Students and LinkedIn: Profiling, inspiring, and toe curling

“Yes!” was Bente’s first reaction when she was offered an internship position. And then: “Help, should I be posting something on LinkedIn?”

Bente’s question isn’t hard to understand. Back in the day, people would only share their CVs with potential employers. Now, LinkedIn serves as a virtual business card that you present to the entire world – and it's not just a list of work experiences and diplomas. You can also share work-related news and musings. More and more, LinkedIn is becoming a platform where people carefully cultivate their perfect professional persona, much like Facebook used to be.

How important is LinkedIn anyway? And is it okay to embellish your experiences a little bit when using the platform? DUB spoke with five students about their perception of the ultimate social network for adults. 

Is it important to keep your LinkedIn profile up to date? If so, why? 
Nearly all interviewees nod furiously at this question, except for Brian, a Master’s student in Physics who hopes to pursue a PhD. He doesn’t think a LinkedIn profile is necessary when you're aiming for an academic career. “LinkedIn is more important for some disciplines than others. If you're a freelance journalist, for example, that could be a nice way to present yourself and attract potential employers. But I just want to apply for a PhD in Physics, so I don't think I need to be visible on the Internet.”

Meike, who deleted LinkedIn because she was getting stressed out from all the pressure to perform on the platform, shakes her head as well. “I did an applied sciences programme in law and recently started working as a secretary at UU. I’ve never wanted a high-end career because enjoying my private life is more important to me than my work. I’m happy with that approach. But when I’m on LinkedIn and see everyone’s amazing achievements and accomplishments, I start to doubt myself.”

The others disagree. They do think it's important to use LinkedIn. Jurriën, a Master’s student of Communication Sciences, even enjoys the social network: “It’s all about personal connections. When I was doing my internship, I went to events where I met a lot of inspiring people. LinkedIn allows me to 'collect' them. Thanks to their posts, I stay up to date with what’s happening in my field.”

Merel, a Bachelor’s student of Philosophy, Politics and Economics, only keeps her account updated so that others can find her. She says that visibility on LinkedIn goes beyond the work floor. “If you Google someone’s name, their LinkedIn profile is pretty much the first thing you see. So, a good profile isn’t just useful for potential employers. When you interview for a room, for instance, your potential roommates may also look up your LinkedIn profile.” She laughs and continues: "Bumble matches who are good detectives can do the same, too.”

Should you embellish things on LinkedIn?
Bente, Bachelor’s student of English Language & Culture: “Well, you shouldn’t lie. But I think you can try to phrase things impressively. People do the same on their CVs or during job interviews.”

Merel: “They do it on other social networks too, like Instagram. Except this isn’t about having a cool social life but rather about academic achievements.”

Brian: “It’s a shame that this happens, though. Only potential employers used to see our CVs. Now, since LinkedIn profiles are public, they set a standard you can compare yourself to. So, it’s kind of bitter when a profile isn’t completely true.”

Is that unrealistic standard an issue?
Brian: “People share their high grades on LinkedIn or the obstacles they have overcome to get to this perfect endpoint. People rarely post that they’re happy with a 6.0 or that they’re settling for a job that may not be super challenging, but it's good enough.” Merel agrees: “If you’re sensitive to that sort of thing, it feeds your perfectionism.” Meike laughs: “We really should have a Rianne Meijer (an influencer on Instagram, known for her ‘Instagram vs Reality’ series, Ed.) on LinkedIn!”

Does any of you embellish your experiences on LinkedIn?
Jurriën, resolutely: “No, I hate self-glorification.” Merel says she doesn't either, but sometimes she does think: "Oh, this would look nice on my LinkedIn profile." The others laugh and Jur confesses: “Okay. I recently organised an internship event and nobody posted anything about it on LinkedIn. I was bummed that there was nothing for me to repost.” 

Meike: “If it’s not on LinkedIn, did you even do it? That kind of feeling is a good example of why I left LinkedIn. I should do things because I want to do them, not so I can tell other people that I did them.” Bente realises they're getting off-topic. “We’re talking about impressing others again. That’s different from making things look cooler than they are.”

They all say they don’t do that, but they see others exaggerate or brag often. Brian thinks it's funny that everyone gave the same answer. All of them say they are careful about what they post on the platform out of fear of resembling those who brag too much.

On the one hand, you say you’re allowed to embellish your experiences a bit. On the other hand, you’re afraid you’ll be bragging if you do it yourself. So, what’s the difference between selling yourself well and self-glorification?
Bente: “I don’t know. It’s hard for me to take people I know seriously when I see them post messages steeped in academic jargon or full of motivational quotes. Because I know they are not like that.” 

Meike: “But that makes sense. People are three-dimensional and their LinkedIn persona is two-dimensional. You know your friends have insecurities, you've seen them drunk, dancing on tabletops. But, for strangers, who don't see the full picture, their LinkedIn profile is their entire personality.”

Brian: “Still, even for people you don’t know: the line between a shiny professional identity and cringe is often a fine one.” Jurriën adds: “If I knew exactly where that line was, maybe I’d dare to post things online a little more often.”

Where is that line anyway? 
Thijs Launspach, a psychologist and stress expert, says it’s not surprising that people get annoyed with certain posts on LinkedIn. Things like “I’m speechless from all the positive responses to my essay” or “I would have never dared to dream that I’d be here one day” are examples of what he calls “humble bragging”: bragging barely hidden behind a translucent veil of false modesty. It’s not the bragging itself, but the insincerity that evokes irritation. 

Paul Boselie, Governance Professor at UU, also thinks it makes sense that people want to sell themselves as effectively as possible on LinkedIn. “Employers do the same towards employees. Whether that’s a good thing or not, is a different question. But when everyone does it, you get sucked into it.” Like the students, Boselie emphasises that honesty is the best policy for those looking to score a good job. “You can write shiny stories about your experiences, as long as you stick to the truth.”

How important is it to be present on LinkedIn and post regularly? 
Boselie: “Some say that employers are using LinkedIn to recruit employees more and more. They claim that companies approach people based on their profile and experiences, so it’s useful to keep your work experience up to date. However, I doubt that many employers look beyond work experience. I am not sure they look at your content, how often you post and what types of messages you post." 

Do you have other advice for students who don’t know what to do on this 'grown-up' social network? 
Boselie: “Yes. I see a lot of young people who are uneasy about LinkedIn because they constantly compare themselves to others. That’s true for work-related accomplishments, but it reflects the desire for perfectionism of our times. I wish we would stop comparing ourselves to others. If you want advice on your career or on updating your LinkedIn profile, it’s better to ask an adult who’s been working for a long time.”