your employment history, skills, and achievements to help recruiters find you online
- Add links to your portfolio site and other resources to give employers a bigger picture of your career path
- Connect with experts and influencers in your field
- Learn about professional events near you and boost your skills using the LinkedIn training platform.
For many students, creating a LinkedIn page is part of their mandatory career preparation course. However, it doesn't mean that every job-seeker must use it to land a new job.
Let's look at the reasons why people choose not to use LinkedIn.
7 reasons not to have a LinkedIn account
Not having a LinkedIn profile may seem surprising. However, such a decision is often justified by the following reasons:
Your data belongs to LinkedIn
Everything you publish in your personal page belongs to LinkedIn and Microsoft corporation that owns this social media. Your career information, contacts, and even posts you create and publish are owned by the corporation.
Adjusting your privacy settings doesn't help much. Although settings do allow you to hide some info from people who are not in your network, you still don't have 100% control over who can and cannot see your professional history and how this info is used.
Plus, LinkedIn is free for members, and this means that you're the product, not the customer. Some people are okay with it, but if you are careful about what you share with colleagues, let alone strangers, the privacy issue can be quite intimidating.
Pages are structured, and the structure cannot be changed
Many professionals see the LinkedIn page as their personal site and build their online presence here. However, you may have noticed that your profile has a very rigid structure. All sections go in a fixed order - "About", "Articles and Activity", "Experience" and more - and this order cannot be changed.
If you open 10 profiles of other members in your industry, chances are they will look pretty much the same. In other words, LinkedIn doesn't allow you much space to organize the entire story of your life in a creative way and puts you in the same unified framework.
LinkedIn promotes a comparison culture
Human beings tend to compare themselves to peers. The element of comparision and competition exists in every social media such as Facebook, and LinkedIn is no exception. If you use it regularly and have a large network you'll inevitably receive updates that some of your connections got promoted, attended a prestigious conference or got a job with dream company.
When your career has not the best times, such news can cause deep frustration and a sense of self-doubt. Such an unwanted exposure to the 'vanity fair' of your business connections and friends may discourage from using LinkedIn whatsoever.
Not everyone feels comfortable "reaching out"
Have you read networking tips and guides for using LinkedIn platform? Many of such articles recommend that you expand the number of connections, follow companies and reach out to recruiters and target employers to wonder about job openings.
While this may be a viable strategy in general, it misses one critical point. Not every professional will feel comfortable trying to connect with a recruiter or employer, bombarding them with messages with a low response rate and still feel confident. If aggressive networking isn't your thing, it's okay to opt for traditional methods of job application and skip LinkedIn networking and efforts to "stand out".
The best features are paid
LinkedIn has a paid Premium option that costs $29.99 per month. With a paid subscription, you can browse profile data of other users privately, compare yourself to other candidates for the position, and get access to any LinkedIn learning course.
So, what is not okay here? First, LinkedIn encourages you to fill out your account completely, including past experience, interests and skills. At the same time, they show people who have a premium account as "Featured applicants". Secondly, the subscription fee may be high for students as well as for many people overseas where the earnings are lower.
You need to post regularly and keep the profile current
The whole point of social media is to stay active on the site. LinkedIn profile is no exception. You should regularly update it with posts, re-posts, news from your professional life, and leave comments.
Recruiters often pay attention not only to profile data, but also to how often you share stories and updates. In fact, it's similar to your Facebook account, with one exception that it's dedicated to your professional life entirely. Not everyone has the time and energy to maintain another social media profile with the hope that it will help them get hired someday.
Again, you might not want to share minor successes from your professional life, and that's okay. It's better to spend your free time on social media that is fun, isn't it?
Your target employers may not use LinkedIn
Statistics show that Fortune 500 companies love LinkedIn. However, the situation isn't the same for different industries and age groups. Small businesses may not use LinkedIn for hiring at all, and the popularity of LinkedIn varies depending on the economic sectors.
Say, private sector government jobs are advertised on a different platforms and every candidate uses that platform to apply. Similarly, some data shows that Millennials and Gen Z job-seekers aren't active users of LinkedIn. This statement proves once again that LinkedIn may not be the best option for everyone.
So, can you opt out of LinkedIn completely?
Long story short, LinkedIn isn't the one and only tool to search for your dream job. It is one of the many tools that can be helpful if used right. If you don't feel comfortable showing off your professional life or you have privacy concerns, you can delete your profile for good and use other methods.
For example, you may choose in-person networking with prospective employers or reach out to the hiring manager by email. You can always apply with a traditional resume, using it as a marketing tool to describe all strengths, qualifications and areas of expertise.
If the only barrier that prevents you from using LinkedIn to its fullest is that you don't know how to fill out your page professionally, we can help. At ResumePerk, we offer a professional LinkedIn profile completion service. Our expert will compose original content for your profile, add relevant keywords to boost search results, and help you showcase your personality. With a professionally completed LinkedIn page, you are likely to attract more profile views, visitors, and messages from recruiters.
What are the alternatives to having a LinkedIn profile?
Years ago, people managed to look for jobs and build careers without LinkedIn. If you don't feel like using this site, consider the following alternatives:
• Set up a personal site. Use your personal website to share successful cases, professional interests, and share samples of work. Or, if you feel like sharing your thoughts and expertise, consider running a blog. A well-designed website is likely to impress potential employers more than a generic LinkedIn profile.
• Create an infographic resume. Visual resumes are a great way to stand out when you apply for digital or creative positions. You can publish such a resume on any social media or your personal website, and it will immediately pop out in other people's newsfeeds, helping you get noticed by hiring managers.
• Apply through the company website. The LinkedIn Jobs section isn't the only place in the world to browse job openings. Sending your application to the hiring manager through the corporate website is often more effective.
• Create a traditional resume. Having a classical resume is a must to apply for a job on any platform. Even if you apply through LinkedIn, you are expected to submit a resume. Update your old resume, removing completely irrelevant details and adding fresh accomplishments, and send it directly to companies.
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FAQ
Why do job-seekers need LinkedIn?
With a LinkedIn profile, professionals in any industry can expand their network, apply for jobs, and get found by recruiters online. Here are just a few ways in which you can use this social media platform:
- Build your personal brand - by completing your profile information and adding links to previous works and media, you can tell everyone in your network about your skills, values, and personality.
- Attract potential employers - recruiters actively use LinkedIn to source candidates. With a profile that expands on your work history, education, and projects and uses the right keywords, you'll get more contacts from recruiters.
- Strengthen your job application - by adding a link to your profile in a resume, you'll tell potential employers more about your qualifications, activities, and professional life.
- Network and follow - with LinkedIn, you can stay in touch with former coworkers, clients, and alumni. Plus, you can expand your professional network and find new opportunities.
Is not having LinkedIn a red flag for employers?
It is totally up to you whether to have a LinkedIn profile or not. However it is best to weigh all pros and cons of your decision.
In some industries, not having a LinkedIn profile or other social media pages can be a red flag for recruiters. For example, if you plan to work in the tech or digital industry, it is beneficial for you to have a detailed, up-to-date profile. However, if you are in a government position or are an elementary school teacher, not having one can hardly jeopardize your chances for a job.
Does not having LinkedIn hurt your interview chances?
The situation varies in different industries. For example, in the corporate tech industry, recruiters start looking for talent by browsing LinkedIn profiles. They expect you to have a professionally completed profile. If you don't have it, you can miss many job opportunities with such companies.
If you strongly prefer not to use LinkedIn, take care of your overall online presence. Set up a simple portfolio site, a personal blog, or a GitHub profile where recruiters can learn more about you and evaluate your skills. Thus, you will increase your chances for an interview.
How to complete your LinkedIn profile professionally?
If you choose to set up a LinkedIn profile, here are some essential tips to create a LinkedIn profile that makes a good impression:
- Complete all profile sections. Completed profiles have more profile views and visitors thanks to LinkedIn algorithms.
- Add a professional picture. Choose a photo where you look at the camera, smile, and are dressed professionally. Avoid unprofessional images, such as pictures from a vacation, photos with other people, or low-quality images.
- Use keywords. Complete the Skills section and use keywords naturally in all other profile sections.
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