Sue Parker
Marketing and media job seekers can take some juicy cutlet tips from the 2025 Meat & Livestock Australia campaign.
The Comments Section campaign wants Aussies ‘to get out of social media comments and ‘into the cutlets’ and real life’.
In typical MLA trademark humour and delicious wittiness, the campaign draws attention to how Aussies are stuck in the comments section on social media ‘fighting over and complaining about anything and everything’
I couldn’t love this clever campaign more as frankly social media outrage and whinging is exhausting. Everyone wants to weigh into opinion BBQs and fry people. But like most things, there are good, bad, evil and brilliant elements. Social media comment sections are not excluded from this at all. So the campaign is much needed to stop the rot of vitriol.
The inadvertent clarion call
I also see the campaign (inadvertently) as a terrific clarion call to job seekers and career professionals. It beckons them to take some tender back straps and succulent loin chops and get back IN to the comments section.
Job seeking and career change is never easy at any time, and especially for candidates over 50.
But 2025 will be harder than ever with more candidates (of all ages) in market alongside media, agencies and brands navigating greater competition and global challenges.
The comments section on the world’s biggest professional social media platform LinkedIn is an untouched goldmine for candidate’s successes in 2025. With over 15 million registered Australian members the platform represents every sector, profession, level, brand and topic.
Raising career visibility, social proof, sharing expertise, adding ideas and personality, character and values cannot be underestimated.
Some professional candidates never comment and some do negatively and some positively. But the majority sit in the never and negatively camp, with some Like reactions now and again.
There are many candidates in media and every other sector who have been on the job search bench for some time. Hey it’s a pain in the proverbial and often bloody unfair. And many of these are now commenting on LinkedIn only to whinge and complain about their job search woes.
It is tempting to bitch and moan about ghosting, rejection and untold recruitment BS. But it doesn’t help and there is better use of your energy and time on LinkedIn. Whilst justified, it will turn away employers who want to learn about what people do.
Then we have the camp who read and lurk like the dark knight. They are desperate to get interviews and a job yet are too scared to add an appropriate comment on posts. Fear of looking like a twat, being judged is high.
And for those employed they are white knuckle terrified that adding professional comments will be a red flag to their employer they want out of the building. I say here, take charge and hold your nerve. It’s not just what you comment, but how and why.
The golden value of LinkedIn comments
I have lost count of the number of emails, enquiries and clients that have come to me via my comments on other people’s content and posts on LinkedIn
When you comment on targeted and relevant posts to your industry, vocation or interests it provides a brilliant opportunity to demonstrate your expertise and professional chops.
It lays a platform of technical and human attraction. The former refers to what you know and can add. The later to your values, personality and character.
Your vibe attracts your tribe on and off LinkedIn. Showing your communication style and personality goes a long way in building trust and connection. And showing your knowledge goes a long way in forging interest to talk further.
Over the last 10 years in my business I have encouraged and trained clients to embrace comments on LinkedIn to reach their goals.
Out of sight is out of mind. And if someone doesn’t see or know you, your reputation awareness is compromised. You want your name to be recognisable.
Whether a job candidate, an employed leader, business owner or self-employed, commenting with relevance and care will make a real impact. Sometimes it’s instant, others a slower brew.
Do’s & Don’ts
DON’T use AI or automated commenting plug in tools to write your comments. You just look like a total twat and everyone can tell you are lazy. And the comments themselves are rehashed boring long regurgitated nonsense.
DON’T whinge about how hard job searching is and how many applications you send out and were rejected/ignored.
DON’T be publicly nasty or divisive on people’s posts. This will be detrimental to your reputation. If you want to offer a different point of view, that’s ok.
But for the love of good food, do it in a respectful, just and fair manner. Never play the person, but the topic with intelligence.
DON’T go over the top with gushing, cult like admiration. Check your intent and genuineness.
DO add more than ‘great post’ or any other 2 or 3 word comment of appreciation. Write why and what you enjoyed. You want the creator to appreciate your comments and reply after all.
Think of the famous words of Oprah - ‘Did you hear what I said and did it mean anything to you?’
DO show your personality and humour when you can. Look there are lots of difficult topics and we need more light and shade.
DO commit to the purpose of commenting and be consistent. If you just lurk you are not helping your search and career
DO search for companies and leaders of interest and their posts and topics. Add to those. Then if not connected, an invitation to connect is appropriate. Doors do open this way.
DO Use LinkedIn and other relevant social media platforms to shine a light on your career chops (meat, vegan or vegetarian). Use comments section for good not evil.
Bravo again MLC, a great campaign with positive unintended benefits on and off the BBQ.
Sue Parker, owner of Dare Group Australia, is a communications, job search and career specialist.