Is LinkedIn Ruining Careers In 2025?
Key Points:
- LinkedIn has transformed the hiring landscape—but not always for the better.
- Job boards have evolved into a sourcing model where passive candidates rule.
- LinkedIn is a necessity for job seekers, despite its cringeworthy content and rising paywalls.
- The emotional toll of job searching in the LinkedIn era is very real.
- Premium features can help, but only if used strategically.
If you’re like most job seekers today, LinkedIn probably evokes a love-hate relationship. On one hand, it’s where opportunities live. On the other hand, it often feels fake, performative, and exhausting. And the state of the platform has left many wondering if LinkedIn is ruining careers or is helping them.
I get it. I’m Bryan Creely, former corporate recruiter and founder of A Life After Layoff. I’ve spent over two decades interviewing and hiring thousands of professionals for some of the biggest companies in the world. And I’ve seen firsthand how LinkedIn has redefined the way careers are made—and sometimes broken.
Let’s take a critical look at how we got here, what LinkedIn does right, where it’s gone off the rails, and how you can use it more effectively to become the CEO of your career.
So is LinkedIn ruining careers? Yes, and No.
A Brief History of Job Boards: From Newspaper Classifieds to Digital Gatekeepers
Before LinkedIn ever existed, job seekers relied on newspaper classifieds, bulletin boards, and in-person networking. It was messy, inefficient, and heavily localized. But then came the internet.
The first online job board, Online Career Center (OCC), launched in 1993. Monster.com followed in 1994, revolutionizing the way people searched for work. Resume uploads, job search filters, and global visibility changed the game.
Other players like CareerBuilder and HotJobs joined the scene in the mid-to-late ’90s. These platforms started building the foundation for a digital labor market. But despite the convenience, they still relied on one model: the candidate sees a job, applies to it, and waits.
Enter LinkedIn: The Shift to Passive Candidate Sourcing
LinkedIn launched in 2003 but didn’t truly transform hiring until around 2008. With features like job postings, company pages, and most importantly, LinkedIn Recruiter, it quietly changed the power dynamic.
Instead of relying on candidates to apply, employers (read: recruiters) began proactively sourcing talent. This shift was massive, allowing companies to poach top talent who weren’t even looking.
And while this might sound great, it created a critical mismatch: most job seekers are still applying to roles actively, while companies are filling roles through outreach.
In fact, according to LinkedIn Talent Solutions, 87% of recruiters now use LinkedIn to find candidates, often ignoring the application stack altogether. So if you’re not being sourced, your resume might never even be seen.
LinkedIn in 2025: Still Useful, But Painfully Flawed
Let’s get one thing out of the way: yes, LinkedIn is cringy.
From humblebrags and overly polished “inspirational” stories to fake job postings and engagement-bait posts, the platform can feel like a professional version of Facebook. Many job seekers are rightly disillusioned.
But here’s the harsh truth:
If you care about having a successful white-collar career in 2025, you need to be on LinkedIn.
It might not be fair. It might feel fake. But it’s still where the recruiters are.
The Emotional Toll of Modern Job Searching
Job searching in the LinkedIn era isn’t just a logistical challenge—it’s an emotional one.
You spend hours tailoring resumes, writing cover letters, and clicking “Easy Apply” only to be met with silence. Worse, you’re competing with thousands of global applicants. Many of whom aren’t even qualified or based in the right country. You’re buried before a human even sees your name.
Meanwhile, the algorithm punishes nuance. If you post something thoughtful about your industry, chances are it gets ignored. However, post a sob story or a shallow listicle, and you’ll likely receive 1,000 likes.
This environment leads many job seekers to feel disillusioned, discouraged, and even angry. And understandably so.
So, Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It?
This is a question I get a lot, and my answer is begrudgingly yes.
Not because it’s a perfect solution. And not because I believe everyone should pay. But if you know how to use it right, LinkedIn Premium can offer real advantages:
- InMail access: This lets you reach hiring managers, recruiters, and potential connections directly, which is critical for effective networking.
- Who viewed your profile: This feature helps you understand what’s working and who’s showing interest.
- Advanced search filters: These help you target the right people and companies with precision.
But let me be clear: Premium is only worth it if you’re going to use it strategically. Otherwise, it’s just another monthly subscription.
If you need help setting up a recruiter-friendly profile or learning how to network on LinkedIn without the awkwardness, check out my Unlocking LinkedIn course. It’s designed to help you make the most of the platform without wasting time.
LinkedIn’s Two-Tier System and Paywalls
Many features that used to be free are now behind paywalls. From direct messaging to seeing who viewed your profile, you often need Premium to unlock real value.
This creates a class divide: job seekers with money can network and brand themselves effectively. Those without? They’re stuck hoping their application stands out in a sea of 1,000.
It feels exploitative. Especially for job seekers who are already unemployed and under pressure.
That’s why it’s more important than ever to understand how the system works and use it to your advantage.
Fake Jobs, Scam Recruiters, and the Dark Side of LinkedIn
Let’s talk about one of LinkedIn’s most frustrating problems: fake jobs and scam recruiters.
Ever seen a posting that seems too good to be true? Or received a message from a recruiter that doesn’t quite feel right? You’re not alone.
Many companies post “evergreen” job listings just to collect resumes. Others disguise unpaid work as “portfolio projects.” Worse, scammers impersonate recruiters to harvest your personal info.
Tip: Be skeptical. If a job seems sketchy, research the company and look for verified recruiter accounts. Never give out personal info or pay for training programs.
Networking on LinkedIn: The Right Way vs. the Wrong Way
Is LinkedIn ruining careers? Networking can certainly contribute to a lack of career progression. LinkedIn networking can be incredibly effective—if done right. Unfortunately, most people either:
- Spam random connection requests and pitch messages
- Sit back passively and expect jobs to land in their inbox
Neither works.
Effective networking requires a clear strategy:
- Build a profile that gets found (Learn how in my LinkedIn course)
- Engage meaningfully with your connections and their content
- Reach out with value, not just a sales pitch or resume
The good news? When done right, networking can unlock jobs that never get posted. In fact, the networking aspect of LinkedIn can land you interviews without even submitting a resume! (I’ve personally done it myself)
When LinkedIn Feels Like Facebook (and What to Do About It)
One of the biggest complaints about LinkedIn today is that it’s become overrun with trolls, virtue signaling, and irrelevant content.
Threads about leadership devolve into political rants. People argue in the comments. It feels less like a professional network and more like a social media free-for-all.
Here’s my advice:
- Curate your feed aggressively
- Unfollow people who post fluff or drama
- Follow thought leaders and professionals in your industry
- Use the block feature liberally
The goal is to create a space that helps, not hinders, your job search.
Final Thoughts: Is LinkedIn Ruining Careers, or Just Misunderstood?
So, is LinkedIn ruining careers? Or is it still the best tool job seekers have in 2025?
Honestly, it’s both.
Yes, it has flaws. Some of them are infuriating. But LinkedIn remains the most powerful job search and career-building platform available today.
- If you want to land interviews, you need to understand how recruiters use LinkedIn.
- If you want to get found, you need to optimize your profile.
- If you want to skip the resume pile, you need to network.
And if you’re not sure how to do that, I can help. Check out my Unlocking LinkedIn course to learn exactly how to build a profile that attracts recruiters and network like a pro.
Let’s take control of your career together. You’ve got this.
