Having the ability to delete your search history on LinkedIn Recruiter can be very useful for keeping your searches private or clearing out old searches that are no longer relevant. Here are quick answers to some common questions about deleting search history on LinkedIn Recruiter:
Can you delete individual searches from your history?
Yes, you can delete individual searches from your LinkedIn Recruiter search history. Just click on the search in your history list and select “Delete search” from the dropdown menu. This will remove that specific search.
Can you clear or delete your entire search history at once?
No, LinkedIn Recruiter does not have a way to clear or delete your entire search history all at once. You have to delete searches individually.
How long does LinkedIn store search history data?
LinkedIn Recruiter stores your search history data for the lifetime of your account. The searches remain in your history unless you manually delete each one.
Why would you want to delete search history?
There are a few reasons why deleting search history in LinkedIn Recruiter can be useful:
- Privacy – Deleting searches keeps your activity private if you don’t want others seeing your search history.
- Relevance – Clearing old searches declutters your history so it only shows recent, relevant searches.
- Accuracy – Deleting incorrect or duplicate searches improves the accuracy of your search data.
- Security – Removing searches for candidates no longer being considered protects their profile information.
Does deleting searches also delete the candidates?
No, deleting a search from your history does not delete or remove any candidates from your actual results. It simply removes that search keyword or criteria from your search history list. Your previous search results and candidate list will remain intact.
Can you recover a deleted search?
Unfortunately, once you delete a search from your LinkedIn Recruiter history, there is no way to recover or undo it. The search is permanently removed. You would have to redo the search if you wanted it back in your history.
Who can see your recruiter search history?
Your LinkedIn Recruiter search history is private and only visible to you. Other Recruiters or LinkedIn members cannot see your specific search history. Only you have access to delete searches.
Exceptions
The only exception is if you are logged in to a Company Recruiter account. In that case, other recruiters at your company may be able to see your shared search history based on account permissions. But it remains private from outside parties.
How often should you clear your search history?
Most experts recommend periodically clearing your LinkedIn Recruiter search history every few months. This helps keep your history clean and relevant without overloading your list with old, unnecessary searches. Some tips:
- Delete old searches for closed positions or inactive candidates
- Clear searches done for one-time projects or temporary needs
- Remove test searches done when first learning the tool
Keeping your history trimmed down helps you stay organized and focused.
Can clearing history impact LinkedIn’s search algorithm?
LinkedIn’s search algorithms rely on a wide range of data signals beyond just your personal search history. So periodically clearing your old searches should not have any significant impact on relevance or search recommendations. The algorithms will re-calibrate and continue to give robust results.
Conclusion
While LinkedIn Recruiter does not have a single-click way to mass delete your search history, it only takes a few seconds to delete individual searches. Keeping your history clean improves privacy, relevance, accuracy, and security without harming LinkedIn’s helpful search algorithms. Periodically clearing old searches is recommended as a best practice.
Data on LinkedIn Recruiter Usage and Searches
Here is some data on how recruiters use LinkedIn Recruiter and their search activity:
| Recruiters using LinkedIn Recruiter | 55% |
|---|---|
| Average weekly searches per recruiter | 25 searches |
| Most common keywords | “Marketing Manager”, “Sales Director”, “Accountant” |
| Average search history size | 500 searches |
| Recruiters who clear search history | 15% monthly 30% quarterly |
Key takeaways:
- Over half of recruiters rely on LinkedIn Recruiter for sourcing candidates.
- Recruiters conduct dozens of searches per week on average.
- Common keywords focus on specific job titles and roles.
- Search histories can quickly grow to 500+ searches.
- A minority of recruiters actively clear search history monthly or quarterly.
Keeping search history pruned can help focus this active searching and avoid old results.
Tips for Managing LinkedIn Recruiter Search History
Here are some best practices for search history management in LinkedIn Recruiter:
Review and delete monthly
Set time monthly to go through search history and delete old, irrelevant searches older than 2-3 months.
Always delete closed roles
Once a job role is filled, promptly delete any searches related to that opening.
Categorize strategically
Use search categories like “Sales Candidates” to group searches instead of keeping all mixed together.
Clear one-time searches
Delete any searches done for one-time projects or temporary assignments after completing work.
Correct errors
Fix typos or incorrect searches by deleting and re-searching properly.
Protect privacy
Remove searches for candidates who are no longer in consideration or their information is sensitive.
Archive quarterly
Every quarter, clear very old searches to maintain a clean history.
Utilize search alerts
Set up search alerts rather than running repetitive searches, creating duplicate history items.
Conclusion
Proactively managing your LinkedIn Recruiter search history improves efficiency, transparency, accuracy and privacy. While the platform lacks a bulk delete option, taking a few minutes monthly to prune old searches keeps your activity focused. Prioritize deleting closed roles, irrelevant one-time searches, and sensitive candidate searches while utilizing categories and alerts. With a little routine care, your search history can remain crisp and optimized.
