LinkedIn Fatigue Is Real — 3 Reasons Why It’s Stopped Working for People

"Is it me or is anyone out there tired of LinkedIn?" she asks. "I like it because you can connect with recruiters and potential employers, but there are so many people out there trying to 'brand' themselves or call themselves 'influencers.' One guy considers himself a pro, but he's a copy salesman with a lack of education — not to be snooty, but he's not accomplished if you check out his history. I rarely see any women and, when I do, she too doesn't have a stellar background for me to go, yes, I want to read what she has to say. I am probably coming off so horrible right now, but I am tired of seeing LinkedIn used as a brag session instead of helping job seekers and those seeking guidance with their careers. Instead it's 'LOOK AT ME!!!'"

1. There's too much noise.            

"I have been on LinkedIn looking for a job but there is so much noise that I haven't found anything either meaningful or helpful, and I am STILL looking for a permanent position," says Tracie Leland. "It feels like a huge waste of time."

2. It feels like a necessary evil.

"LinkedIn feels more like a necessary evil instead of a network-platform (which is their initial mission) to grow your career," says barb_hansen. "LinkedIn is (perhaps was) 'great' for keeping in touch with (and quietly staking) ex-colleagues, and looking for a new job (as mentioned above — not having a LinkedIn profile these days can make it impossible to get a job in the business/tech space)."

3. It feels like being pressured into an abyss.

"So tired of it, and I feel pressured sometimes because I am a relatively new biz owner," says Allison Roberts. "I know it works wonderfully for some people, but I haven't found it to be particularly helpful for my business. I often feel like I'm posting something into the abyss and I get tired of the 'look at me!' mentality. I know we have to put ourselves out there, but it's exhausting!"

"I think it's helpful for staying connected to former colleagues and seeing who to ask for introductions, things like that, but the recent push toward connecting with people you haven't really worked with (or never even met) is getting annoying and messing with its value," says Amanda Honigfort.

"I have had the best experience with LinkedIn and with connections when I have used InMail with specific questions or requests; 'Can you connect me to Y person at X company' has worked well," says Stephanie Koehler. "However, the personal branding scene is nonsense to me and I don't connect with those types of posts. And I agree, it seems to be a male-dominated content stream."

"I was starting to feel that way about LinkedIn but then I started going through my connections to get find those people with quality information that I know that could help me extend my network," says an anonymous FGBer. "Since I stuck with LinkedIn I have interviews with Ralph Lauren, Rent the Runway, and Horizon Media.  You just have to learn how to use LinkedIn to your best advantage."

"I've always gotten lost in the format and purpose of LinkedIn personally," says an anonymous FGBer. "It's really overwhelming and I much prefer sites where community is created."

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