Special Edition: How Not To Be Cringe on LinkedIn (Especially as a Veteran)

I wrote a post the other day about LinkedIn, and some feedback I got was that I didn’t discuss “how NOT to be cringe” on the platform, so here goes a special Frag Out Edition.  Also, thanks, MG, for the feedback.  Very useful and much appreciated.

Ok… I get it. LinkedIn is weird. It’s part job board. Part networking platform. Part business development tool. Part digital resume.

And unfortunately… Part public diary. Part fake guru convention. Part “look at me cry in my car after getting fired” performance theater.

As I mentioned, I’ve been on LinkedIn for over a decade. I’ve hired people through it. I’ve built businesses through it. I’ve sold through it. I’ve recruited through it. I’ve created partnerships through it.

And I’ve also seen some absolutely painful behavior from military veterans transitioning into civilian life.

Some of it comes from insecurity. Some of it comes from not understanding the platform. Some of it comes from trying way too hard. And some of it comes from watching other cringe creators and assuming that’s what success looks like.

It doesn’t.

You do not need to become a “LinkedIn influencer.” You do not need to post fake humility stories. You do not need to tell strangers about your childhood trauma to get hired. You do not need to post pictures of yourself in uniform every three days.

And for the love of God… You do not need to write “I’m humbled and honored to announce…” every time something mildly positive happens in your life.

Let’s talk about how veterans accidentally become cringe on LinkedIn, and how to avoid it.

Cringe Move #1: Constantly Posting Old Military Photos:

Look… I’m proud of my time in Special Forces. It forged me into who I am today. You should be proud of your service too.

But if every third post is: “Throwback to this deployment…” “Miss these brothers…” “Back when men were men…” “Civilians wouldn’t understand…” You’re sending the wrong signal.

Why? Because employers are hiring you for what you can do now. Not what you did in 2011. Not what you did at West Point.  Not unending photos of you while deployed.

I’m in full agreement here: your military experience matters. It built discipline. Leadership. Adaptability. Problem-solving under pressure. But if your entire online identity is frozen in your military years, it tells employers you may not be ready for your next chapter.

Honor your service. Then build something beyond it.

Cringe Move #2: Writing Fake Hero Posts:

You’ve seen them. “I was sitting in first class when I noticed a young soldier…” “I gave my seat to a mother with children…” “The CEO looked at me and said thank you for your service…” Then everybody claps. Then someone cries. A bald eagle lands nearby a gently waving flag…

Stop.

People can smell fake stories from a mile away. And even when the story happened? If it sounds overly polished and designed for applause. It feels manufactured.

LinkedIn is full of people writing stories where they’re always the hero.

That gets old fast. Talk about lessons learned. Talk about mistakes. Talk about growth. Talk like a normal human being.

Cringe Move #3: Translating Military Titles into Nonsense Corporate Titles

This one drives me insane. “CEO of infantry operations.” “Senior executive of combat logistics.” “Vice President of tactical engagement.”

Stop trying to rename military jobs into corporate nonsense. Most veterans do not understand civilian equivalencies.

And frankly? Most recruiters can tell when you’re forcing it.

Just explain what you actually did. “I led 40 personnel in high-risk operational environments.” “I managed multimillion-dollar equipment accountability.” “I coordinated logistics across multiple teams and locations.”

That makes sense. That communicates value. Trying to turn Squad Leader into Fortune 500 executive terminology makes you look confused (and often idiotic).

Cringe Move #4: Making Your Clearance Your Entire Personality:

If you’re pursuing government work? Totally valid to mention your clearance.

If you’re pursuing private sector roles? Most people don’t care.

And some people may actively avoid engaging with you because your profile screams: “I’m a secret squirrel who can’t stop talking about classified work.”

Nobody is impressed by vague, mysterious posts like: “If you knew what I did overseas…” Cool.

Nobody knows what that means. And they probably shouldn’t.

Focus on transferable skills. Leadership. Operations. Project management. Risk mitigation. Communication. That stuff matters everywhere.

Cringe Move #5: Posting Motivational Quotes Over Tactical Photos:

Dirty uniform. Black rifle. Helicopter. Night vision goggles. Sunrise. Random quote about wolves. Oddly specific details about the huge number of grenades in your bag, the type of optic you carried, brand of camo, or number of close calls…

Come on. We’ve all seen this nonsense.

Why are we posting this on a professional networking platform?

This content often screams: “I haven’t figured out how to provide professional value yet.”

Instead of posting recycled warrior quotes… Share actual insights. Talk about leadership failures. Talk about transition struggles. Talk about lessons learned. Talk about business. Talk about family. Talk about reality.

Reality beats fake toughness every time.

Cringe Move #6: Begging for Jobs in Public Posts:

“Please help me. I have 90 days left in the military and no idea what I’m doing.” “I’ll take anything.” “Please share this.”

I understand transition can be scary. I really do.

But desperation online rarely creates confidence offline.

Instead: Build relationships privately. Reach out thoughtfully and intentionally. Ask good questions. Create meaningful conversations.

And position yourself as someone worth hiring. Not someone panicking publicly. There’s a difference between asking for help and broadcasting desperation.

Cringe Move #7: Talking Down to Civilians:

This one kills opportunities faster than people realize. “We worked harder than civilians ever will.” “Corporate people are soft.” “Nobody understands real leadership except veterans.”

Wrong. There are phenomenal leaders everywhere. There are brilliant executives who’ve never served. There are entrepreneurs who’ve built incredible organizations from scratch.

Humility matters. Your military service gave you strengths. It did not make you superior.

And the moment people sense arrogance? They move on. Fast.

Cringe Move #8: Oversharing Personal Drama:

LinkedIn is not therapy.

Your divorce update? Facebook or X.

Your family drama? Facebook or X.

Your public breakdown video? Facebook or X.

Vacation photos? Facebook or X.

Your unhinged rant of the day? Facebook or X.

I’ve seen too many people cry on camera after getting laid off, and I understand job loss hurts, but posting emotional breakdowns to thousands of strangers often creates temporary attention (not long-term opportunity).

Protect your dignity. Handle personal hardship with trusted people offline.

So what should you do instead?

Simple: Be useful. That’s it. That’s the whole formula.

Share lessons. Share insights. Share practical experiences. Be funny occasionally. Be human consistently. Be helpful repeatedly.

If you’re transitioning out of the military: Talk about what you’re learning. Talk about professional development. Talk about growth, certifications, education, and networking.

Talk about how your experience creates business value. And engage with other people. Actual engagement. Not just hitting “like.”

Comment thoughtfully. Build relationships. Support others. And for the love of God, quit eating our own.

I say this all the time: LinkedIn is business Facebook. That means you need to understand the game without becoming consumed by it.

Yes, the algorithm can be ridiculous. Yes, fake influencers are everywhere. Yes, humble brags are exhausting. Yes, some people post absolute garbage.

Ignore it.

Use the platform for what it can do: Build your network. Learn new skills. Create opportunities. Grow your brand. Help people. Get to know new people.

That’s it.

Your goal in military transition should not be becoming “popular” on LinkedIn. Your goal should be building a life you actually enjoy. A career with purpose. Financial stability. Strong relationships. Meaningful work.

Peace.

Don’t become the guy posting shirtless gym selfies with motivational captions about discipline. Don’t become the woman writing fake viral stories for attention. Don’t become the veteran who refuses to evolve.

And please… Don’t be cringe. You’ve already done hard things.

You’ve already proven yourself. Be comfortable with that.

Now act like a professional adult and build something worth talking about.