LinkedIn has 774 million users. That is a lot. But it is small compared to the 2.89 billion users on Facebook or the 1.86 billion users of YouTube. Many people do not think of LinkedIn when they think of social media powerhouses. But you really should think again, especially if you are interested in advancing your career. LinkedIn is powerful for building connections and learning about your profession or industry. 

So why do so many people never go on the platform? 

Or make a bare-bones profile and never engage?

Here are seven reasons people give for shunning LinkedIn.

It Isn’t Fun

I am not sure what “fun” means since I know many people on LinkedIn who think it is fun. If you are looking for silly videos or pictures of your friends, then I guess, yes, LinkedIn is less fun (though you might find some of that on LinkedIn as well). 

If fun is interesting conversations and meeting new people, then LinkedIn is the right place. You can watch videos, participate in polls, and view photos on the site. You can connect with people at your work, in your industry, or thought leaders in your profession. You can post content to share information, inspire people with your stories, or ask a question to solicit responses. 

You can make out of LinkedIn what you like. That is how you have fun on the platform.

Don’t Have the Time

Using the excuse of not having time is what people say about things they find unimportant or uninteresting. My children never had time to make their beds in the morning, but they found time to be on their phones texting with friends. Why? Because it was important to them. It is amazing how we all find time for those things that mean a lot to us, no matter how busy we are. 

And let’s face it, many of us are not that busy. Sure, there is the single mother of three that is holding down two jobs. Yes, she is crazy busy. But that situation does not apply to the majority of people. We all make decisions on where to spend our time. How much time do you spend scrolling through your phone or on Netflix? If you think LinkedIn is important for meeting your career goal, you will find the time.

I Already Have a Job

Many people think of LinkedIn when looking for a job, but as soon as they have secured other employment, they drop it like a hot potato. This is a huge mistake. LinkedIn is all about connecting professionals, whether in your neighborhood or around the world. By doing this, LinkedIn’s mission is to make its members more productive and successful. Those consistent on LinkedIn find that they are more productive since they learn new things and have access to people who can help them do their work better. They become more successful in their career because they are known to others through their connections, which means that opportunities can come their way, like starting a side business, getting speaking engagements, being asked to join a board, etc. Success is not measured solely by finding a new job.

Plus, here is a tip. When you are looking for a new job, it is easier to network when you have kept in contact with people and built new connections, not when you are trying to do this from scratch.

I Don’t Know a lot of People to Connect With

I can see where the idea of trying to make connections can feel daunting. Where do you start? What do you say? What if they do not want to connect with me? All are good questions. Likely, you know quite a lot of people who are already on LinkedIn. Former neighbors, old classmates, and people you used to work with likely have a profile on LinkedIn. You can always start there and rekindle those relationships.

After reconnecting with people you already know, I suggest concentrating on your goal for being on LinkedIn. Then the people you will want to connect with will become more apparent. If you want to learn more about your profession, there are professionals in every field. Use LinkedIn’s powerful search function to find them. You will get a list, and then you can use filters to shrink this list to those relevant to you, be it in your geographic location or with a specific educational degree or skill.

If you are a job seeker, you can connect with people in companies where you would like to work. You can find out more about what it is like to work there and future business prospects. Getting introduced to decision-makers is especially helpful, as they can refer you to opportunities or even create ones with you in mind. 

With over 770 million members worldwide on LinkedIn, it is less about not having enough people to connect with but choosing the best people to do so.

I Don’t Know What to Put on My Profile

Yes, there are a lot of areas where you can put information on your profile. But you only need to concentrate on the big five initially.

• Your Profile Picture

• Your Headline

• Your Experience

• The About Section

• Your Skills

Why these? Because they show who you are, tell your career story, and help you to be found in searches. Completing the other sections is like icing on the cake. They add to the eating experience, but the cake is the star attraction.

So what should you have in each of these sections? First, your LinkedIn profile should not be an exact duplicate of your resume or CV. You should write your LinkedIn profile in the first person, and it is a place where you can show more of your personality. The beauty of LinkedIn is that in addition to telling us what you do and your accomplishments, we get to learn more about you, especially why you do what you do. 

Secondly, you want to keep Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in mind as you write your profile. Visibility is essential, and one of the best ways for you to be found is to show up in searches. And how do you do that? By making sure that your profile has keywords that those looking for someone with your knowledge, experience, and skills would find important. So if you are known for your proficiency in Adobe InDesign, put it in your profile. If you have expertise in closing sales, make sure you highlight it. Whatever your audience will find of value, talk about it in your profile.

For in-depth information about LinkedIn profile sections, you might want to read the following

How To Use LinkedIn For Your Job Search: Your Profile

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of LinkedIn Profile Photos

I Worry About My Privacy

Microsoft owns LinkedIn. They have an incentive, like all companies, to use your data in ways that they feel can be profitable. As many people point out, just because you may not be paying to be on the platform doesn’t mean it is free. Often, you give up some of your privacy. There are ways you can mitigate this on LinkedIn. 

• When you join, LinkedIn asks for you access to your contacts. You do not have to share this personal information.

• You can limit the information you put on your profile to specific connections. If you go to your security settings (Settings & Privacy), you can find various options for sharing your information in the Visibility area.

• You can block LinkedIn advertisers from contacting you.

• You can opt-out of allowing third-party users access to your information.

• You can turn your profile into being anonymous when you look at the profile of others. When you do this, though, you also cannot see who has viewed your profile.

Also, you do not have to talk about anything publicly that makes you uncomfortable. Just because others share freely doesn’t mean you have to do so. Share to the public what is comfortable for you. 

LinkedIn Seems Intimidating

For some who are used to being on TikTok, Snapchat, or Twitter, where anything seems to go, LinkedIn can seem intimidating. They may perceive “unwritten” rules about how you must behave on this platform since what you put out there, whether in your profile or through comments and posts, is so public. LinkedIn skews a bit older in terms of users’ ages (44% of LinkedIn users are 50+ while only 18% of TikTok users are 50+). Younger users may feel that they are out-of-step or just not knowledgeable about the expectations of users that are higher up in their organization or in aspirational roles. The last thing they want to do is make a social media blunder that could hurt their career.

My suggestion to overcome this is to do some lurking on the platform. Look for people you know and consider social media savvy, and see what they write on their profiles. Follow the hashtags of topics of interest and see the content they put out. What do people say in the comments section, and what resonates with you? This should help you get a sense of the platform and how to use it successfully. Also, follow people that are in the know about LinkedIn. They will make the platform much less intimidating. I follow people who consistently provide excellent information about LinkedIn: Mark Williams, Andy Foote, Kevin D. Turner, and Brenda Meller.

Conclusion

If you are serious about reaching your career goals, you cannot afford not to be on LinkedIn. LinkedIn allows you to find other people with shared interests and common backgrounds, but also people with who you would not usually cross paths in your day-to-day life. Additionally, LinkedIn is powerful because it allows you to be found. Others can see your posts, comments or find you in searches. You can get known in different circles, and this can bring opportunities your way. 

LinkedIn can be a powerful tool for your career growth if only you spend time there.

Shelley Piedmont is a job search coach. She wants to help job seekers put their best foot forward by providing the tools for a successful job search. If you need career coaching, resume preparation, interview skills assessment, or LinkedIn profile assistance, she can help. Schedule a 15-minute no-obligation consultation.