LinkedIn has become an essential platform for professionals to network, build their personal brand, and explore new career opportunities. With over 722 million members worldwide, LinkedIn offers users a place to connect with potential employers and be discovered. One useful but somewhat controversial LinkedIn feature is signaling that you are open to new job opportunities without explicitly stating you are looking for a job.
What does “open to work” mean on LinkedIn?
The “open to work” feature on LinkedIn allows members to privately signal to recruiters and other members that they are interested in new job opportunities. By enabling the “open to work” setting, you can choose to display a subtle banner across your profile photo and headline that states you are open to new opportunities. Recruiters can still see your full profile details but will also get a notification that you may be open to being contacted about new roles.
Displaying the “open to work” banner provides a soft way to get your name out there without explicitly stating you are searching for a new job. It allows you to quietly explore what is available while still employed. You control who can see the banner – you can make it visible to recruiters only or to all LinkedIn members.
Benefits of “open to work” on LinkedIn
- Surfaces your profile to recruiters and hiring managers searching for candidates
- Allows you to discreetly look for new opportunities while employed
- Puts you in control over who sees your job search status
- Proactively gets your name and skills in front of potential new employers
Should I display “open to work” while employed?
The decision to show you are open to work while currently employed is a personal one. There are advantages and risks to consider:
Potential advantages
- Connects you to exciting new job prospects you may not have considered
- Surfaces competitive salary and role options to benchmark against
- Provides hiring managers a chance to sell you on their company and role
- Discreet way to consider new opportunities on your schedule
Potential risks
- Current employer may discover you are open to new roles
- Recruiters contacting you during work hours could raise questions
- If not handled carefully, could signal discontentment/disloyalty to current employer
- Need to thoughtfully balance incoming recruiter outreach with current job duties
Every situation is unique. Being open to work while employed can be the perfect way to quietly research the job market and discover exciting new prospects. But it does require care and discretion to avoid negatively impacting your current role.
How to display “open to work” on LinkedIn
Displaying the “open to work” banner on LinkedIn is easy to set up:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile
- Click on the “Open to” dropdown menu under your profile photo and headline
- Select “Open to work”
- Choose whether you want the banner visible to only recruiters or all LinkedIn members
- Click “Show” to enable the banner on your profile
Once enabled, a subtle banner reading “Open to work” will appear on your profile photo. The banner is only visible to the audience you select. You can toggle it on and off or update the visibility at any time. No notification is sent when you add or remove the banner.
Tips for using “open to work” successfully
To get the most out of signaling you are open to work on LinkedIn, keep these tips in mind:
- Keep it discreet – Only display to recruiters to quietly explore options under the radar
- Update your profile – Refresh your headline, experience, and skills to attract roles you want
- Expand your network – Connect with more leaders and talent in your target companies
- Join industry groups – Get involved in niche LinkedIn Groups related to your field
- Watch your availability – Adjust to “working hours only” to control inbound outreach
- Set your status – Provide guidance on roles, locations, or companies you prefer
With a thoughtful approach, being open to work on LinkedIn can expand your professional possibilities without jeopardizing your current role.
Alternatives to “open to work”
If you decide signaling you are open to work does not make sense for your situation, there are a few alternative approaches on LinkedIn:
Option 1: Update your headline
Your LinkedIn headline is very prominent on your profile – use it to show the roles or industries that interest you. For example: “Product Marketing Manager seeking Consumer Goods opportunities.”
Option 2: Update your summary
Briefly describe the types of roles, companies, or locations you are interested in within the summary section of your profile.
Option 3: Join industry or niche groups
Become an active member in LinkedIn Groups related to functions, industries, or companies you want to target. This raises your visibility and networks.
Option 4: Follow target companies
Follow companies you want to work for to see their job postings and news. Their recruiters will also notice your interest.
While not as directly searchable as the “open to work” banner, these profile updates can still catch the eye of interested recruiters and hiring managers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does “open to work” notify your connections?
No, enabling or disabling the “open to work” banner does not send any notification to your connections on LinkedIn. It is meant to be a subtle signal recruiters can see.
Can I customize the “open to work” banner?
No, LinkedIn does not allow you to customize the text or appearance of the “open to work” banner. You can only choose to display it or not.
Who exactly can see my “open to work” status?
You control the visibility of the banner. It can be visible only to recruiters who have a LinkedIn Recruiter seat or to all LinkedIn members, depending on your preference.
Is there a way to hide “open to work” from my current employer?
Unfortunately there is no way to exclude specific connections like your current employer from seeing the banner if you select it to be visible to all LinkedIn members. The only option is to limit visibility to recruiters only.
Can I enable “open to work” on a free LinkedIn account?
No, only paid Premium LinkedIn accounts have access to the “open to work” banner feature and related recruiting insights tools.
Conclusion
Displaying that you are open to work on LinkedIn while currently employed can be a beneficial way to explore new career options with discretion. However, carefully consider your situation first before enabling the banner on your profile. With the right approach, the “open to work” signal can connect you to exciting new opportunities without jeopardizing your current role. But other more subtle profile updates may accomplish the same goal if displaying the banner does not make sense for you at this time.
