A few years ago, this post made the rounds on LinkedIn: “Yesterday I was walking to an interview. There was a starving dog on the road. I stopped to feed him & missed the interview. The next day, I got a call asking to come in to do the interview. I was surprised, but I went. Then the interviewer came in. He was the dog.”
No matter how you perceive the satirical post, it highlighted a trend among users that would continue to grow on the platform: sharing dramatic stories to convey a message and banking on it to go viral.
Over the years, LinkedIn has distinguished itself from other social media platforms by being business-focused. Some people, however, put a self-deprecating or humble bragging spin on their achievements instead of just posting them. Others glorify the hustle culture and how it has led to their success.
This contrasts sharply with platforms like TikTok, where users tell their audiences to maintain boundaries between their work and personal life. But what are the motivations behind such posts?
Adrian Tan, who has worked in the human resources industry for over 20 years and offers an online course on building a vast LinkedIn network, attributes one reason to scoring high in reactions or comments. He explains, “Some posts that provide drama, controversy, and polarisation, get more clicks and shares.
“The hustle culture creates that debate. Maybe they want praises, likes, and comments from their network as validation. Posting achievements, wins, or how hard they work could feed this craving.”
Joseph Quek, a professional counsellor from Talk Your Heart Out, an end-to-end therapy platform, agrees. “Social media platforms offer us an avenue for receiving feedback through likes, comments, and shares. These interactions have a significant impact on our self-esteem, providing a sense of affirmation.”
He also explains it in psychological terms. For example, the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) sheds light on the motivation behind seeking validation and recognition.
It suggests that we all have basic psychological needs, including autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The need for competence involves feeling capable and effective in our actions. Seeking validation can be a way to fulfil this need.
Isheeta Punjabi, a counsellor with Counseling Perspective, echoes their sentiments. “Individuals want to look their best and most successful selves on LinkedIn. Their goal might be to impress their peers or improve their job application profile. It
is human nature to preserve, grow and build oneself up, and this is simply the newest method to achieve all three in one fell swoop.”
Quek points out that on LinkedIn, individuals can select and share information to create a desired impression, managing how others perceive them and their professional identity. This behaviour is often driven by the desire for social approval, professional success, and a positive self-concept.
Additionally, participation in LinkedIn’s Top Voice programme, which recognises experts as a way to help members uncover valuable information, may work as a catalyst for some individuals.
To be recognised as a Top Voice, individuals may strategically engage in self-presentation and impression management to create a positive and influential image.
They may also emphasise their expertise, achievements, and successes through their content to increase the chances of being selected as a Top Voice. This aligns with their motivation to manage the impressions others have of them and control the symbols associated with their professional identity.
“By carefully curating their content and showcasing their dedication and accomplishments in line with hustle culture or humble bragging, individuals aim to present themselves as deserving of the recognition and validation provided by the Top Voice programme.”
This recognition could also catch the attention of potential employers. The experts warn, however, that it could even turn out to be a double-edged sword.
Tan says, “There are people who don’t subscribe to the hustle culture. Usually, it contributes to unhealthy workaholism norms. It may also develop an imbalanced sense of self-worth based on productivity. This ultimately damages you and your audience, as well as their mental health. It may even lead to burnout from so many unrewarding goals.”
Isheeta agrees and cautions that uploading such posts could convey arrogance and exaggerate one’s success, affecting credibility. In an age where everyone is trying to break away from hustle culture, singing the same old tune may seem old school, where continuous hard work and prioritising work take precedence.
She says, “It is important to keep in mind that every individual operates differently. One person may thrive with a 12-hour workday, while another needs regular breaks to cope. We cannot glorify a one-size-fits-all method when we are moving towards a more individualistic way of thinking.”
LinkedIn posts about humble bragging and promoting hustle culture have existed for several years. More recently, however, some people have taken it a step further by posting personal stories, such as their interactions with their children and what they have learned from them.
Whether this is beneficial depends on the type of brand you want to build, says Tan. “It’s about moderation. Having some personal stories can help you build connections, but too much focus on a non-career topic can dilute your personal brand.
“Ideally it should be related to your career context, lessons learned, insights, and leadership. Oversharing intimate struggles and all that is fine as long as it is on-brand. However, if it isn’t, you should think about it before going ahead.”
Industry perceptions may also differ. You might recall a viral post from Braden Wallake, the CEO of a marketing agency last year. He posted a photo of himself crying while discussing letting go of two of his 17 employees.
An accompanying caption read: “This will be the most vulnerable thing I’ll ever share. Days like today, I wish I was a business owner who was only money-driven, and didn’t care about who he hurt along the way. But I’m not. So, I just want people to see that not every CEO out there is cold-hearted and doesn’t care when he/she has to lay people off.”
The post went viral, of course. However, it also sparked a massive backlash. Wallake was labelled tone-deaf and became the inspiration for the “crying CEO” memes.
Wallake may have faced the backlash not because he’d shared his vulnerability, but rather because it was done at the expense of the two laid-off employees. Then, the question arises: should you even post your vulnerable moments on LinkedIn?
Tan says, “It’s a choice that depends on one’s goals, the industry norm, and the target audience. Vulnerability, as Brené Brown said in her book, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, is good because it humanises, builds empathy, shows that you have emotional quotient, fosters connection, and destigmatises mental health. Ultimately, it’s about the full story behind that message.”
Quek concurs: “Sharing vulnerability shows authenticity and humanises your professional image. As a result, others can relate to your experiences, fostering deeper connections and potentially leading to meaningful discussions. It can also elicit empathy and support from your network, creating a sense of community.”
However, he cautions that such posts could backfire. “It is important to consider the primary purpose of LinkedIn as a career-focused platform. Sharing personal stories and vulnerability may raise questions about professionalism.
“Some employers or recruiters might view such content as inappropriate for a professional networking site. Depending on the industry and the nature of the vulnerability shared, it could affect how employers perceive your suitability for certain roles or responsibilities.”
Isheeta agrees with Tan and Quek. She describes vulnerability as a beautiful means of building connections and having genuine conversations. “Some of the most powerful LinkedIn posts are centred on individuals who have had genuine struggles within their professional career and are leaning into their circle to share their story.
“It takes a lot of courage to drop your walls in an intimidating professional space such as LinkedIn. When done honestly and without hints of humble bragging, it is well received.
“Humans thrive on connection. Nothing makes one feel more connected than being able to understand the feelings someone else is experiencing.”
However, she warns users against using faux vulnerability to showcase their human side—“or even worse, to show how they overcame a struggle to make themselves seem like a hero.”
Isheeta also emphasises authenticity when it comes to portraying oneself on the platform, even when sharing your mental health journey. “It’s important that people be real, even in their professional life. As work takes up nearly 60 percent of your
day, it would certainly affect your mental health journey.
“Being honest about facing personal challenges is part of the growth that humanity is seeing when it comes to what we are comfortable sharing.
“From my perspective as a therapist, I find it wonderful that people can be more comfortable sharing these types of conversations, especially since once you share, you open up doors for others to do the same, and that definitely lightens
the pressure.”
However, don’t use mental health as fodder for conversation, she cautions. “It is important to not use themes about your mental health just to be a part of the conversation. That is disrespectful to individuals who are genuinely going through struggles in their life—be it personally or professionally.”
If these expert opinions are making you think twice about what to post on LinkedIn, Tan and Quek have a few tips to help you build an effective LinkedIn profile.
Quek says, “Share your expertise and knowledge through valuable content. You can write articles, share industry news, and even offer practical tips that highlight your skills. By sharing helpful information, you establish yourself as a trusted professional.”
Tan agrees, “It’s about providing value, insights, information, entertainment, and, to some extent, humour. There are different people on LinkedIn, so it depends on who you are trying to reach out to.”
Personality is also important because people don’t just want to know information. They want your opinion on that information, too, says Tan. “I can learn more from Wikipedia, but what’s your opinion on it? That is something that’s lacking.”
Before you post, take a step back and ask yourself what you want to achieve, and how you want to present yourself to others on the platform. Quek says, “In the process, we can be true to ourselves and others by embracing authenticity.
“This means presenting ourselves honestly, without trying to conform to societal expectations or portraying a false image. By being true to our values, passions, and expertise, we can attract opportunities that align with our genuine selves.”
You now know how to post. But Tan says you aren’t done yet. “It’s not just about posting. Posting and moving on is very one-sided. Communication and interaction are the fundamental building blocks of social networks.
“Currently, its algorithm shows that many people are trying to game the commenting system. Commenting is part of a people strategy. You’d have to comment on 20 to 30 posts in one day, and the comments have to be thorough—not just a ‘Hey, good post!’”
Additionally, he lists getting recommendations and testimonials from others as good hygiene to get noticed, along with ensuring your profile is complete.
However, as LinkedIn is ultimately a social networking platform for professionals, both stress the importance of authentically growing your network. As Tan says, “Don’t just engage many people, engage the right ones.”
“Build genuine connections by engaging with others meaningfully, participating in discussions, and offering support,” adds Quek. “Through these interactions, we can cultivate authentic connections and expand our professional network. Genuine relationships are the foundation of professional growth and influence.”
