Bonnie Dilber
Recruiting Leader @ Zapier | Former Educator | I’m a fan of transparency in recruiting, leveraging AI to make work more efficient and human, and workplaces that work for everyone.
Bonnie Dilber writes recruiting and workplace culture advice that converts 17.2% of engagement into comments—far above platform average—by leading with personal stakes and contrarian takes. Her signature move is the empathy reframe: she explains why hiring managers or employees care deeply about something, then gives tactical wins that align with that emotional truth.
7.1/wk
39 posts in 30d
178
avg per post
17.2%
comments / total
2.1%
reposts / total
problem-solution
Wed · 9 AM CET
Voice & tone
Bonnie writes like a former teacher turned insider—direct, slightly exasperated with conventional wisdom, but never condescending. She uses casual language ('I beg of you,' 'I promise you,' '😒') to signal she's speaking as a peer, not a recruiter. She names the emotional reality first ('They deeply care about the company, their colleagues, their product') before the practical advice, which makes her feel trustworthy rather than transactional.
Signature phrases
- “I promise you, the people you're interviewing with don't see it as 'just a job'”
- “I beg of you”
- “This simply has to be said”
- “Yes, [contrarian claim]. If you'd like to avoid that, a few ideas:”
- “I'm going to give it to you as well”
- “The real scam is”
Top 3 posts, dissected
Their highest-engagement posts, broken down line by line. Steal the structure.
I recently gave this advice to a friend of mine and I'm going to give it to you as well: show a genuine interest in the company you're applying to. I know to a lot of people, a job is just a job, but I promise you, the people you're interviewing with don't see it as "just a job". They deeply care about the company, their colleagues, their product - and their success and career opportunities are tied up with the success of their business. Go check out the people you'll be interviewing with - if they've been at the company for 3+ years or if they were one of the first 50 employees, they are fully bought in and want to hire someone who is going to be just as invested. If the company is founder-led, that founder may well have made a bunch of sacrifices for that company, and sees that company as their legacy. They may also be in the weeds on hiring, wanting to ensure every new hire is someone they can trust to take care of their company alongside them. So a couple of easy wins here: 1. Go look at the website. Seriously, you'd be surprised how many people come into interviews and aren't quite sure what the company does or what the top priorities are. Ten minutes on the website fixes that. 2. Learn something about their product. Sign up for an account and build something. Look at a couple of product reviews. Watch a tutorial online 3. Explore the landscape. Learn who their competitors are. Check out what kind of ads they're running. Develop an idea of what kind of barriers or problems they may be running into right now. Then use all of that insight to: - craft a compelling reason for why you're interested in the job at the company - bring perspectives that show you're already engaged and invested - ask smart questions that signal you're already thinking like someone on the team There might be a hundred people in the applicant pool who have experience similar to yours, and could do the job on paper. Differentiate yourself by being the person who shows you're not just looking for A job, you're looking for THIS job.
The hook uses personal advice framing ('I recently gave this advice to a friend of mine and I'm going to give it to you as well') to create immediate intimacy and signal that the advice is proven. The colon sets up a simple, memorable claim: 'show a genuine interest in the company you're applying to.' It's not flashy, but it's specific enough to stop scroll.
Setup paragraph that reframes why this matters (hiring managers care deeply, not just about the job but legacy and trust). Then three context paragraphs that build empathy for the interviewer's perspective (founder sacrifices, long-tenured employees, weeds-level involvement). Then a numbered list of 'easy wins' (website research, LinkedIn stalking, etc.). The structure moves from emotional truth to tactical action.
- Empathy reframe in opening: 'I know to a lot of people, a job is just a job, but I promise you...' validates reader assumption before pivoting
- Specific persona examples: 'if they've been at the company for 3+ years or if they were one of the first 50 employees' makes advice concrete and memorable
- Casual language: 'Seriously, you'd be surprised' and 'Go look at the website' feels like peer advice, not corporate guidance
- Parenthetical asides: '(and some take even more!)' adds warmth and specificity without breaking flow
The post ends with a soft CTA ('PS we're hiring!!') that feels natural rather than forced. The real close is the numbered list itself—readers comment because they want to add their own 'easy wins' or debate the advice, which drives the 108 comments.
Lead with the emotional truth of the other person's perspective before giving tactical advice; this makes your advice feel like a gift rather than a lecture.
People have fun with the "unlimited PTO" is a scam narrative but it's only a scam if you don't take it. I'm on year 6 of flexible PTO and continue to love being able to take frequent long weekends and vacations when it makes sense for my schedule/life. At Zapier most people t…
The hook uses the contrarian claim with pushback pattern: 'People have fun with the unlimited PTO is a scam narrative but it's only a scam if you don't take it.' The word 'but' is the pivot point—it acknowledges the reader's skepticism, then flips it on its head. This is high-confidence writing that invites debate rather than dismissal.
Hook, then personal testimony ('I'm on year 6 of flexible PTO and continue to love it'), then data point (Zapier employees take 4-5 weeks), then a reframe of what the 'real scam' is (fixed PTO with payout). The structure is short and punchy—no long paragraphs, just claim-evidence-reframe. The emoji (😒) adds tone and breaks up text.
- Personal testimony early: 'I'm on year 6' builds credibility by showing skin in the game
- Specific data: '4-5 weeks of PTO a year (and some take even more!)' is concrete enough to be believable but not so detailed it feels corporate
- Reframe the 'real scam': shifts the debate from 'unlimited PTO is bad' to 'fixed PTO with payout is worse,' which is a smarter argument
- Emoji as punctuation: the 😒 face signals tone and makes the post feel less formal
The post ends with 'PS we're hiring!!' which is a soft sell tied to the benefit just described. It works because it feels like an afterthought, not the point of the post.
Use the 'but' pivot to acknowledge the reader's existing belief, then flip it; this feels more persuasive than arguing against them directly.
This simply has to be said: LinkedIn is a professional networking platform, and there's really no room here for these silly April Fool's Day...more
The hook is a bold declarative statement: 'Yes, AI is making you dumber.' The word 'Yes' is key—it removes hedging and signals confidence. It's provocative enough to stop scroll, but the immediate follow-up ('If you'd like to avoid that, a few ideas:') prevents it from feeling like clickbait. The reader knows there's a solution coming.
Hook, then three numbered ideas (Stop letting AI write for you, Maintain your research skills, Continue to engage in skills like recalling). Each idea has a short title, then 2-3 paragraphs of explanation and reasoning. The structure is modular—readers can skim the titles or read deep. The post references her background as a teacher ('Back when I was a teacher, we had Bloom's Taxonomy') which adds authority.
- Numbered list with titles: each idea is scannable and memorable
- Parenthetical reasoning: '(even if AI is more grammatically perfect than you are)' acknowledges the counterargument while defending the main claim
- Specific example: 'AI Assistants confidently put facts into the world based on marketing blogs and Reddit threads' is concrete and relatable
- Teacher reference: 'Back when I was a teacher, we had Bloom's Taxonomy engrained in...' signals expertise and adds narrative weight
- Emoji as emphasis: the 🙃 face signals frustration in a way that feels human, not robotic
The post doesn't have a hard CTA; it ends with the third idea still in progress (truncated in the data). The implicit CTA is 'think critically about AI' which is more powerful than a link or sign-up.
Use numbered lists with titles to make advice scannable; add parenthetical reasoning to acknowledge counterarguments without weakening your main claim.
What drives their engagement
Bonnie's posts drive comments because they invite debate or personal application. Her contrarian claims ('unlimited PTO is only a scam if you don't take it') and empathy reframes ('hiring managers deeply care') create space for readers to add their own experience. The 17.2% conversation index is high because she asks implicit questions ('Do you agree?') rather than explicit ones.
Reposts are low (2.1%) because her content is personal and specific to recruiting/hiring context. Posts that feel like insider advice don't travel as well as universal truths. The few reposts likely come from recruiting professionals sharing with their teams.
High savability on tactical posts (job search advice, AI tips) because readers want to reference them later. The numbered lists and specific examples ('Go look at the website') are the kind of content people bookmark for future use.
Content pillars
Job Search and Interview Strategy
28%Tactical advice for candidates on how to stand out by understanding what hiring managers actually want and care about.
Workplace Culture and Benefits Myths
22%Contrarian takes on common workplace narratives (unlimited PTO, remote work, etc.) that debunk scams and reframe what actually matters.
AI and Its Human Impact
25%Critical analysis of how AI is reshaping work, hiring, and skill-building, with emphasis on equity and maintaining human judgment.
Recruiting and Hiring Best Practices
15%Insider perspective on what makes hiring work better for both candidates and companies, often tied to Zapier's approach.
Professional Development and Learning
10%Lessons from her background as an educator on how to stay sharp, think critically, and avoid shortcuts that erode skills.
Hook patterns
Personal Advice Framing
I recently gave this advice to [specific person] and I'm going to give it to you as well: [contrarian or counterintuitive claim]
“I recently gave this advice to a friend of mine and I'm going to give it to you as well: show a genuine interest in the company you're applying to.”
→ It creates intimacy by positioning the reader as a trusted friend and signals that the advice is battle-tested, not theoretical.
Contrarian Claim with Pushback
People have fun with the '[common narrative]' but [reframe that makes it true/false depending on behavior]
“People have fun with the 'unlimited PTO is a scam narrative' but it's only a scam if you don't take it.”
→ It acknowledges the reader's existing skepticism, then flips it, making them feel heard before being persuaded.
Bold Declarative Statement
Yes, [provocative claim]. If you'd like to avoid that, a few ideas:
“Yes, AI is making you dumber. If you'd like to avoid that, a few ideas:”
→ The 'Yes' signals confidence and removes hedging; the immediate pivot to solutions prevents the reader from dismissing it as clickbait.
Statistic Shock with Gender Angle
[Demographic fact] + [consequence that affects [specific group] most] + [call to action tied to equity]
“AI is dominated by men... And yet research shows that women are most at risk of having their jobs displaced by AI.”
→ It combines data credibility with moral urgency, making the post feel important rather than just informational.
Empathy Reframe
I know [common assumption], but [what the other person actually feels/cares about] + [why that matters to you]
“I know to a lot of people, a job is just a job, but I promise you, the people you're interviewing with don't see it as 'just a job'.”
→ It validates the reader's perspective while shifting focus to the other party's emotional stakes, making advice feel collaborative.
Top-performing hooks
“I recently gave this advice to a friend of mine and I'm going to give it to you as well: show a genuine interest in the company you're applying to.”
→ The post builds immediate trust by framing advice as something the author personally shared with a friend, making it feel genuine rather than preachy, while the empathy-driven insight into the intervi
“People have fun with the "unlimited PTO" is a scam narrative but it's only a scam if you don't take it.”
→ The post challenges a widely-held cynical belief about unlimited PTO with personal experience and real company data, sparking debate and relatability among professionals. The casual, confident tone co
“This simply has to be said: LinkedIn is a professional networking platform, and there's really no room here for these silly April Fool's Day...more”
→ The post uses a strong, direct statement to challenge a common behavior on LinkedIn, which is likely to resonate with users who share similar views. This contrarian approach can spark debate and incre
“Yes, AI is making you dumber.”
→ The provocative opening hook 'AI is making you dumber' immediately triggers emotional reactions and debate, driving shares and comments from both agreers and skeptics. The post balances a hot take wit
“I've started talking about AI a lot more and I will continue to do so for a few reasons:”
→ The post combines a data-driven argument with a clear sense of mission and personal platform responsibility, making it feel both credible and urgent. By directly addressing the gender gap in AI and fr
“The job market lost another 92k jobs in February, and the past few months were revised downwards a bit. Currently the ratio of jobs to unemployed people is .9 - the lowest since 2017 (outside of the pandemic).”
→ The post earns trust by leading with hard data and dismantling popular scapegoats job seekers cling to, which creates a pattern interrupt that feels refreshingly honest. It closes with a subtle credib
“Job creation is near 0 according to Jerome Powell.”
→ The post earns authority by leading with a credible macro-economic signal (Jerome Powell's statement) to validate job seekers' frustrations, then pivots to nuanced, actionable advice that avoids both
“Honestly thinking about going all in on the CEO path, landing a CEO position for a few million dollars in cash + equity.”
→ The post uses humor and a relatable fantasy of escaping the rat race to capture attention. The slightly absurd and self-aware tone makes it engaging and shareable, prompting comments and likes.
“I recently hired two new recruiters for my team, and wanna know where I found them?”
→ The post addresses a common frustration in job searching (difficulty getting hired) and offers a counter-narrative with actionable insights. It builds credibility by sharing personal experiences and c
“As a naturally early riser, I woke up at 4:52 this morning and was so proud that I'd slept to a reasonable hour.”
→ The post wins through universal relatability — nearly everyone has been caught off guard by daylight saving time — paired with self-deprecating humor that feels authentic and human rather than promoti
What works
- Contrarian claims with emotional reframes: 'The real scam is people trying to convince you that 15 days of PTO a year is superior' (1098 engagement). This pattern works because it validates the reader's skepticism while redirecting it toward a smarter target.
- Personal testimony as credibility: 'I'm on year 6 of flexible PTO and continue to love it' appears in her top posts because it signals skin in the game. Readers trust advice from people who live it.
- Numbered lists with narrative setup: 37 posts use problem-solution format (40% of output, 153 avg engagement), but her top posts combine narrative context with lists. The context builds empathy; the list delivers tactics.
- Specific persona examples: 'if they've been at the company for 3+ years or if they were one of the first 50 employees' makes abstract advice concrete. Readers remember specific examples more than general principles.
- Bold declarative hooks with immediate solutions: 'Yes, AI is making you dumber. If you'd like to avoid that, a few ideas:' (625 engagement) works because the 'Yes' removes hedging, and the immediate pivot to solutions prevents dismissal.
- Emoji as tone marker: The 😒 and 🙃 faces appear in her top posts and signal personality without breaking professionalism. They're used sparingly, which makes them more effective.
Steal this for your own LinkedIn
- Start your next post with 'I recently gave this advice to [specific person] and I'm going to give it to you as well:' to create intimacy and signal battle-tested wisdom.
- Use the 'but' pivot to acknowledge the reader's existing belief before flipping it: 'People have fun with the [common narrative] but [reframe].' This feels more persuasive than arguing against them directly.
- Add parenthetical reasoning to acknowledge counterarguments without weakening your claim: '(even if AI is more grammatically perfect than you are)' validates the reader's concern while defending your position.
- Lead with the emotional truth of the other person's perspective before giving tactical advice. Explain why hiring managers, employees, or founders care, then give easy wins that align with that care.
- Use specific persona examples instead of generalizations: 'if they've been at the company for 3+ years' is more memorable than 'long-tenured employees.' Readers remember specifics.
- End soft CTAs with 'PS' to make them feel like afterthoughts rather than the point: 'PS we're hiring!!' works because it doesn't oversell.
Compare Bonnie with…
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Posting patterns
Bonnie posts 7.1 times per week (roughly daily), with 39 posts in the last 30 days, showing consistent, high-volume output that keeps her top-of-mind.
Wednesday at 8 UTC performs best, which is early morning in US time zones and aligns with when professionals check LinkedIn before work.
Very long posts (350+ words) dominate her feed at 60% of output and average 170 engagement. However, medium-length posts (80-180 words) average 215 engagement, suggesting that while she writes long, her most efficient posts are tighter. The micro posts (<30 words) average 885 engagement, but they're rare (1%), likely because they're used strategically for high-impact statements.
Engagement by day
Content mix
avg 153 engagements per post
avg 173 engagements per post
avg 195 engagements per post
avg 128 engagements per post
avg 93 engagements per post
avg 152 engagements per post
Bonnie's 40% problem-solution format paired with 17% numbered lists (57% combined) creates a reputation as a practical advisor. The remaining 43% (stories, Q&A, contrarian takes) keeps her voice fresh and prevents her from feeling like a how-to machine. Her audience is recruiting professionals and job seekers who want both tactical advice and cultural commentary, so the mix of 'here's what to do' and 'here's what's actually true' keeps them engaged and coming back.
