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Navigating LinkedIn in high school: networking, competition, job-hunting

Art by Max Wakenshaw
Art by Max Wakenshaw

Junior Alice Sheffer’s eyes glance at her most recent LinkedIn notification — a new connection request from a fellow classmate. As she checks out the profile, she can’t help but feel overwhelmed by the abundant extracurricular activities, internships and awards on display. 

Sheffer created her LinkedIn account after being recommended to make a profile to maintain connections with peers at a summer program. She has since kept her LinkedIn account up to date. 

“I like how you can add all your experiences, and it keeps a resume on there,” Sheffer said. “It’s super convenient because it keeps track of the things you’re doing and have done.”

LinkedIn is a professional networking website and app designed to help individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, including students, job seekers, and small business owners, advance their careers.

While LinkedIn markets itself as student-friendly, English teacher Alanna Williamson said it isn’t intended for high school students.

“LinkedIn is typically for adults,” Williamson said. “It’s a professional tool specifically for the purpose of hiring and networking.”

Additionally, sophomore Joyce Ma said LinkedIn can cultivate a competitive environment for students who often strive to showcase their achievements. 

“I know classmates who literally have every single thing they’ve done listed on their LinkedIn,” Ma said. “Seeing my peer’s LinkedIn accounts drives me to do even more extracurriculars, to just compete with them.”

Ma said while LinkedIn can be a source of inspiration, it often creates pressure for students to constantly prove themselves and showcase their achievements.

“Looking at everyone doing all this amazing stuff, everyone trying to be their best, it’s great,” Ma said. “But also at the same time, it creates a huge rat race of trying to one-up each other.”

Williamson agrees and said the competitive nature of platforms like LinkedIn can amplify students’ anxieties about getting into a “good” college.“Comparison is the thief of joy, right?” Williamson said. “That’s what’s at play here, and I think that comes from a genuine fear of not getting into college.”

Ultimately, Sheffer said while LinkedIn can be a useful tool, it’s crucial to maintain a balanced perspective to avoid letting comparisons undermine personal growth.

“It can also be really demoralizing when you look at people your age who are doing the same things as you, but theirs are better,” Sheffer said. “It’s really important that we take a step back and realize everyone’s a different person. We’re all going at the speed that we’re supposed to be going at.”

LinkedIn did not respond to an interview request from The Campanile.

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