LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 722 million members worldwide. As a professional networking and career development site, LinkedIn allows users to make connections, search for jobs, read industry news, and more. However, there may be times when a user wants to temporarily suspend their LinkedIn account for various reasons. Luckily, LinkedIn does provide the option to temporarily suspend an account.
Reasons for Suspending a LinkedIn Account
There are several common reasons why someone may want to temporarily suspend their LinkedIn account:
Taking a break from networking and social media
With over 722 million members, LinkedIn can feel overwhelming at times. The constant notifications and influx of connection requests may become exhausting. Suspending an account allows a user to take a break and reset. This is especially helpful for those feeling burned out by social media.
Looking for a new job
Some users suspend their accounts while looking for a new job to avoid alerting their current employer that they are job hunting. This allows them to discreetly look at job postings and connect with recruiters without notifying connections at their current company.
Going on parental leave or extended vacation
Those going on parental leave or taking a prolonged vacation might want to suspend their account temporarily if they will not be able to maintain their networking and social presence during that time. This can prevent their profile from appearing inactive.
Dealing with harassment
Unfortunately, online harassment does occur on networking platforms like LinkedIn. If a user is experiencing harassment, they may want to temporarily suspend their account to stop the unwanted contact while they decide on next steps.
How to Temporarily Suspend a LinkedIn Account
Suspending a LinkedIn account is simple and easy to do. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Click on the “Me” icon in the top right navigation bar
This will bring you to your account homepage.
Step 2: Select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown menu
Step 3: Choose “Account management” from the left sidebar
Step 4: Click on “Taking a break”
Step 5: Select the amount of time you wish to suspend your account
You can choose to suspend your account for one week, one month, three months, or indefinitely.
Step 6: Click “Take a break”
You will then see a confirmation screen reviewing your request details.
Step 7: Click “Take a break from LinkedIn”
What Happens When Your LinkedIn Account is Suspended
Here is what happens when you suspend your LinkedIn account:
Your profile is hidden
Your profile will no longer show up in search results or be viewable by other members during the suspension period.
You stop receiving notifications
You will not get connection requests, messages, or other notifications while suspended.
You cannot access your account
You will be unable to log in or view your profile and connections until the suspension period ends.
Your connections are notified
Your 1st-degree connections receive a notice that you are “Taking a break from LinkedIn.”
You can still reactivate early
If you change your mind, you can always reactivate your account before the suspension period ends.
Reactivating Your Suspended LinkedIn Account
When ready to reactivate your account, follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to LinkedIn.com and click “Sign in”
Step 2: Enter your email and password
You will be prompted to end your break early.
Step 3: Click “End break”
Step 4: Click “Reactivate your account”
You may be asked to confirm your identity before your account is reactivated. Once confirmed, you will have full access to your account again.
Pros of Temporarily Suspending a LinkedIn Account
Here are some of the advantages of temporarily suspending your LinkedIn:
Provides a networking break
Allows you to take a breather from the demands of online networking.
Lets you refocus
Gives you time to refocus on non-career related life activities.
Removes distractions
Eliminates social media distractions while dealing with life events.
Discreet job search
Enables discreetly looking for jobs without notifying current employer.
Stops notifications
Provides relief from overwhelming LinkedIn notifications.
Cons of Temporarily Suspending a LinkedIn Account
However, there are also some potential drawbacks to be aware of:
Lose networking opportunities
Important career connections and opportunities may be missed while account is suspended.
Profile appears inactive
Long suspensions may make profile seem outdated or inactive.
Reconnecting takes time
Re-establishing connections and activity level takes effort when reactivated.
Public profile access remains
While suspended, public profile remains visible to anyone with the link.
Recruiters may move on
Recruiters interested before suspension may lose interest while account inactive.
Best Practices for Temporarily Suspending Account
To get the most out of temporarily suspending your LinkedIn, keep these tips in mind:
Keep suspension periods short
Avoid extended or indefinite suspensions, as this can damage your networking.
Inform key connections
Privately message close connections that you are taking a short break.
Remove personal info from public profile
Limit exposure by removing personal details from your public profile.
Turn off notifications first
Disable notifications before suspending to avoid returning to an overload.
Plan for reactivation
Schedule time to refresh profile and reconnect with your network when resuming.
Conclusion
Temporarily suspending your LinkedIn account can provide a useful break from networking demands. However, suspensions do impact visibility. Keep suspensions brief, continue networking offline, and plan for reactivation to maximize the benefits while minimizing the risks of a LinkedIn suspension. What are your thoughts on temporarily suspending a LinkedIn account? Let me know in the comments!