LinkedIn Can Lick It

After a solid month of working the angles of LinkedIn, I'm done. The sheer volume of both positions (dozens) and applicants (hundreds) is ridiculous. And then there's the issue of coming across weeks after they've been posted. How? I subscribe to all the keyword job notifications. (Algorithm??) I'm done, LinkedIn. You have officially become my passive approach to finding work (ie, the work can find me).

I am a little salty about all the time and effort I put into this. And Premium? A joke. One of its features is being able to use AI to generate an email to the hiring contact for a given job. AI generates the most generic, impersonal note you can imagine. Definitely a NO. And of all the jobs I applied for (a dozen?), only once did I receive notification that my application materials were viewed. (An emoji is appropriate here:) 😑

I recently listened to a podcast by Career Contessa called "The Hidden Job Market: How to Find a Job in 2014," hosted by Lauren McGoodwin and joined by guest AJ Mizes. Here's what I learned from these two former HR gurus: Most people who apply for jobs on LinkedIn will not get them. It is possible, but not likely. There is something Mizes calls the hidden job market. These jobs never even get posted. He has a "sidebar method: that includes using LinkedIn for networking, relationship building, etc. so that you become that "oh, hey — I know somebody for that position" option when the right job becomes available. 

Okay, this may work for very specific, high-level jobs, but for the rest of us? 

Here's the thing: The marketplace has changed significantly since the pandemic for writers, editors, and content creators in general. While it has provided more opportunity for some, it's taken from others. The necessity of the remote workplace provided entry to world-wide resources but also succeeded in saturating the market. Now, instead of offering a niche value (in my case, offering remote, contract writing/editing services), I'm drowned out by writers willing to work for $10/hour. And artificial intelligence? That's akin to sweat shop work. No, really.

So, no; I won't be using LinkedIn as a primary resource for the job hunt. I'd agree that it is more valuable for relationship development. In the meanwhile, I recently had a very hopeful job interview for a part time, hybrid content creation position not too far from home. The pay is close to what I made 15 years ago, but I'm at a point in life where I'm willing to tradeoff for happiness. Here's to looking on a brighter side.