Don’t Do This on LinkedIn

Are you sabotaging your executive job search without even realizing it?

According to executive search consultant Sharon Hulce, CEO of Employment Resource Group, Inc. (ERG), many senior leaders are not being held back by their experience, their résumé, or even their qualifications. They’re being held back by how they show up on LinkedIn.

And the most damaging mistake she sees isn’t what most executives expect.

It’s negativity.

From venting about a long job search to sharing politically or emotionally charged content, these posts can quietly erode credibility with recruiters and hiring managers—long before a conversation ever happens. At the executive level, perception matters, and LinkedIn is often the first place that perception is formed.

Sharon’s message is clear: your LinkedIn presence is not separate from your job search. It is part of your job search.

Every post either strengthens your executive brand…or weakens it.

In this excerpt from a Q&A for members, Sharon breaks down the most common LinkedIn mistakes she sees from senior professionals in transition and explains how small missteps can have outsized consequences in a competitive executive market.

If you’re actively exploring your next opportunity—or even just keeping your options open—this is essential guidance for protecting your professional reputation.

👉 Watch the video to hear Sharon Hulce’s insights on how executives unintentionally undermine their LinkedIn brand—and what to do instead to position yourself for stronger opportunities.