“The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.” – Arab proverb.
If you spend time on LinkedIn, you’ll undoubtedly notice the platform has become overrun with barking dogs—job seekers who are frustrated and angry—while employers keep moving on, looking after their self-interests.
Job seekers expressing their “emotions” online aren’t doing themselves any favours. It’s common knowledge employers Google candidates and check their LinkedIn activity to determine whether they’re interview-worthy. An employer’s reputation and brand are represented by its employees, making it prudent to vet candidates’ online behaviour by looking for red flags such as:
- Offensive behaviour
- Narcissistic behaviour
- Content designed to provoke (trolling)
- False information
- Negative (read: bashing) posts about former employers or employers in general.
The last red flag is worth noting as employer-related negative posts are increasingly prevalent. Some posts I’ve read come across as if the poster is waging a holy war against employers.
Three reasons you shouldn’t complain online:
- Complaining is toxic.
- Complaining is not leading.
- Complaining keeps you stuck where you are.
“Don’t be overheard complaining… not even to yourself.” – Marcus Aurelius.
Describing something—an event, an experience, a person—negatively (complaining) without indicating the next steps or plans to fix the problem or yourself is easy. The act of complaining requires little thought and no action.
What good has complaining ever done? Publicly venting your frustrations and anger may feel like you’re “sticking it to the man,” but does it change your circumstances, increase your chances of landing a job, or make you happier?
Self-proclaiming career coaches and resume writers serve their self-interest by telling job seekers that the reason they’re not getting interviews is because their resume sucks. While this may be true, it’s rarely mentioned that employers may be turned off by a job seeker’s online behaviour.
I’ve met many job seekers with a rockstar-like resume, frustrated they weren’t getting interviews. After reading some of their LinkedIn comments, I can see why employers aren’t contacting them. I know of two instances where a job offer was rescinded due to the to-be employee’s online behaviour. While your resume is important, what’s more important—critical to landing interviews—is your digital footprint.
Employers will disregard your candidacy no matter how skilled or experienced you are if they feel your online behaviour may affect their brand and reputation; hence, your online behaviour has consequences. Whether those consequences benefit or hinder your job search is entirely up to you. Keep your rants, vents, and anger about employers and the job market off LinkedIn and other social media platforms. While your feelings may be valid, your behaviour isn’t.
More than ever, Image is everything!
Instead of showing your network and employers your armchair opinions about how employers don’t know how to hire, show why you should be hired. Do not allow your ego to lead you to think your opinions and rants will influence employers’ hiring decisions. On the other hand, while complaining may feel cathartic, it hinders your job search efforts because:
Complaining is never a good look.
When you post complaints on LinkedIn, you put your negativity on full display for your network and employers to see. Furthermore, you’re publicly biting the hands that you want to feed you. Regardless of how you frame a “rant” or “venting,” it’ll likely convey a bitter, angry, or entitlement tone, which isn’t an impression you want to give to your network and employers.
- “Wow, this person would be difficult to work with.”
- “This person has a poor attitude.”
- “Why’s this person painting all employers with the same brush?”
- “This person is playing the ‘I’m a victim!’ card.”
- “This person needs to stop blaming everyone.”
Appearing bitter and angry towards employers will hinder your job search.
Complaining in public shows a lack of emotional control and judgment.
Managing your emotions and responding appropriately to challenging situations is a crucial aspect of being a professional. Complaining about your job search difficulties or criticizing employer hiring practices on LinkedIn shows a lack of self-control and judgment of the possible consequences of your online behaviour.
Understandably, employers seek employees who can remain calm under pressure, handle setbacks gracefully, and project a positive, solution-focused attitude. Publicly expressing your frustrations suggests you might have trouble handling workplace challenges or negative feedback.
Complaining makes you appear entitled.
Complaining gives the impression that you feel entitled to a job and have unrealistic expectations, which are turnoffs.
Employers gravitate towards candidates they feel will be grateful for the opportunity, eager to contribute, and committed to achieving success. When you complain, you appear focused more on what you believe you are entitled to than what you can offer.
LinkedIn is the most powerful tool you have at your disposal to reach employers. Hence, you want to project an image that attracts employers as opposed to repelling employers, which is what you’re doing when you complain about employers and the job market.
Bashing employers on LinkedIn won’t change how they look after their self-interests. Focus on your self-interests; to find an employer you’ll want to align your career with. Barking at employers won’t stop the caravan from moving on.
Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers “unsweetened” job search advice. You can send Nick your questions to artoffindingwork@gmail.com.
Editor’s note: Views expressed in this article do not represent that of The Chronicle
