to think this is a stealth post or am I a miserable cow?

[Sternschnuppe]

I'm due to start a new job in June. It's a complete remote position and I'll be training for four weeks at the beginning with other new starters.

I don't know any of the people I'll be training with, but today I saw on LinkedIn that one of the HR people at the company who headhunted me liked a post of one of the new starters at the company.

It went along the lines of "I'm so happy and excited to start my role. During this pandemic, landing this dream role right after getting my university degree hasn't been easy. I'm feeling so blessed and can't wait for this new chapter in my life"

I was rolling my eyes to the back of my head when I read that and just thought how narcissistic and full of self-praise this person is to write this publically on LinkedIn, but am I being unreasonable?

Is this the new normal and I'm just being a miserable, bitter cow that should get with the times?

I will never understand this British trait of self deprecation and putting people down for celebrating their achievements. It’s so fucking miserable.

I'd rather that than the American style gushing and insincerity.

So if your CV was online presumably you were looking for a new role. Therefore not headhunted.
If it's there from the last time you looked it would be out of date because your existing role wouldn't be on it. Why would a recruiter approach someone with an out of date CV?
To me headhunting is when a company approaches someone directly because of their reputation in the workplace, not because of a CV on indeed. That's recruiting

@ZaraW

I will never understand this British trait of self deprecation and putting people down for celebrating their achievements. It’s so fucking miserable.

I'd rather that than the American style gushing and insincerity.

Self deprecation is just as insincere as gushing!

That’s LinkedIn now. Urgh. Can’t stand it anymore.

VERY normal on LinkedIn - cringy but not stuck up etc. Just doing what everyone else is doing.

It makes me cringe, I hate it but sadly it is the new normal.

Don't get my wrong, my eyes rolled and I was sick in my mouth at your colleagues self-praise OP, but I think what other folk have said above makes sense - you have to do that selling yourself crap on LinkedIn. If she was someone that posted that kind of self-praise on Facebook than you'll know she's a tool.

(Full disclosure, I am also a miserable sod)

Are you sure you were 'headhunted' OP is this a highly paid job?

If not then you were simply recruited

Sounds like you're bragging tbh

My new job I didn't get through LinkedIn though, I got it because the HR person found my CV online somewhere, probably on indeed.

Sorry - that's not headhunting. It's just bog standard recruiting

I think it's quite ok, and not cheesy. Its just a person who is showing how they feel about getting a job that appeals to them, so nothing wrong amiss with that.

This sadly is the new normal, but please keep being a miserable cow cos we're a dying breed

You don’t know what else has gone on in that persons life, maybe this is this persons big break after a hard year. What a charmer you are to put someone down even before you have met them. To answer your question yes you are being a bitter cow.

Sounds like OTT U. S. style self promoting bullshit by an overconfident underachiever to me - ignore it and be yourself

It’s definitely normal for social media in general but particularly LinkedIn. I personally wouldn’t do it, it’s not my style, too gushy etc. Would sound completely insincere coming from me. But I don’t think it sounds braggy, just overly enthusiastic.

She's happy, excited, relieved that she's got a job in times when it's been tough and many people have lost theirs and she sounds grateful.
Ok she doesn't need to tell the world but presume she's grown up with the Kardashians of the world telling us about the 10th mansion they've bought. I have read it several times and cannot stick the words 'self praise ' and 'narcissitic' to it at all, so you do sound quite mean about it tbh

It’s nothing more than a bit cringeworthy in my opinion. Humble brag springs to mind.

There doesn’t seem to self praise or narcissism on display.

She’s ahead of you by miles in understanding core basics of how to

A) build her brand
B) amplify the brand of the company

Both of those put her ahead of her peer group/ competition. Smart cookie. Roll your eyes all you wish, it’s the way the world works. Brand engagement and helping amplify a company brand is very powerful.

Good for her.

Sounds bitter to me!

Surely you are happy with a new role, so is this person. Do I shout and scream when something good happens? No. Do I care if others do? Not really as it’s their choice.

@sassbott op already said she doesn’t work for an MLM. Those phrases are just faux professional nonsense said by people who think the ‘corporate world’ is their local letting agent.

She’s ahead of you by miles in understanding core basics of how to

A) build her brand
B) amplify the brand of the company

How is ballsing on about "feeling blessed" on social media building her brand?
😂

It’s incredibly hard for graduates to find that first job these days, especially in a pandemic. Watched my son struggle for many months. Catch 22 of no experience, no job offer. He finally made it. Ecstatic. This person’s message is one of sheer joy,. So yes, you are being a miserable so and so!

Gushy gets you liked in offices IME. It oils the wheels.I had to learn it as I'm not like that, but i noticed those people were praised heavily & got progressed fast into better things. I also got better jobs in the same company by practising on people i met at the photocopier e& other PA's I had daily contact with: who then recommended me to their bosses when vacancies came up.

I actually question how many people here operate in businesses. This isn’t rocket science.

1. It builds her brand as the post has been ‘liked’ by someone in HR. Tick. That’s one person in the organisation who noticed her and has it on radar. The ripple effect of that? Well that like will then show in their feed and likely in the feed of other influential people in the organisation.
2. candidate attraction/ employee engagement/ brand recognition for talent acquisition is a market and area that companies can spend millions on (relative to their size obviously). I used to work for a company that sent swag to their employees. Work anniversary gifts. Think they’re did that for it to remain stealth? No, they did it for social engagement and to build a brand externally to become destination employers. Their employees posted it on SM, it’s all part of brand recognition.
3. I’m unclear as to the link re mental health here? What does mental health have to do with someone posting that they feel happy to have landed a job? They may genuinely be happy. They may be super tactical. Who cares. It’s smart.

Anyone can join a company. If you want to progress, watch and see who gets promoted. Who gets the recognition. Yes hard work is critical, as is competency, but if you assume in a new intake of say 20(?) people everyone is competent and prepared to work hard. What will be the mecanism that makes you stand out of the 20?
It has to be something.

Closely related are the endless complaints of being "attention seeking", itself the most heinous crime even when you've chosen to see this person's content and it really hasn't done anyone any harm

It is attention seeking.

It is perfectly normal to discuss and be proud of your achievements with your family and friends, but giving it the biggun on platforms such as linkdin and instagram is generally always attention seeking.