(KRON) — Courtney Summer Myers didn’t expect to go viral on LinkedIn. She was just frustrated with the job market.
After she was laid off for the second time last November, the UK-based graphic designer found herself jobless by January, sending out 30 job applications a day with little success. Despite her experience, she kept hitting roadblocks: lengthy interview processes, demanding tasks then companies ghosting her after asking for days of work. Even at big companies, it felt like an impossible situation.
“I was horrified by what was happening,” Myers told KRON4. “If it was happening to me, it’s happening to other people.”
But what set her apart was a post she made on LinkedIn, responding to the growing advice from so-called “LinkedIn influencers” telling job seekers to avoid the “open to work” badge for fear of appearing desperate. Myers was fed up. “I was so sick of seeing all those people who’ve probably never been unemployed in their life peddling that narrative. So yeah, just exasperation, really is what led to the post.”
So, she did the opposite of what the influencers suggested—she created a banner that read “#Desperate” and posted her story.
Reluctance, honesty, and going viral
At first, Myers hesitated to post her banner. She worried how people in her network, some of whom she admired, might react. But her frustration pushed her past that fear.
“I’ve tried all the traditional channels. I’ve tried the traditional routes. So I thought if I just put myself out there, tell my story, then maybe someone will sort of lend me a hand.”
Her “#Desperate” banner caught fire. Overnight, her post went viral, reaching over 30 million people. “To make this post on a Monday, and then wake up on the Tuesday and have all these offers and opportunities. And, you know, some people arguing with me, some people saying this is the best thing I’ve ever seen on LinkedIn.”
An overwhelming response
The response was overwhelming, with over 16,000 connection requests, most with personal messages. She has received mostly positive feedback, with many sharing similar frustrations about the job market. “It’s been quite demanding, but obviously I’m super grateful that people like want to reach out, want to help me. It just shows that there is sort of solidarity about that kind of issue, and other people have experienced it or are experiencing it, which is obviously terrible, but it’s great that we’ve sort of started that conversation,” Myers said.
Yet, not everyone understood her message. Some criticized her choice of the word “desperate,” suggesting it would scare recruiters. But Myers stood by it.
“There’s been a lot of sort of chatter around my choice of the word, and lots of people suggesting other phrases and words that I could have used that come across more positively, which don’t scare off recruiters, but they seem to have missed the whole point of my post, you know? It might have negative connotations, but it’s just honesty at the end of the day.”
Despite the few detractors, Myers has inspired many others in similar situations. She’s seen an influx of people now sharing their own stories on LinkedIn and using the “#Desperate” banner as well.
A shift in perspective
Before her viral moment, life was stagnant for Myers. Job hunting had become a full-time job with no reward. But now, things have shifted. Freelance offers came pouring in, as well as interviews from companies she admired.
“I’ve had quite a lot of interviews off the back of it, which has been really, really nice,” Myers said. “Got some more still lined up, nothing sort of set in stone or concrete. Yet, as much as I would love to say that there was, so I’m still sort of keeping all my options open, which I think is the most sensible thing to do.”
Authenticity resonates
For Myers, the takeaway has been the power of authenticity.
“People really resonate with authenticity, and that is what it took for me to stand out on LinkedIn, which is crazy to me, because it’s a professional platform, but there’s no reason that people can’t be honest,” she said. “I don’t think there’s a sort of a difference between being professional and being authentic.”
She hopes her post will spark a shift in how people present themselves in professional spaces like LinkedIn. “I’m so sick of just seeing this sort of peacocking on LinkedIn; people pretending that their lives are the best and they have the most money and, you know, all that kind of stuff, which is not stuff I care about. I just want a roof over my head at the end of the day.”
Since Myers’ post, there has been a wave of other job seekers on LinkedIn, who are now also using the same badge she created, being emboldened by this unique call to arms.
LinkedIn responds
KRON4 reached out to LinkedIn about the #Desparate movement taking over user feeds and got the following statement:
“While we don’t have plans to change the Open to Work banner design right now, the benefits of using this job search feature are very real. Using all the resources available to find your next opportunity is a smart move, not something to be shameful of. Turning on the Open to Work feature on your LinkedIn profile doubles your chances of getting a message from a recruiter, and members who use the #OpenToWork photo frame are, on average, 40% more likely to receive InMails from recruiters and 20% more likely to receive messages from the LinkedIn community. 40 million people globally currently have the Open to Work public photo frame on their profile. 85% of those who shared that they’re open to work publicly have received support from the LinkedIn community in the form of referrals, job openings and connections. For those who might want a more discreet approach or are currently employed, you can also choose to make your Open to Work status visible only to recruiters.”
A spokesperson for LinkedIn
What’s next?
Myers is taking things day by day. She’s continuing her job search and enjoying the ride her viral post has taken her on. “I’ve had some interviews. I’ve got more coming up,” she said. “So we shall see. Watch this face.”
(KRON) — Courtney Summer Myers didn’t expect to go viral on LinkedIn. She was just frustrated with the job market. After she was laid off for the second time last November, the UK-based graphic designer found herself jobless by January, sending out 30 job applications a day with little success. Despite her experience, she kept […]
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