How to Look Busy on LinkedIn Without Actually Doing Anything
- Veenu Pandiya
- Apr 10
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 11
Ah, LinkedIn, the only place where everyone is "humbled and honored" to announce something. A new job, a promotion, or even a two-day workshop they attended, everything is a life-changing event.
But what if you don’t have a major update? What if you just want to look like a hardworking, hyper-productive professional without actually doing anything?
Good news: You don’t need to actually work to look busy on LinkedIn. Here’s your ultimate guide.
1. The Daily Motivational Post
Rule #1 of looking busy: Post something inspirational.
A simple trick is to find a quote by a successful person and share it with a dramatic caption. Examples:
"Failure is the stepping stone to success." (Thanks, but I’d rather just succeed directly.)
"Hustle in silence and let success make the noise." (Translation: I have no job updates.)
"Every challenge is an opportunity." (Yes, especially the challenge of waking up for a 9 AM Zoom call.)
To make it even more powerful, add a random personal story: "When I was 19, I faced rejection. But I kept going. And today, I stand strong."
Doesn’t matter what you were rejected for. Could be a job, a date, or an extra samosa at the hostel canteen. Who cares?
2. Clap for Other People’s Success
Even if your career isn’t moving, someone’s is. And the best way to look engaged is to comment on their posts.
"So well deserved! Congrats!" (Even if you don’t know them.)
"Truly inspiring journey." (Even if it’s just a job change from one MNC to another.)
"More power to you!" (Standard LinkedIn comment. No one knows what it actually means.)
This makes you look like a supportive, connected, and engaged professional. Reality? You’re just scrolling LinkedIn instead of working.
3. Share an Old Work Achievement Like It Happened Yesterday
Maybe you once got ‘Employee of the Month’ in 2018. Maybe you were in a group photo at an industry event. Doesn’t matter when it happened—just post about it like it’s fresh news.
"Throwback to this incredible moment when I got a chance to contribute to [insert project name]. Truly grateful for this experience!"
If possible, tag some senior people. With luck, they’ll like or comment, boosting your post. More engagement, more visibility, more LinkedIn street cred.
4. The ‘Deep Career Insight’ Post
If you have nothing happening, act like a philosopher.
Examples of vague but deep-sounding posts:
"In today’s fast-paced world, adaptability is key."
"Networking is not about connections, it’s about relationships."
"The future of work is changing. Are you ready?"
No one can disagree, and you instantly sound like an industry expert. Bonus points if you add a random graph with no real data.
5. Pretend You Read a Business Book
Pick any book by Simon Sinek or Stephen Covey. Then post something like: "Just finished reading ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’—such a game changer!"
Have you read the book? Who knows? But now people think you’re the intellectual type who spends weekends reading instead of binge-watching Netflix. Mission accomplished.
6. Use LinkedIn Polls to Fake Engagement
Want people to engage with your profile? Create a random LinkedIn poll like: "What’s more important in a job—Money or Passion?" or "Do you prefer Work From Home or Office?"
People will vote, argue in the comments, and your engagement will shoot up. Meanwhile, you can just sit back and enjoy the attention.
7. Announce a ‘New Chapter’ Without Any Details
Even if you’re jobless, post something like: "Excited for what’s coming next! Big things ahead!"
This creates mystery. People will assume you have something lined up. Some will even message you to ask, "Hey, what’s the update?" Congratulations. You now look busy without actually being busy.
Final Thoughts
Looking busy on LinkedIn is a skill. You don’t need a promotion, a new job, or a billion-dollar startup. You just need good captions, random insights, and a little exaggeration.
Now, go forth and hustle online, without actually doing anything.