In a prior post, I wrote about LinkedIn content that is perhaps inappropriate for the medium. In this post I address an interesting twist on that concept – and I’d like your opinion in the comments.
Most of us have shared content on LinkedIn, either an article from an outside source you believed would be beneficial to your network, or sharing an existing post you found on LinkedIn, or publishing a post on LinkedIn’s blogging platform, or maybe even a personal update (ex: “I’m looking forward to attending the XYZ Event tonight” or “Happy to announce XYZ at this time”). I’ve always believed that a little insight into you, the person, is a good thing as it helps transform your profile from two-dimensional to three-dimensional.
But, is there a point where your posts can be too personal on LinkedIn? Is there a point where a personal post can do more harm than good? Consider this situation . . . Meet Sharon (name and post details changed to protect identify), a professional currently looking for work. Sharon recently shared these status updates on LinkedIn:
“Received a call from ABCD Company to discuss an open position. I made some resume changes to fit the job description. They seemed interested so I’m excited about the possibility.”
“I had my phone interview with ABCD Company and think it went well. We discussed my experience and willingness to learn new hardware and software. Their decision should be made in a few weeks.”
“As I await ABCD Company’s decision, I have other opportunities I’m actively pursuing and trying to schedule interviews with in Anytown, NY and Fictitiousville, PA.”
“Today I scheduled a phone interview with a hiring manager at WXYZ Corp. for next Tuesday.”
“My phone interview with WXYZ Corp. went well yesterday. The level of detail we discussed makes me hopeful. While I await word from ABCD and WXYZ, I’ve just scheduled an interview with LMNOP Inc. I’m excited about my interviewing activity and hoping an offer is coming soon.”
So what do you think about this level of personal detail being shared in status updates on LinkedIn? Do you believe Sharon is successfully branding herself as being high-in-demand, which will help her job search? Or, do you think that’s off-putting to potential employers that she’s sharing such personal and perhaps confidential information? I could argue both sides, but I’d really love to hear opinions from recruiters, hiring managers and HR professionals.
Arthur Catalanello Consulting 
There is both a yes and no to this observation. Sharon is obviously putting forth a lot of effort to get a position. She communicates openly. As a teacher and an art professional, I appreciate open dialogue to the more staid business format. If Sharon is looking for a position where she will not be directly B2B, she should communicate in her own way.
However, allowing position 1 to see that she is applying for a second or third job would make position 1 doubt her sincerity. If they do see what she reports on LinkedIn and present her with the question, “why do you want to work with our company?,” she will be hard pressed to hide the truth. That’s never good.
Thank you for commenting on my post David! I truly can see both sides, although I would certainly refrain from sharing that level of personal detail on LinkedIn.