The New Rules of LinkedIn: How to Stand Out, Network, and Get Hired with Catherine Fisher

If you only open LinkedIn when you're job hunting (or creeping your ex's new girlfriend's profile), this episode is for you. Amanda sits down with Catherine Fisher, VP at LinkedIn and one of the most trusted career experts out there. Catherine has built brands and led teams at eBay, Netflix and now LinkedIn. She's here to tell us what we've been getting wrong about the platform (spoiler: it's kind of a lot). The biggest mistake? Treating LinkedIn like a fire extinguisher you only grab in an emergency. Your network should be working for you long before you need it. Maybe you're buried in applications and running on fumes. Maybe you're quietly wondering if it's time to leave. Or maybe you just haven't touched your profile since 2019 (no judgment). Either way, you'll leave with a real plan and fewer excuses. Catherine explains why "looking for a job is a full-time job" is terrible advice. She tells you which three profile fixes to make first, and how to send a cold DM people actually want to answer. Catherine also gets real about how ambition changes over time. She scaled her ambition back when her kids were little and is now ramping up again as she's about to become an empty nester. Proof that ambition comes in seasons, and that's okay. Key Takeaways: Why you should be on LinkedIn all the time, not just when you're job searching. The three profile updates that do the heavy lifting: your photo, your About section and your Experience section. How skills-based hiring took off during COVID and why transferable skills matter more than big-name brands. Why AI should help "around the edges" but never write your first draft. The formula for a cold DM that gets a reply: be specific, set a time limit and offer to help. How to beat job-search burnout by applying with a plan instead of applying to everything. Catherine's biggest LinkedIn ick: being "humbled and honored." Rapid fire: the Open to Work banner, Easy Apply and the worst career advice she's ever received. 00:00 Intro 04:22 What people misunderstand about LinkedIn 07:02 The first three profile fixes to make 10:08 LinkedIn do's and don'ts 11:05 Why engaging in other people's conversations matters 12:13 Should you accept every connection request? 12:29 How to write a cold DM that gets a response 15:35 How to be authentic without throwing your boss under the bus 18:08 What's changed most about job searching 20:38 AI skills vs. creative skills 21:49 How to beat job-search burnout 23:37 Why referrals are so important 26:43 Where LinkedIn is headed next 27:14 Catherine's biggest LinkedIn ick 27:32 Advice for people early in their career 28:36 Rapid fire: Open to Work, cold DMs and Easy Apply GUEST LINKS Connect with Catherine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinefisherlinkedin/ Read the Career Companion newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/career-companion-6994037905178398720/ FOLLOW THE PODCAST IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast SIGN UP Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ ABOUT AMBITION 2.0 Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we'll be exploring what it really means to "have it all" in work, family, identity, and self… and if it's actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who've walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices