Three Bad Career Moves to Avoid on LinkedIn

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#1 – If you find it annoying to attend a networking event with people that bring their resume with them, consider how it appears when you do this:

On LinkedIn, you send your resume directly to the email address of all of your first level connections, asking them to pass it along if they know someone who is hiring.

First of all, you haven’t even educated the recipient of the career move you want to make or the type of position you are looking for. You can’t expect them to take the time to open the resume document (if they are inclined to open an attachment anyway.

If they do open the attachment, you can’t expect them to know from reading your resume what it is you are looking for. Most are not trained staffing professionals.

The better option is to reach out to people ON LinkedIn, which always includes a link back to your profile. Let them know what you are looking for and ask, if they happen to hear of anyone hiring in that area, if they would keep you in mind to refer.

#2 – If you cannot pay attention to detail; then do not say you do. How annoyed do you get at people who send an open email message to an entire list, all included in the TO field rather than the BCC?

On LinkedIn, when you send a message or communication to more than one person, the box: “Allow recipients to see each other’s names and email addresses” is checked by default. Bad form: this sends the message to everyone’s primary email address in the TO field.

Not being caught in this etiquette trap takes only the effort to uncheck that box.

#3 – Broadcasting your message without considering where you are: if you don’t walk into church or the gym with your resume and business cards in your hand, don’t do it on LinkedIn.

Really, just by participating in the community, answering questions, engaging in group discussions, commenting on people’s status updates, all leave a digital business card that will lead people right back to your profile.

Rather than seem desperate and broadcast your search everywhere you go, practice subtlety and engagement. Just by being there, people will notice you. If you have an attractive and relevant headline, and a strong profile, inquiries will come to you as often as those you send out.

How about you? What are your pet peeves from people who just “don’t get it” on LinkedIn?