LinkedIn has become one of the most popular platforms for job seekers to connect with potential employers and recruiters. With over 740 million members worldwide, LinkedIn offers users the ability to create a professional profile, connect with other professionals, join groups, follow companies, and apply for jobs listed on the platform.
One of the key features of LinkedIn is the ability for job seekers to submit their resume directly to job postings listed on the site. This allows recruiters and hiring managers to easily review candidate resumes and reach out to potential matches. However, sometimes job seekers may wish to “unsubmit” their resume if they change their mind about a particular role or company.
Can You Actually Unsubmit a Resume on LinkedIn?
The short answer is no – once you have submitted your resume to a job posting on LinkedIn, there is no way to officially “unsubmit” it. LinkedIn does not provide users with a feature or option to remove a previously submitted resume from a job application.
This is because once you submit your resume to a job posting, it becomes visible to the recruiter or hiring manager associated with that posting. At that point, even if you remove your resume from the application, the employer has already had access to view and potentially download or share your resume. Simply removing it from the application does not erase the fact that you previously expressed interest in the role by applying.
Why Doesn’t LinkedIn Allow Unsubmitting Resumes?
There are a few reasons why LinkedIn does not allow users to unsubmit resumes:
- To maintain record of job seeker interest – LinkedIn uses submitted resumes as an indication of job seeker interest in roles and companies. Keeping these records allows them to improve their job matching algorithms.
- Prevent abuse of application system – Without restrictions on unsubmitting, some users could apply for jobs in bulk then remove applications later, cluttering up the system.
- Maintain validity of application process – Removing submitted resumes could potentially invalidate the application process if employers no longer have access to already submitted candidates.
Essentially, LinkedIn wants to maintain the integrity of the job application process by preventing users from arbitrarily removing submissions that have already entered the employer’s view. This helps prevent issues down the line in the hiring process.
What to Do If You Want to Unsubmit Your Resume
If you have a change of heart and want to withdraw your submitted resume from a job application on LinkedIn, here are a few options:
- Withdraw your application – You can withdraw your full application from the job posting, which will remove your resume from the employer’s applicant list. However, they may have already accessed or downloaded your resume.
- Contact the recruiter or hiring manager – Reach out directly to explain that you are no longer interested in the role and prefer they no longer consider your resume.
- Edit privacy settings – Adjust your profile settings to only allow visible connections to access your full profile and resume.
- Remove or edit resume details – You can update your resume by removing your contact info or important details to make it less usable for employers.
While you can’t fully erase the fact that you applied, you may be able to minimize further consideration of your candidacy by taking one of the above steps.
Withdrawing Your Application
Withdrawing your full application is the closest option on LinkedIn to “unsubmitting” your resume. Here are the steps:
- Go to your list of submitted job applications under the Jobs tab.
- Locate the application you wish to withdraw.
- Click the “Withdraw application” button or the three dots icon next to the listing.
- Confirm that you wish to withdraw your application when prompted.
This will remove your resume and application from the employer’s applicant tracking system and job posting page. However, employers may have already downloaded or saved your resume prior to withdrawal.
Contacting the Employer Directly
Another option is to find contact information for the recruiter or hiring manager associated with the job posting and reach out to explain that you would no longer like to be considered for the role and have withdrawn your application. Some ways to contact them include:
- Message them directly through LinkedIn InMail if they are a LinkedIn connection.
- Find their work email address through their LinkedIn profile or the job posting.
- Calling them if you can find a phone number associated with their name or the job posting.
This allows you to provide context on withdrawing your application and specifically request they no longer review your candidacy. Be polite and professional in your communication.
Adjusting LinkedIn Privacy Settings
You can adjust your LinkedIn profile settings to limit visibility of your full profile and resume to only people you are directly connected with. This way, if an employer you applied to is not in your connections, they will no longer have access.
To do this:
- Go to your Profile settings
- Select “Privacy” settings
- Under “Select who can see your profile photo and network updates”, choose “Only your connections”
- Under “Select who can see your work experience”, choose “Only your connections”
However, employers you are connected with will still have access unless you remove the connection entirely.
Editing Your Resume Details
You can also directly edit your resume by either removing your contact details like phone number or email, or removing important details like your work history, skills, or education. This will reduce the usable value of the resume copy an employer may have retained.
Keep in mind that significant changes to work history could create inconsistencies if an employer compares to your full LinkedIn profile. Focus on removing contact information first before other resume details.
Pros and Cons of Unsubmitting
While there is no true way to “unsubmit” your resume on LinkedIn once applied, here are some potential pros and cons of the options available to you:
Pros
- Withdraw application prevents further evaluation of your candidacy for that specific role
- Direct contact provides context on withdrawing from employer’s consideration
- Limiting profile visibility reduces access to your full credentials
- Editing resume details minimizes value of retained resume copy
Cons
- Employer may have already accessed your full profile and resume
- Application withdrawal doesn’t prevent employer from retaining your resume
- Contacting employer could negatively impact your reputation if not done tactfully
- Restricting profile means limiting access for all connections
- Editing resume details could create inconsistencies with full profile
Overall, while there is no way to fully erase your application, you can minimize employer access to your candidacy in several ways if you wish to effectively “unsubmit” your LinkedIn resume.
Key Takeaways
- There is no official way to unsubmit your resume after applying to a job on LinkedIn.
- Once submitted, employers have access and may retain copies of your resume already.
- You can withdraw your application, contact the employer directly, adjust privacy settings, or edit your resume details.
- However, employers may have already accessed your full profile and resume previously.
- Proceed carefully if you wish to effectively unsubmit your candidacy from an employer’s consideration.
Conclusion
While LinkedIn does not permit officially removing a submitted resume, you do have some options to minimize employer access or consideration if you change your mind about a job application.
Keep in mind that employers can still retain copies of resumes already submitted, so you cannot erase the fact that you applied. Proceed tactfully and professionally if choosing to essentially “unsubmit” your candidacy.
With strategic use of profile privacy settings, application withdrawals, and employeer communication, you can reduce visibility of your resume. But be aware this could limit your exposure for other opportunities as well. Evaluate your options carefully before attempting to unsubmit your LinkedIn resume.