[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

[mla1169]

I've noticed people doing that too. I've always felt that like a resume you don't put anything until you've actually DONE it. Wouldn't call it unprofessional but I don't see any point to putting it beforehand. It's kind of like people putting “CPA Candidate”. Not exactly an accomplishment until you've passed an exam.

FAR- 77
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Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[JamesBJames]

I hope it's not unprofessional. I'm doing it on my LinkedIn page.

FAR: May 1st, 2014 - 91
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BEC: July 16th, 2014 - 91
REG: August 29th, 2014 - 88

Licensed December 2015

Feel free to add me on LinkedIn by clicking my username!

[Anonymous]

As long as you have accepted the job and have an agreed upon start date, I don't see the harm. It's funny that you mention this because I left my last job on May 23 and started my current job May 27. On May 23 I put on Facebook that I left my job and put my start date in for my next job and Facebook wouldn't even post it until the day I started. I could see it in my edit profile (as future job), but it wasn't posted to my page. I guess LinkedIn isn't as smart.

[Anonymous]

Personally I wouldn't post a job before I actually started. A day or 2 early, maybe. A couple of months, no way.

[thechapman]

@k917 Yeah I wasn't planning on doing it, but with the number of people I've seen do it I was curious if I was the odd one out on this issue.

Passed - 2014

[Anonymous]

Did you sign on the line that is dotted?

If so, you are good to go (in my opinion)

[taxman89]

no reason to do it. look at it in a risk reward situation. best case, your linked in friends think you are so cool because you have a job. worst case (fairly unlikely but still) you soon to be employer doesnt like ppl who dont work there saying they do and you are no longer starting the job in a couple months. imo there is no real reason to put it up.

AUD - 75
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REG - 82

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[koz124]

I guess I don't understand. You can't put any experience under a title, because you haven't done anything. So why do it?

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[fuzyfro89]

Not a problem at all. Linkedin is a networking site, not a resume or job application, so you're welcome to publish anything you want.

If you want to make it less misleading, you can add in the summary that your start date is X in case you feel like you're being deceiving.

I would probably update it once you actually start and remove the description (since Linkedin doesn't let you put future items).

Another option is to just put the year instead of the month, and you can do it now. There is no rule stating you have to put ALL your personal information out there.

[jamie7johnson]

Ha, funny. I have “CPA Candidate” as my profession since I'm not technically working, but in my summary, I list that my start date for my company is this upcoming fall. I did this to avoid being unprofessional like you said, but from one of the prior responses it looks like even listing “CPA Candidate” can be deemed unnecessary. I guess I have it that way to show that there's a reason why I'm currently unemployed. Jeez, who knew etiquette could be tricky!

REG - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 80
AUD - 77

[stamata]

jamie7johnson, I also have CPA candidate on my linkedin page even though I haven't passed all the exams yet and my start date isn't till October (I thought that was common practice). In my opinion, in the big picture right now it doesn't really matter since we are starting a job soon anyway and probably aren't expecting a lot of people to look at our linkedins?

AUD - 76
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[How many letters do you need]

I don't consider it unprofessional exactly, just a little silly. It can be seen as bragging if it's a great job, and although it is a great achievement to have a solid job with a start date, realize that outside of your former classmates the rest of us kind of chuckle at it in an “awwww that's cute they think getting a job means something to the rest of us” kind of way. I would probably steer clear until start date…

As a side note, I think CPA candidate on the resume is a completely different thing all together. Agreed that you haven't accomplished it until it's official, but to have 2+ exams passed shows that you are serious and they can probably expect you to be a CPA within your first year. That could mean a lot depending on your career objectives.

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[Anonymous]

Call me old fashioned but I wouldn't ever do that.

You could maloink the whole thing. What if the offer gets retracted? They do sometimes for reasons outside the candidates control.

How do you explain to your network that mess?

[taxman89]

Having CPA candidate is a different story in my opinion. When i was applying for jobs out of college i put CPA eligible on my resume because i had the 150 (after only my bach) and was planning on sitting. Being eligible to sit for the exam was different than most my peers so it was important to have on imo.

AUD - 75
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Aud-75 3x I knew i never liked you
Bec-77 1x being in the bubble is stressful
Reg-82 4x its not me its you...and no we cant be friends
Far-78 1x easiest section

[Pumpkins]

I wouldn't do it. I don't see a reason to. You have a job lined up so you don't need to look attractive to other firms right now, just wait until you start. Plus, it's misleading and you don't want anyone to misinterpret it and see it as dishonest.. some people are weird about that stuff.

AUD- 93
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CIA Exams Passed in March, 2014

[Author]

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