Career experts recommend you put some ridiculous stuff on your LinkedIn

I always think of people who do this as tools. Let your accomplishments and achievements speak for themselves. There's no need to resort to corny advertising tactics to promote yourself lol. The link isn't working, btw.

Tour:

... wow this guy is a tool ...

unless you're in digital marketing and trying to showcase your prowess, keep it simple. definitely fill out the sections (volunteer work, experience, education, organizations), but having a complete linkedin profile is like clean sheets in a hotel, it's expected.

you don't get jobs because you have an impressive linkedin profile, you just simply don't get dinged. you have asymmetrical risk here: if you have one of these "empassioned finance student excited about the next adventure into investment banking" type profiles, you either get labeled a douche, or get a non-reaction. keep it simple, keep it professional, and focus on wowing people face to face, not over the internet.

This doesn't apply to every author, but I've noticed a pattern with articles (like the aforementioned) that I would like to share.

I want to point out that the individuals who are spending time writing articles on how to "brand yourself," "Workplace productivity," or "Professional Advice"... are often freelance writers, bloggers, or "associate" publishers who simply lack the professional experience to offer advice to those in notable black and white fields (like finance and beyond).

To reference your article, I looked up the authors Linkedin page. He is a past Blogger, Blog Editor, Digital production coordinator, and Digital Production Associate who studied English Lit at "possibly" a top 100 University. Not to overly bury the man, but what professional branding knowledge is he going to possess for Finance or beyond (even general corporate)? Furthermore, why couldn't he land a job at a notable publication (WSJ, NY Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune)?

Everyone treats online articles like the gospel, when they were written by some schmuck (like myself) squirting their unwanted advice all over the internet.

Granted, if I wanted to publish an opinion piece for the Huffington Post I might grab coffee with the man...

Pretty much 100% of the time if you're in/looking to get into finance, your headline should be your current job position or "Student at XYZ University." If you do otherwise and are "Aspiring Business Leader", assumption is 1) you don't have a job, 2) you don't go to school, 3) you don't have any mentors in the industry to tell you not to do that.

Stand out with your experiences. Investment Banking Analyst at JPM or Student at Princeton University stand out a heck of a lot better than those other flowery titles. I'll click on "Empowering Leader" profiles, not because I think I'll see a special person worth hiring, but because I'll see the profile a special person...and feel better about myself comparatively. Even better when there's a super desperate-sounding mission statement. In my opinion, Linkedin should be an online resume without the need for carefully crafted bullet points/formatting one page.

Incoming Summer Analyst / Intern is a bit funny and used to think it to be obnoxious, but it's becoming very commonplace now. Find it helpful to keep track of where younger peers from school are headed. Also hear that some banks are encouraging/telling incoming interns to do that for more brand awareness (GS).

I've got a family member who actually has some pretty great accomplishments, student athlete in both high school and college, a great internships, lots of leadership experience and a job offer working in finance at a F500 starting next month. And they opt to use one of those "Speed Reader, Visionary Talent Leader" type titles on Linkedin. I don't understand it.

It's the most cringe worthy thing I've seen, I laugh so much when I see it and it's very prevalent atm. I mean congrats you've got a summer internship is one that insecure that they fell the need to tell everyone 5 months in advance? I can't see any benefits to it only making yourself look like some cheese ball.

I've seen some really corny ones like Disruptor, Catalyst, and etc.

I mean, seriously? Shameless.

That kind of advice is why "Career Experts" don't have a real job

Agreed with the "Keep it Simple" idea.

It reminds me of that Tai Lopez guy, "here in my garage."

I avoid these people

In my book the people that stand out are the ones that don't try to, but are badass anyway. The ones that flagrantly self promote just reek of insecurity

Newsflash: awesomeness speaks for itself

Best advice I ever got? Quantitative data speaks volumes on your resume/LinkedIn, and that fluff should be avoided at all costs. No one gives a shit that you're an influencer or visionary, they want to see hard facts.

Tour:

I admit, when I see a linkedin profile and the picture looks like a student and I see their headline is something like "Empowering Leader" or "Passionate Leader" I'm more likely to click it to see just how special this person is. After all, they just declared themselves to be leaders.

Although I may be putting words in your mouth, in my case I may be doing the same thing... only to make fun of said person as it makes rounds around the desk. So even if that were true, I don't know that that's the kind of attention someone would want. I don't buy the "all press is good press" bullshit either.

As they say, those who can't do teach or coach in this case.