But comparison itself is not always unhealthy, Ms Ong said, and can sometimes be constructive when it comes from curiosity or motivation.
For example, individuals may view another person’s achievements as a source of inspiration rather than generating feelings of inadequacy, she added.
The problem arises when comparison stops being occasional and becomes emotionally consuming. This may manifest as rumination, avoidance or behaviours that disrupt daily functioning, such as compulsively checking LinkedIn and social media instead of focusing on one’s own goals.
MOST TITLES, ACHIEVEMENTS ARE INFLATED
On any given morning, you may have scrolled through your LinkedIn feed to see a friend update their job title to “vice-president” of her company, while seeing other friends congratulate someone on winning an award for most enterprising employee.
The reality, said experts, is that many professional milestones posted online often lack important context, or are in fact made to sound better than they actually are.
Ms Connie Low, principal coach at Tyson Jay, a firm specialising in recruitment, career and leadership coaching, said LinkedIn announcements, much like other forms of social media, are often curated to reflect how individuals want to be perceived.
She added that job titles can vary largely across companies and industries, making direct comparisons difficult.
Global talent consultancy firm Robert Walters also argued that more employers are inflating job titles – in 2023, Singapore saw a 24 per cent increase in 2023 in positions carrying titles such as “manager” and “director” for jobs intended for professionals with just two years of experience.
The firm defined “job title inflation” as companies offering exaggerated titles that may not accurately reflect the responsibilities, seniority or salary of a role.
