You've been doing all the things we all think we should be doing.
Updating your LinkedIn. Polishing your CV.
Maybe even rewriting your summary for the third time this week.
And still, it feels like you're not being seen.
Not in the way that matters to find you your next career... not just your next job.
This week's Within Reach digs into what's really behind that disconnect, and how to start showing up in ways that feel more honest, and more you.
What might be getting in the way of being seen the way you want?
In coaching conversations lately, I've seen a pattern, especially with people who've gone through job loss, transitions, or turbulent restructures.
It's not just that they're unsure how to talk about themselves. It's that they're no longer sure who they are in the professional world.
Confidence dips. Even people with strong reputations start second-guessing their own voice.
And while the advice often focuses on polishing your presence, here's the harder truth: the job market is saturated. There are fewer opportunities than people searching. And many feel like they're shouting into the void, unsure if a human is even reading their application.
So we default to safe templates:
- Apply for roles we know we can do
- Use phrases we've seen others use
- Speak from the version of us we used to be
But underneath it all, there's often a wish: "To be seen for who I really am, not just what I've done."
So, how do you want to be noticed? Not just by hiring managers or colleagues, but by yourself.
That's not a philosophical question. It's a practical one.
When you pause long enough to ask, "What do I want people to know about me, even if they never open my CV?" you start to shift something inside you.
You reconnect with the values that matter to you. You access a sense of agency that goes deeper than your current job title. And you begin to show up from that place, even when the future feels uncertain.
This Week's Leadership Reflection Journal
Explore what your current visibility signals are really telling you, and what you want to shift. It's not about performance. It's about honesty. Sometimes, showing up starts with letting yourself be fully seen by YOU.
Click here to download your editable journal page.
How Can You Engage With More Presence and Less Fear on LinkedIn?
Start with intention. What kind of energy are you bringing?
Connection grows where it's nurtured.
- Find a few people whose posts make you think or feel something.
- Comment from the heart. Ask a question. Share your own take.
- DM someone in an organisation you're interested in, particularly if their post made you reflect, not a copy-paste thing (people will feel the difference).
- Surround yourself with people who inspire you and offer to swap practice interviews.
- Write a short post about something that matters to you, not because it's polished, but because it's true.
LinkedIn can feel heavy these days.
When many posts are written from a place of fear or urgency, it's easy to walk away feeling more unsettled than when you opened the app.
When we show up with anxiety, we don't always attract connection. But when we show up with an intention to contribute, to connect, to share more of ourselves, we start to shift what's possible.
If that feels hard to do alone, you don't have to. Start by commenting here, we've got you :)
With you,
Linda
Touching Distance | Within Reach
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