Topic 1.10.4 LinkedIn in a Changing World

LINKEDIN IN A CHANGING WORLD

1.Warmup

Discuss the questions in pairs or small groups.

  1. How did you find your current or most recent job?
  2. Have you ever had a job interview online? If so, how did it go?
  3. Are you a member of LinkedIn? Do you use it regularly?
  4. In general, do you think people have a positive, negative or neutral attitude towards LinkedIn?
  5. Which social network do you think is most popular with people under the age of twenty-five?

2.Pre-listening task: vocabulary focus

Part A: Match the words with the correct definitions.

Now do the same with Group 2.

Stuffy or Staid?

Both stuffy and staid describe things that are formal or overly serious, but they have different nuances:

  • Staid suggests something is respectable, serious, and unadventurous, but not necessarily in a negative way. It describes things that are traditional and restrained.
    • Example: “The law firm had a staid atmosphere, with dark wood furniture and quiet conversations.”
  • Stuffy has a more negative connotation, implying something is overly formal, rigid, or lacking fresh ideas. It can also mean physically lacking fresh air.
    • Example (figurative): “The meeting was so stuffy—no one dared to challenge the old-fashioned ideas.”
    • Example (literal): “The room was stuffy because the windows were closed.”

So, staid is more about being serious and traditional, while stuffy suggests being overly rigid or oppressive.

Part B: Complete the sentences with eight words or phrases from Part A.

 

Part C: Look at the underlined phrase in the sentence below.

My boss said that I’m too buttoned-up at work, and that my students would connect to me more easily if I relaxed a little.

In pairs, discuss what you think the phrase could mean.

  • Do you think it’s better to be buttoned-up at work, or more open and relaxed?
  • Does it depend on the job?
 

3.Listening

Listen to the report.

https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/business-english/the-buttoned-up-world-of-linkedin/audioplayer/the-buttoned-up-world-of-linkedin-bemp3

Listen to the report again. Answer the questions True or False.

4.Reading: general vocabulary

 

5.Speaking

Discuss these questions in pairs.

  • If you were aware that a job interview was going very badly, would you carry on regardless or stop the interview?
  • Have you ever encountered a scammer? If so, what happened?
  • Should companies try to conduct interviews in person, when possible, rather than online or over the phone? Why/why not?

6. Reading

 

Sam, 30 "To be honest, I completely forgot it existed! I don’t think I’ve ever had any use for it. I tend to steer clear of social media in general, and from what I’ve heard, LinkedIn gives people far too much access to your personal information. I’m not comfortable with strangers knowing my work history, and I definitely don’t want my boss to have another way to keep tabs on me! I guess I’m a bit old-school. I work in the family business—we make shoes—and we manage just fine without relying on modern technology. The locals in town know who we are, they drop by for a chat, and we handle everything face-to-face, which is how it should be. I think my attitude toward computers and technology comes from my father, who’s always been a bit suspicious of machines. Even so, we seem to be doing perfectly well without them!"
Cristina, 54 "I joined LinkedIn after losing the job I’d held for twenty years. My daughter gave me a hand setting up a profile, though I’d say I’m pretty comfortable with computers overall. Within a few weeks, I had my first interview, which happened over a video call. To my surprise, I was offered the job right then and there! It all happened so quickly—I hadn’t expected to find something new so soon. I’m quite content here, helping customers solve their issues, but every now and then, I do have a little scroll through LinkedIn. I guess I’m just curious. Who knows? Maybe there’s an even better opportunity out there! Lately, I’ve noticed there are more videos on the site, but I tend to skip those. I’m only really interested in the job listings. Isn’t that what it’s meant for, after all?"
Jenny, 24 "After graduating from university, I was a bit anxious about finding a job. My parents often say that in their day, finishing a degree practically guaranteed a job straight away, but things have definitely changed. I’m not looking for a lifelong career—just something to cover the bills for now. Some friends suggested I give LinkedIn a try. After signing up, I was flooded with messages from companies, but after a bit of digging, I realized most of them were scams rather than real employers. Feeling frustrated, I decided to take a different approach. I posted a video where I talked about my goals, achievements, and qualifications. This time, I got genuine interest and ended up landing a great job as a software developer."
Jack, 45 "I’ve been working in recruitment for eighteen years, and I’ve seen plenty of trends come and go. While LinkedIn has proven useful for some, it’s not something I use personally. I find it too impersonal and prefer to reach out to potential candidates through other channels. Over the years, my bosses have occasionally pushed me to use it, but my results speak for themselves, so they usually let me stick to my own methods. I do check the site now and then, and I can’t help but find the latest changes amusing. It’s clear they’re trying to attract younger users, but I doubt it’ll work. Each generation tends to prefer platforms they feel were made for them—when I was a teenager, for instance, it was MySpace. I imagine we’ll see a new social network emerge in the next few years, one that combines both business and personal features, designed for a fresh audience."

Reading comprehension

Part A: Read the article again. Match statements with the correct speakers. Some statements can be matched to more than one speaker.

Part B: For each question, choose the answer you believe best suits the speaker.

Phrasal verbs and expressions

Part A: Using the text above for reference, complete the definitions of the expressions and phrasal verbs below

Part B: 

Discussion

  1. Have you ever applied to a job through LinkedIn? If not, would you be interested in doing so?
  2. Do you think people will still use LinkedIn in ten years?
  3. In which ways has recruitment changed over the last fifty years?
  4. Do you think it is easier or more difficult to find a job than it was before the pandemic?
  5. Should social networks focus more on video and audio sharing rather than written articles? Why/why not?
  6. Are we moving away from lifelong careers as a species? If so, is this a good or bad thing?
  7. When interacting with people online, are you careful to present yourself in a professional way? Why/why not?
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