Cracking the Code: What Does 1st Mean on LinkedIn?

Have you ever scrolled through your LinkedIn feed and seen someone’s post with the symbol ‘1st’ underneath it? You might have thought to yourself, “What in the world does that even mean?” Fear not, dear reader, for we are here to crack the code!

Let’s Start at the Beginning

Before we dive into what ‘1st’ means on LinkedIn, let’s go back to basics. For those who may not know, LinkedIn is a social networking site for professionals. Users create profiles that serve as virtual resumes and can connect with colleagues and potential employers.

While many use LinkedIn primarily as a job search tool or networking platform, others utilize it as a content sharing hub.

So What Exactly Does ‘1st’ Mean?

Now let’s get down to business. When you see someone comment ‘1st’ (or sometimes just ‘+’) on a post within their network or industry niche (think marketing or software development), they’re simply saying that they were the first person within their own connections to like/comment on said post.

That being said—they’re essentially bragging about how quickly they saw an update from someone in their network! It sounds silly when put so bluntly but think about it; this signifies this particular user is an active LinkedIn user which could be appealing if viewed by recruiters/employers etc…

It’s all good fun really—like proclaiming oneself unofficial Captain of the Commenters under each relevant status update—but don’t worry too much if you don’t partake. Just remember not everyone plays along so no need to feel left out of some exclusive club.

How Did This Practice Start Anyway?

We can trace back ‘firsting’ words/shorthand/acronyms across platforms such as memes/message boards/chat rooms/video game leaderboards…anything competitive really.

Essentially applying that competitive mindset to a professional platform might be viewed as inappropriate or juvenile by some. On the other hand—mindful of minute details such as being the ‘first’ responder on an article—and finding ways to weave yourself in creates fuel for your profile and personal brand.

Ultimately, these practices are not going away anytime soon so may as well embrace them—or just ignore them all together.

Do All Platforms have ‘1st’?

You might be wondering if this is strictly a LinkedIn thing—but the answer is certainly no! Twitter users commonly utilize “F” when trying to pay respects (tip: it means Friends also commonly apply position numbers you’ll find variations like “2nd” “3rd”…which gives off similar vibes of showing proficiently active.

Final Thoughts

Whether or not you choose to engage in saying 1st (& possibly attract an entourage of commenting followers) —what’s most important on LinkedIn with branding—is quality/professionalism & consistency!

Conclusively using small actions/strategies like posting content regularly, engaging with others through insightful comments on posts instead can supplement/foster network growth gradually over time ingratiating value within any interested parties who view your activity history.

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