Having an obsession with LinkedIn sounds a bit strange… It is real though, and something I’ve experienced. Yes when you doom scroll on TikTok, Snapchat all your friends, and catch up on your latest TV shows I was the one who was stuck on LinkedIn. I doom scrolled for new connections, applied to any job on my radar, and all the rest that comes with LinkedIn. It sometimes is something cool to brag about, but here’s the truth of the good and bad that came with the obsession.
In hindsight applying to a number of different internships felt like practice for the real world. As a Marketing student, I’m prepped for the competition there is in the field, especially when applying for “entry-level” positions. But after a while I felt I kept applying for internships that looked good but had no relation towards my interests. Sure the first few internships you get help you with experience-based skills but competition should go both ways. The more I applied, the less confident in myself I felt. With many rejection emails, and a few interviews, I found that before moving to the next step I had to live with the experience I had now. I can’t rush into the workforce while I’m a junior in college living with my best friends. 99% of the people I’ve listened to on panels, networking events, or even mentors in-office tell me this is the time they wished they could go back to.
All in all LinkedIn is great for pushing me towards my future career. But its okay to not always have something going for yourself, getting lost in the stress of work-life, leaving behind the times that are supposed to be the best moments of your life. After college that all our lives will be, surrounding it by work. So I’ve vowed to myself to end this LinkedIn obsession and continue living my life. With this new year, instead of setting goals to better your future, which sounds weird to say, check off all those crazy adventures you have written on your bucket list that you’re still able to do while you’re young. We are young and able at the ripe age everyone wishes they could be, so vow with me and live your life to the fullest before you cant anymore.