The Cringey-est, Most Common LinkedIn Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

We've all been there: Someone you've never met or heard of hits up your LinkedIn inbox and, with no explanation, asks you for a favor. You know they mean well, but it feels awkward. Chances are, though, you've done something equally awkward on the platform without realizing it. Such is the slippery nature of LinkedIn etiquette.

At Girlboss, we believe your LinkedIn profile is one of the most underused career tools you have access to. With so many people using the platform in entirely different ways, it's hard to know exactly what to do in order to stand out. So let's flip it and reverse it: what are the things you definitely should not do?

Avoiding common LinkedIn faux pas will go a surprisingly long way when it comes to differentiating yourself in the eyes of an employer. LinkedIn is weird. Here are seven of the most cringe-worthy mistakes — including one that did not exist when this article was first written.

Never Updating Anything

Is your current job actually listed as your current job? Let's say a potential employer wants to check you out online. Of course, one of the first things they do is go to your LinkedIn profile. But what's this? It seems you're currently a freshman undergrad, even though said employer knows that was like five years ago. Make it easy for your dream boss by keeping your page fresh and updated with the latest information on the reg.

In 2026, this goes beyond just job titles. LinkedIn is now a content platform — people post videos, publish newsletters, share long-form articles, and follow thought leaders in their field. If your profile lists your current job but you haven't posted anything in three years, and your skills section is empty, you are still leaving an incomplete picture. Think of your LinkedIn as a living document, not a static CV.

Not Showing Off Your Awesome Personality

There's a fine line between professional and perfectly boring when it comes to presenting yourself on LinkedIn. How to give your profile some added personality while remaining super professional? Don't write about yourself in the third person (it seems robotic), give people a reason to keep reading, and don't be afraid to share a little realness. Case in point: the headline in entrepreneur Cindy Gallop's profile reads, "I like to blow shit up. I am the Michael Bay of business." Iconic.

Letting AI Write Your Profile for You

This is the mistake that did not exist in 2017 and is now one of the most common and most identifiable. LinkedIn's own AI tools will offer to write your summary, your About section, and even your connection request messages. Recruiters and hiring managers read hundreds of profiles a week and can spot the AI-generated ones immediately.

The telltale signs: phrases like "results-driven professional," "passionate about leveraging synergies," "I thrive in dynamic environments," and any opening line that starts with "I am a dedicated and motivated." These phrases appear in thousands of profiles. They say nothing about you specifically.

Use AI to get past the blank page, then rewrite everything in your own voice. The person reading your profile should feel like they're meeting a specific human with a distinct perspective, not reading a template. If you wouldn't say it out loud at a networking event, don't put it in your LinkedIn summary.

The same logic applies to connection request messages: a ChatGPT-generated outreach note is usually obvious and often gets ignored. Two sentences in your own words will always outperform a polished paragraph that sounds like it could have been sent by anyone.

Straight-Up Stalking

There's a difference between strategic stalking and straight-up stalking, and it goes like this: Do you want this person to know that you have seen their profile? If you answered "hell yes," view their profile in public mode, and they will be notified that you are checking them out. This is a subtle way of showing people you are interested in connecting further. The straight-up stalking?

Checking out the same person's profile page again and again. Unless you are browsing in private mode, they can see you. And that can come across as pushy or weird. Stalk responsibly.

Having a Random Picture (or None at All)

If there's anything worse than the sad blue thumbnail LinkedIn uses when you have not uploaded a picture, it's an inappropriate picture that gives people the wrong impression. That photo of you doing five shots on vacation is awesome, and you should definitely share it somewhere else. But on LinkedIn, hiring managers want you to look calm, happy, and, most of all, trustworthy.

Good lighting helps. It is hard to catch that eager-to-work twinkle in your eye when your picture is dark and gloomy. And in 2026, AI-generated headshots are now widely used and widely accepted — if a professional photo is not accessible, a clean, well-lit AI headshot is a legitimate option.

Being a Spam-Bot

Once your profile is looking great, you will be tempted to go on a mass-requesting spree. That is fine. But remember: quality, not quantity. Unlike Instagram, no one cares how many LinkedIn connections you have. What matters is that you are making meaningful connections with people who inspire you.

The easiest way to do that is to personalize your requests rather than using the default auto-request text. Both the desktop and mobile apps now allow you to add a personal note to connection requests, so there is no excuse. A message like "It was great to meet you at yesterday's conference. Looking forward to staying in touch" makes the world of difference.

Not Checking for Typos

Sometimes the most obvious stuff is the stuff we ignore. You might think "sucess" has one "c," but think again. Avoid spelling mistakes by drafting all your LinkedIn text in a separate document before transferring it to your profile. It seems pedantic, but the irony of writing "detail-dirven" in your list of attributes will not be lost on a potential employer. Read everything at least twice: once for spelling and grammar, and once for meaning. You might just save yourself a face-palm down the line.

For more on standing out in a job search in 2026, our cover letter guide covers the same AI pitfalls in the context of your application. And once you have your profile in shape, this guide to getting promoted covers how to use LinkedIn visibility as part of your internal career strategy. If you are actively job hunting, this piece on networking your way to a job you actually want pairs well with everything here.