Reflecting on Deleting LinkedIn

Two years later...

pov

Hi there,

In 2018, I deleted my LinkedIn account. Then, because they said not having a LinkedIn presence is career-suicide, I got scared and decided to create an account without any connections (read: newsfeed) to use as a digital resume. I deleted that, too, in 2021: Part to reduce my digital footprint, part to prove to myself I don’t need LinkedIn to progress in my career. I said time will tell— because time is all we have— and two years later…

Five things to share:

1. Time is the best teacher. Two years after deleting LinkedIn, barely remembering the platform even exists, I have managed to find jobs— even after relocating to a different country for a bit— and currently, *drumroll please!* I have my dream job. I work in the non-profit sector in mental health with the most delightful humans—teenagers!— and it affords me my humble life in Toronto: A city not for the faint of the heart but it is the only home I know. If I do say so myself, my resume is impressive for my field: Fairly educated, decent job titles held over the years, and great references; with an excellent work ethic to boot. With all that, I wanted to find out for myself, always eager to poke holes in the status quo, if LinkedIn is needed too. Of course, there is no way of knowing what opportunities I have missed out on without a LinkedIn presence. That is the thing about life; no control group to test how your life would have turned out without the variable you’re testing, in this case if I kept my LinkedIn profile and connections. What I do know is my experiment in deleting LinkedIn has gone exceptionally well for me. I got to do what I wanted: Reduced my digital footprint and got offline! and still manage to have a career that I love. There is a stupid amount of luck involved but I’m glad to have proved to myself I don’t need LinkedIn to progress in my career. All I need is a good resume, IRL connections, and my knack for trusting life just a little bit.

2. In the process of going through my archive, I’m discovering old but goodie stuff I wrote about my time spent offline journey. It is lovely to see my progression from focus on the digital— the fight against smart machines— to pure delight and celebration of life mostly lived in these offline streets.

   If you are just beginning your time spent offline journey, I recommend: 
   ➡ Addiction by design: How technology keeps us hooked
   ➡ Co-existing with email: Tips for radical inbox declutter
   ➡ Demonizing the tool(s) is scapegoating: Using technology intentionally
   ➡ Is digital declutter for you?
   ➡ Digital minimalism: A philosophy of technology use
   ➡ From a smartphone to a flip phone: Is it time to give up on technology?
   ➡ Laugh or log off

   If you are getting away from the digital noise but still struggling with the offline world, I recommend: 
   ➡ How to fill our days
   ➡ Demons hate fresh air
   ➡ Going analog in a digital world
   ➡ The opposite of addiction is connection
   ➡ Self-medicating with art: A guide
   ➡ Read a book instead

3. A quote I want to share with you:

   Our future is a race between the growing power of technology and the wisdom with which we use it.

   — Stephen Hawking

4. Quote found in: The Digital Ape: How to Live (in Peace) with Smart Machines

   The smart-machines revolution is reshaping our lives and our societies. Is this a cause for terror and confusion, or another misconception about new technology?

5. A question for you: What can you find out for yourself if you took a chance on your one wild, precious life? Luck just might be in your favour.

That’s all for this week!

Thank you for reading, and share with anyone you think may benefit.

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Until next time,

Mehret