How do I announce my work anniversary on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn has become an integral platform for professionals to build their personal brand, network, and share career updates. One common way people use LinkedIn is to announce work anniversaries to their connections. Sharing your work anniversary on LinkedIn allows you to reflect on your accomplishments, thank your colleagues, and reinforce your professional brand. However, with so many users on LinkedIn, it can be tricky to craft an anniversary post that stands out. This article will provide tips and best practices for announcing your work anniversary on LinkedIn.

Should You Announce Your Work Anniversary on LinkedIn?

The first question to ask is whether you should announce your work anniversary on LinkedIn at all. Here are some pros and cons to consider:

Pros:

– Reinforce your professional brand and credentials. An anniversary post highlights your commitment and longevity with an employer.

– Expand your reach and connections. Announcement posts tend to get a lot of Likes and Comments, allowing you to gain new connections.

– Opportunity to reflect. The process of writing an anniversary post forces you to reflect on your accomplishments from the past year.

– Chance to thank colleagues. Use the post as a way to show appreciation for those you work with.

Cons:

– Anniversary fatigue. With so many people announcing work anniversaries, your post may get lost in the shuffle.

– Perception of bragging. Some may see anniversary posts as a form of bragging, especially if overly self-congratulatory.

– Expectation to reciprocate. Colleagues may feel obligated to Like and Comment on your post.

– Time investment. Crafting a thoughtful anniversary post takes effort and time.

How to Write Your LinkedIn Work Anniversary Post

If you decide an anniversary post aligns with your goals, here are some tips for writing one that will stand out:

1. Share Your Excitement

Express genuine excitement about reaching this milestone. For example:

“I’m thrilled to be celebrating my 5th work anniversary at XYZ Company!”

This level of enthusiasm will get readers excited too.

2. Provide Context

Give some background like when you joined the company and your role. This context helps readers better understand your journey.

“In October 2018, I joined XYZ Company as a marketing assistant. Fast forward 5 years, and I’m now a senior marketing manager leading a team of five.”

3. Reflect on Accomplishments

Outline your proudest achievements and projects from the past year. Focus on professional accomplishments rather than personal ones.

“This past year, I led the marketing strategy that resulted in a 25% increase in customer signups. I also managed the launch of our new mobile app, which now has over 100,000 downloads.”

4. Appreciate Colleagues

Recognize leaders and team members who helped you achieve success. Tag them in your post so they’re notified.

“I’m grateful for the mentorship of my manager @JaneSmith this past year. Also, huge shoutout to my incredible marketing team @JohnLee @LisaBrown @TomAllen.”

5. Set Future Goals

Close your post by sharing 1-2 goals or areas of focus for your upcoming year. This shows you’re still striving to grow.

“In the coming year, I’m looking forward to leading our company’s expansion into the Europe market and optimizing our social media strategy.”

6. Include Visuals

Add visual elements like photos, videos, or graphics to make your post more eye-catching. For example, include a photo of yourself at work or a graphic timeline of your time at the company.

7. Use Branded Hashtags

Incorporate relevant hashtags like your company name, mission, values, or branded hashtags. This extends the reach of your post.

“#XYZCompanyProud #LivingOurValues”

8. Check Length

Ideally, your entire post should be no more than 1-2 paragraphs or around 100 words. Anything much longer risks losing reader attention.

9. Time Your Post

For maximum impact, post your work anniversary update on the exact date of your anniversary, or the Monday following it. The beginning of the week sees the most LinkedIn activity.

10. Engage With Your Network

Remember to Like and Comment on responses you receive from your connections. This builds rapport.

LinkedIn Work Anniversary Post Examples

It can be helpful to look at examples of strong anniversary posts. Here are two sample posts for inspiration:

Example 1:

Hard to believe it’s been 3 years already at Acme Inc!

When I joined as a marketing manager in 2020, I had no idea how much I’d accomplish and learn here. From leading our annual conferences to optimizing our social strategy, I’m grateful for the opportunity to support Acme’s mission of providing top-notch education software.

Thank you to the entire marketing team for your hard work and dedication – I’m privileged to collaborate with such a talented group of professionals. I’m looking forward to seeing what the next year brings!

#AcmeInc #LivingOurMission #Year3

Example 2:

Celebrating my 4 year work anniversary at XYZ Company today! 🎉🥳

Back in October 2019, I joined the sales team as an account executive. Now, I manage a region of clients and absolutely love solving problems and building relationships in this role.

Over the past year, I’m most proud of leading our team to exceed our annual revenue goal by 110%. Couldn’t have done it without the support of my phenomenal colleagues @JaneDoe @JohnSmith @BobJohnson. Here’s to another great year ahead!

#XYZCompany #SalesPro #Year4

Tips for Responding to Reactions

Once you post your work anniversary update, you’ll likely receive many Likes, Comments, and well-wishes from your network. Here are tips for responding:

– Thank everyone who engages with your post. Consider responding to each Comment with a simple “Thank you!”

– Reply thoughtfully if colleagues ask follow-up questions about your role or accomplishments.

– If a connection asks to connect outside of LinkedIn (ex. for coffee), follow up over email to schedule.

– Share any words of advice others ask for in the Comments or via private message.

– Reshare, Like, or Comment on any anniversary posts from colleagues in return.

Conclusion

Announcing your work anniversary on LinkedIn can be a powerful way to reflect on your accomplishments, expand your network, and reinforce your personal brand. By crafting a heartfelt post that shares your journey, appreciates colleagues, and sets future goals, you can create an update that stands out in your connections’ feeds. Follow these best practices for the post content, visuals, hashtags, timing, and engagement. With a thoughtful anniversary post that provides value to your community, you can make the most of celebrating your LinkedIn work milestone.