I’m back on LinkedIn. I mean, I technically never left. Always had a profile. But I’m on it for real now. Trying to level up. I’m expanding my network. I’m creating new networks. I’m getting involved in other people’s networks and expanding on those. Feels good. It had been too long. My LinkedIn profile and my 155 connections had just been sitting there gathering dust. Not a good look if you’re trying to be taken seriously as a professional. I’d forgotten that all this mattered. In the world of retail, it really doesn’t. But I’m trying to get out of that world and back into the world of young professionals, where LinkedIn absolutely matters.
I have 155 connections right now. Not okay. It just looks so bad. 155? That’s it, dude? You’re gonna be 30 next year. Wake the fuck up. Get that up to 500. After that, it doesn’t matter. It just says 500+. I guess 501 is as good as 5,000. But 155? Get your shit together, man.
Also, I’ve got to formulate some opinions—like real opinions—on business-related storylines so I can chime in on people’s posts. That’s big. I’ve gotta be able to log on, guns blazing, and create some sparks in these discussions on corporate leadership and work-life balance, because that’s what’s going to provide the networking opportunities that could land me a legit job. That’s never gonna happen if I don’t buckle down and figure out how virtual reality job training platforms make me feel inside. I don’t even know what they are.
So many things I don’t even know what they are. That’s really the main issue here. My boss—well, my boss’s boss—hit me up on the sales floor a few weeks ago for a little chit-chat. He hadn’t see me since I was rehired. I told him I was only going to be working at the store part-time now since I’m trying to get my own writing business going. He immediately asked me what I thought about ChatGPT, the new AI chatbot that kind of knows how to answer questions like a real person.
It seemed like the big boss was hoping to dive into a juicy discussion about what ChatGPT means for writers (and, I assume, how fucked we are). I don’t know if this was right before ChatGPT became an inescapable topic or if I’d been living under a rock (probably the latter), but I had no idea what he was talking about. I actually thought he said “Chat EBT.” Like he was about to give me the inside scoop on a government benefits program for poor writers or something. I mean what an embarrassment. Wouldn’t be surprised if he fires me this week out of pure contempt.
But hey, this is why I’m back on LinkedIn. Aside from the job search, it’s time to start being a real, professional adult and educate myself on ChatGPT, consumer trends, workplace adaptability, advanced recruitment strategies, the ever-evolving tech landscape, the ever-evolving data landscape, and countless other ever-evolving landscapes.
Also, can we talk about the ever-evolving LinkedIn landscape? It’s definitely changed a lot since the last time I was here. If I recall, five years ago, LinkedIn was all about the grind. Five Ways To Grow Your Business. 10 Ways To Be More Productive. 25 Entrepreneurs Who Can’t. Stop. Innovating. I’m pretty lazy, so naturally I wasn’t a big fan of that energy. But at least it was easy to understand.
I don’t love current LinkedIn either, but I gotta suck it up and try to learn some stuff so I can make some waves in these discussions on how to foster creativity in the era of hybrid work models. I don’t really have any ideas on how to do that. I think maybe if I start by chiming in with basic comments like “Love this” and “So important,” and then work my way up to throwing out more concrete solutions, hybrid work model-wise. We’ll see. I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself right off the bat. I’m back in the LinkedIn game, and that’s what matters. I’ll be ready next time the big boss wants to talk about AI.
I'm Back on LinkedIn, And I Don't Know What Anything Means
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