LinkedIn Isn't Your Resume, and Social Media Isn't Your Reference
Your LinkedIn Profile Is a Sales Page, Not a Resume
Your LinkedIn profile isn’t a dusty PDF listing every job you’ve ever had. It’s a living, breathing pitch to the world about why you’re worth betting on. Resumes are for HR drones who scan for keywords and toss you in a pile. LinkedIn? It’s for decision makers who want to know what you can do for them right now. Stop cramming it with every internship from 2003. Highlight the wins that make you undeniable. Show the problems you’ve solved, the revenue you’ve driven, the impact you’ve made. If your profile reads like a job application, you’re already losing. Make it a story that screams value. Don’t beg for a seat at the table. Build your own.
Social Media Is Your Stage, Not Your Reference Letter
Your X posts, Instagram stories, or TikTok rants aren’t character references to vouch for your professionalism. They’re your chance to command attention and prove you’re not just another suit. Social media lets you show the world what you stand for, what you’re obsessed with, and why you’re different. Don’t post like you’re trying to impress your old boss. Post like you’re rallying a tribe. Share the lessons you’ve learned, the failures you’ve survived, the insights nobody else is bold enough to say. If your feed is just reposts and platitudes, you’re invisible. Use your voice to cut through the noise. Be the one people can’t stop talking about.
Stop Playing by Corporate Rules
The corporate world wants you to fit in a box. LinkedIn and social media are your chance to break out. A resume follows a template. A reference letter kisses up to the gatekeepers. But online? You get to rewrite the game. Don’t waste your profile or posts mimicking what everyone else does. Study the people who stand out. They’re not polishing their credentials or begging for likes. They’re sharing ideas that make people think, act, or argue. Your LinkedIn should make someone want to hire you before they even meet you. Your social media should make them want to join your mission. If you’re still playing safe, you’re not playing to win.
Build a Brand, Not a Profile
Nobody cares about your job title or your references unless they already trust you. Your personal brand is what makes them care. It’s the story you tell across LinkedIn, X, and every platform you touch. Every post, every update, every comment should reinforce who you are and what you’re about. Consistency builds trust. Boldness builds attention. Stop worrying about pleasing everyone. Focus on the people who get you, who need what you offer. Your LinkedIn and social media aren’t separate from your career. They’re the foundation of it. Build a brand so strong it opens doors you didn’t even know existed.