Look, I get it -- LinkedIn can feel super "cringe" lately. Scrolling through people's family vacation pics and deep-thought posts to their spouses can feel a bit...staged. But that's a whole other article. A bigger mistake than posting beach pics is ignoring LinkedIn until you're miserable in your job or even worse, unemployed. Here's why you should keep your LinkedIn game strong all the time, whether you're happy in your current job or not.
Before anyone works with you, hires you, or even meets you, it's highly likely that they'll Google you -- and LinkedIn usually shows up first. If your profile looks busted, ignored, or like your maybe thought you were "above paying attention to it", the wrong message is being sent. Keeping it tight and polished means you're always making the best possible first impression.
LinkedIn isn't just a place to find a new job. It's where people share ideas, make connections, and open doors. Building those relationships before you need them means you're more likely to hear about cool opportunities, partnerships, or projects when they come up. If you sleep on posting, commenting, or engaging on LinkedIn until you need something from your network, your connections are likely going to know it, and it may feel disingenuous and opportunistic. When someone gets the sense that you only want to connect when you need something from them, it can be repelling.
A lot of recruiters use LinkedIn to find people quietly -- they don't post the job anywhere else. If your profile is active and easy to find, you might get contacted about roles you didn't even know existed. If you only update LinkedIn when you're desperate, you miss out on these "pocket listing" jobs.
Posting your thoughts, sharing articles, or commenting on industry news helps you stand out. You know what they say, the extra mile is never crowded. Contributing to the platform shows the algorithm and your network that you're engaged and knowledgeable. That kind of visibility can lead to invites for speaking gigs, consulting, or other cool projects -- not just job offers. A tip: don't merely 'like' something; instead be sure you're commenting, which feels like the least you can do. If you don't like it enough to comment, give it a second thought on if it's important enough to flow into your feed.
LinkedIn isn't just for humble bragging about your recent accomplishments; it's also a place to support people in your network that could benefit from visibility to your network as well as a place to learn. You can take courses, follow industry trends, and keep your skills sharp. Staying active means you’re always growing (and showing that growth), which is great no matter where you are in your career.
Don't wait until you are job hunting to fix your LinkedIn. Update your profile regularly, add new skills, and share stuff that matters to you. Use keywords that show what you do best and write recommendations for people you've worked with. The more active and complete your profile, the easier it is for others to find you -- and for you to find the right opportunities. LinkedIn is more than just a job site -- it's your professional spotlight. Ignoring it until you need a job is like waiting until the last minute to get dressed for an important event. Stay active, stay visible, and you'll be ready for when luck shows up.