'A red flag': Canadian millionaire Kevin O'Leary sounds alarms for job seekers on LinkedIn, reveals tips for career growth

Renowned Canadian millionaire and investor Kevin O' Leary has warned job seekers that a missing LinkedIn profile is a 'red flag' and can raise immediate concerns as employers increasingly vet candidates' online activity. Kevin O' Leary highlighted that recruiters thoroughly examine online presence of the candidate, including their posts and digital foot prints, a crucial part of the hiring process. In a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said if employees don't have a LinkedIn profile, the employers don't notice it in a good way. The Canadian TV personality said recruiters typically turn to LinkedIn first, and that not having a presence on the professional networking platform is often seen as a 'red flag'.

On Tuesday, O'Leary posted on X, saying the first place he and other employers go when hiring is LinkedIn. “First stop when we’re hiring? LinkedIn. No profile? That’s a red flag. We check your posts, your history, your digital footprint... everything. If you want to lead, work remotely, or grow your career, you must understand how social media really works,” wrote O’Leary.

He said recruiters examine not only work history but also the broader digital presence of candidates. Not just a candidate's history but entire online presence plays a crucial role when hiring managers look for suitable job aspirants. He has urged the professionals to treat their digital profiles as part of their personal brand, especially in a job market increasingly shaped by remote work and online visibility.


"If you want to lead, work remotely, or grow your career, you must understand how social media really works," he said, urging professionals to treat their online profiles as part of their professional brand.

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'Waking up at 5 am, exercising daily'

Earlier, Kevin O'Leary shared how his daily habits, evolving career advice and productivity strategy shaped his success. As per O’Leary, understanding how social media works is no longer optional for career growth. According to Benzinga, he said he typically woke up at 5 a.m. without an alarm, followed global news, exercised daily and maintained strict routines around diet and communication to stay focused.

O’Leary also said he has revised his long-held belief that engineering is the most valuable graduate degree, arguing that in 2025, top content creators are seeing the fastest wage growth. He noted that storytellers who can deliver measurable sales and marketing results are earning hundreds of thousands of dollars across multiple companies.

He also highlighted a productivity approach inspired by Steve Jobs, urging entrepreneurs to focus on three critical tasks each day while cutting out distractions. According to O’Leary, consistently completing those priorities builds sustained momentum and speeds up business growth.

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Kevin O'Leary's China warning for America

Kevin O’Leary has raised concerns over America’s ability to sustain its artificial intelligence boom, bluntly stating that the country lacks the physical infrastructure needed to support the technology it helped create. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), O’Leary argued that while AI-driven productivity has pushed the S&P 500 to record highs across all 11 sectors over the past two years, the US energy grid has remained dangerously stagnant—especially when compared with China’s rapid and aggressive expansion.

“Here’s our problem… We have no power,” O’Leary said. He contrasted America’s grid stagnation with China’s rapid buildout, noting that Beijing has added 500 gigawatts of power in the last 24 months, while the U.S. has built “zero.” Without massive infrastructure upgrades, O’Leary warned, the U.S. cannot sustain the energy-hungry data centers required for the next phase of AI.

(With TOI inputs)