[thechapman]

As I am a recent graduate, many of my LinkedIn connections are also recent graduates that are in some sort of transition period. I assumed that it would be inappropriate and somewhat presumptuous to add my job on LinkedIn before my start date that is in the next couple months. However, I have noticed quite a few connections that have done exactly that.

I’m not dying to put the job on my profile, but I am curious if this behavior is considered unprofessional. What are your opinions?

Passed - 2014

[Meg]

@thechapman

Depends on the context, but it some situations it's totally fine! I am starting at a Big 4 in a few weeks (hired a year ago,) and I just put in the title of my current position “Starting at _ as audit staff.” That implies I'm technically not there yet, but it also shows that I am not jobless. You want to be able to identify with your employer and get moving, professionally speaking. So if you've signed, then go for it. Just try to indicate that you are not actually going into the office yet.

BEC 5/31/14 83
REG 7/3/14 86
AUD 7/15/14 81
FAR - waiting

[Meg]

I'm right there with @FuzzyFro

BEC 5/31/14 83
REG 7/3/14 86
AUD 7/15/14 81
FAR - waiting

[Pumpkins]

I think it's really starting off on the wrong foot. Your boss will likely see it. My boss added me on Linked in a few weeks after I started. It would have been really embarrassing had my profile said that I had been working there for several months before I actually started.

Plus, the worst people in any office are those that constantly try to make it look like they are more accomplished than they actually are… no one trusts or likes those people. When you start working, you'll know what I mean.

I also know a girl who put CIA after her name on LinkedIn after she passed the exams, but before she had met the experience requirement. Her credibility went straight out the window.

Why would you put that you work somewhere when you haven't started? I can't think of a single reason…

AUD- 93
BEC- 81
FAR- 1/26/2015
REG- TBD

CIA Exams Passed in March, 2014

[TNCPA16]

Maybe if I was trying to network with other people at that company before my start date, I could see putting something like “starting at XYZ company on ABC date” so they wouldn't think I'm some random person adding them. But how many people are actually doing that? I've seen several people do this as well, and I think it's silly. I personally woudn't care if people thought I was jobless. I'd rather leave that off than risk starting off somewhere on the wrong foot. Same thing with “CPA Candidate”…unless I was actively looking for a job, I see no reason to put this on my page. Once I have a job, my employer doesn't care anymore that I'm a candidate; they care if I pass the exam.

[Meg]

Well I know that the firm that hires you is generally just as excited to have you start (having gotten offers via personal phone calls from multiple Big 4 partners) so I disagree, I don't think it's inappropriate if you are clear about what you're doing and when you will be doing it.

BEC 5/31/14 83
REG 7/3/14 86
AUD 7/15/14 81
FAR - waiting

[Author]

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