Connecting with professionals on LinkedIn is a common practice for job seekers and networkers. However, a recent post by writer and columnist Saket on X has brought attention to how even a well-intentioned LinkedIn message can spark a debate.
Saket recounted an exchange with a fresh graduate from his alma mater, whose casual tone in addressing him by his first name did not sit well. Sharing the interaction, Saket wrote, “Call me old-fashioned, but a 2025 pass-out from my college messaged me on LinkedIn and started with – ‘Hi Saket, we are from the same college’… And he lost me there itself. Son, you are 2025 pass-out, and you address a 1994 pass-out by their first name? I still address 1993 and earlier pass-outs as ‘Sir.’ This Americanised culture.”
This critique of the younger generation’s informal communication style quickly went viral, garnering over 1.2 million views and igniting a debate about shifting cultural norms and varying perspectives on professional etiquette.
See the post:
Call me old fashioned but had connected with a young fresh 2025 pass out from my college when he sent message on LinkedIn. His first message started with – Hi Saket, we are from same college…. And he lost me there itself. Son, you are 2025 pass out and address 1994 pass out with…
— saket साकेत ಸಾಕೇತ್ 🇮🇳 (@saket71) December 17, 2024
One user wrote, “Should he have called you sir? That’s British culture fyi. Since it’s Linkedin, a place with high corporate culture it’s natural that he call you by name as that is mandated in most companies these days. This is not ghar pe aao pair chhuo type situation.”
Another user commented, “I totally agree we should not just call sir, we should use some really respectful words like Sarkaar, mai baap, Milord and Azeem-o-shaan Shehenshah to keep the decorum.”
A third user said, “I wish more of American work culture comes to indian corporates, maybe then we will stop exploiting our workers.”
Some also came in favour of Saket’s ‘Sir’ remark. A user commented, “Still calling my college seniors sir after 15 years, some of them joined work at the same time with me. Some are in junior positions then me, I call their boss by first name but college seniors are sir for life.”
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