12 LinkedIn gaffes to avoid at all costs

I wish people had a better understanding of the term “professional networking.” LinkedIn is not MySpace, Facebook, or Twitter, and it never will be. It is simply a place where you establish professional connections.

I know most of you will laugh while reading these 12 “things not to do” on LinkedIn, as I do whenever I encounter them. Humor aside, though, I think it is time to clearly shout out loud to those who are doing these things on a regular basis.

Here are some of the things that I have witnessed during my five years of professional networking on LinkedIn:

1. Don’t lie in your profile.

I think this should be self-explanatory, as we live in the 21st century, and things (and data) are easy to check. Be truthful about your name, title, employment, and achievements. I recall a young professional who was trying so hard to get a job that every time he applied for it, he changed his title. Over a period of one year, he was a buyer, a buying director, a merchandising director, and, finally, managing director, at which point I lost track of the many “achievements” he had accomplished at the age of 21. I personally know this individual, and I can tell you that he is still working as a shop assistant.

2. Don’t ask or endorse people you don’t know.