To feel a bit shit after looking at linked in?

[imamearcat]

I don't really use linked in, but someone sent me a request and I ended up having a nosey at some work colleagues.

I've always felt that I was probably one of the less academic people, don't get me wrong I can hold my own and have a decent degree in a STEM subject but I went to an ex poly and had pretty average GCSE/A level results. I think I've probably stagnated in my career and unlikely to progress much further.

Not bloody surprising looking at my colleagues education history! Most people I looked at had 4 A's at A level inc further maths, all been to red brick uni, lots of post grad degrees. etc.

It's just made me feel a bit thick / out of my depth. Or am I just being a dick?

You're doing the same job at them though?

LinkedIn is all about personal marketing, lots of people make themselves out to look amazing.

Do people really put their A level grades on LinkedIn? I've never seen that, seems irrelevant to me once you're past the first few years of work

I think you should look at why you feel inadequate. Are there really gaps in your education? If so, consider challenging yourself to learn new things. Don't focus on where they went to Uni because at this stage it really doesn't matter. Remember that education is meant to be a lifelong pursuit and there are loads of wonderful books, classes, etc. out there that you could use to further your education and help yourself to feel more confident.

Yeah basically. Some were higher grade, some lower but seemed to be a similar trend across all levels!

I wouldn't take it to heart OP. Some of the stupidest people I've ever met went to good Universities, myself included.

Qualifications are a start but what counts is can you do your job. I've seen colleagues on LinkedIn and wouldn't have recognised them from their posted experience.

Who the fuck puts exam grades on LinkedIn??

Yeah I though that @Merryoldgoat! My boss even had his GCSE results on and he'll be 40ish.

I never put mine on.. but they are not very good!

I was in a similar position in my previous job, it was an academic organisation (not a university but along those lines) so many of the people working there had PhDs (in STEM subjects!), been to Oxbridge etc and had had prior jobs in research. In fact for a lot of roles, a PhD was essential criteria. So me with my BSc (not even a masters!) felt very inferior.

However, you need to look at what you have that they don't. My role was mainly as a writer and I can tell you that a lot of people with science PhDs cannot write for toffee! I also became very specialist in my field of work and became a first point of contact and source of advice.

Educational qualifications aren't everything.

Good Lord GCSE results on LinkedIn.

So you've done well, progressed as far as people with better grades? I'd call that a win. And maybe stop denigrating yourself and your university. And by implication others.

So I suppose I'm middle management, it's quite a big step up for a promo and don't think I would ever get that. I've been on mat leave for a couple of years recently and now work PT - to be fair they are pretty flexible and so I can't really complain!

Im not the most confident of people, feel like a bit of a fraud sometimes but I've worked there for years and they've never complained so must be doing something right!

I have top grades at GCSE and A level and a degree from Cambridge. I still feel shit when I look at linkedin because

1. I'm not as advanced in my career as I want to be
2. I'm not as advanced in my career as I think I should be
3. I'm not as advanced in my career as younger/less qualified people.
4. linkedin is all about self-promotion so I'm comparing my real life and worst insecurities with someone else's PR machine.

You don't need your GCSEs or A levels on LinkedIn - noone needs that much detail. Just take them off, leave your degree and include current role/person spec and key previous roles (not necessarily every single one).
You just need enough on there to give people an understanding of what you can do, and enough key /buzz words that you come up in recruiter searches for the job you want and the LinkedIn algorithm can suggest jobs to you that would interest you.

If you're happy in your career, then who cares?

I also think people lie as much on Linkedin as they do on their CVs i.e. a lot.

You're taking the wrong message from the comparison.

If your work colleagues have better qualifications than you, then surely that suggests that you have done really well in other respects to be working alongside them - either you're brighter than your grades suggest, or you've picked up the extra knowledge since your degree, or your other skills are sufficiently good that you've been valued for those.

Thanks all. Imm get over myself and just be pleased I've got a decent job.👍

*i'll

People put a level results on LinkedIn?

really? wow- that makes them look rather pathetic tbh

Linkedin does that to you (makes you feel bad), along with other social media. Use sparingly!

Not saying your colleagues are lying on there but none of it is verified and just like any other social media, people do show what they want to be seen and exaggerate.
My ex went to a good uni according to linked in, in real life he got a couple of gcses and then worked as the student accommodation manager at the university.