LinkedIn’s “Open To Work” feature allows you to privately signal to recruiters that you are looking for new job opportunities. This can be useful even if you are currently employed and not urgently trying to leave your current role. Here are some quick answers around using the Open To Work feature while employed:
– Yes, you can use the Open To Work feature on LinkedIn while currently employed. It is generally fine to discreetly explore new opportunities even if you aren’t actively looking to leave your current job.
– The Open To Work setting is private by default. Your current network won’t see your Open To Work status unless you choose to make it public.
– Making your Open To Work status public while employed may upset your current employer. Keep it private to quietly signal your interest to recruiters only.
– The Open To Work feature allows you to specify which kinds of roles you are interested in. Use this to shape the opportunities that come your way.
– Keep your profile updated with your latest skills and achievements so recruiters can assess your fit for roles that interest you.
Should you use Open To Work while employed?
Deciding whether to use LinkedIn’s Open To Work feature while still employed depends on your personal career situation and goals. Here are some key considerations:
– Are you fairly content in your current role or urgently looking to make a change? Open To Work can passively bring new opportunities to your attention even if you aren’t actively job searching.
– Do you want to assess the job market and see what appealing new roles may be out there? Open To Work allows discreet research even if you ultimately decide to stay put.
– Is your workplace culture fairly open to employees exploring opportunities, or is this seen as disloyal? Consider how your employer would react if they found out to decide if low-key Open To Work usage is right for you.
– Does your current compensation and career trajectory align with your long-term goals? If your current job isn’t enabling the pay and advancement you want long-term, exploring new roles may be prudent.
– Are you curious about roles in a new industry or eager to try a new job function? Passive Open To Work options gathering can help you evaluate a potential career pivot.
– Is your skills stack stale and in need of new challenges to stay competitive? Periodic job exploration can motivate you to pickup knowledge and skills for the next move.
The more discontent you feel in your current role, the more appealing it may be to open yourself to potential new opportunities using LinkedIn’s feature. But even those mostly satisfied in their jobs can benefit from discreetly assessing options.
Pros of using Open To Work while employed
Some potential upsides to discreetly signaling you are open to new opportunities while still employed include:
– **Passive recruitment.** Quality new job options come to you rather than needing to actively search and apply.
– **Market awareness.** You learn what appeals are out there, what skills are in demand, and what compensation benchmarks look like.
– **Skills motivation.** Interesting new job postings can motivate you to pursue knowledge and skills to become an attractive candidate.
– **Backup options.** Having backup options can help you negotiate improved pay/perks or push back against unreasonable demands in your current role.
– **Change catalyst.** An appealing new opportunity could catalyze a positive career change you may not have actively pursued otherwise.
– **Time efficiency.** Open To Work messaging happens in the background while you focus on your current job until the right option comes along.
– **Interview readiness.** Passive recruitment keeps your interview skills sharp and gives you insight into what hiring managers are looking for.
– **Confidence boost.** Knowing you are seen as a talented, in-demand professional can provide an ego boost and expanded career horizons.
– **Transition preparation.** Mentally preparing for and evaluating a possible career transition allows for a smoother move when the ideal new role presents itself.
Cons of using Open To Work while employed
There are also some potential downsides to keep in mind:
– **Upsetting your employer.** Many companies see exploring new opportunities as disloyal, which could put your current job at risk.
– **Distraction.** An influx of new job options could be distracting from delivering your best work and meeting expectations in your current role.
– **Fatigue.** Interviewing and assessing new roles while employed can lead to burnout and fatigue from trying to balance both.
– **Unsuitable options.** Opportunities that come your way may not actually be a good career move once explored in depth.
– **Increased urgency.** An unappealing new job offer or change in your current workplace may force your hand into quitting before you’re totally ready.
– **Overconfidence.** Having options could make you overconfident and neglect issues in your current role rather than trying to improve them.
– **Appearance of disloyalty.** Colleagues and managers may perceive you negatively if they know you are open to other opportunities.
– **Reputation risk.** Your employer may give you a poor reference in the future if they know you explored options while working for them.
– **Misalignment**. The grass often looks greener on the outside. The reality of a new role may not align with what a job posting conveyed.
How to use Open To Work discreetly while employed
If you decide using LinkedIn’s Open To Work feature could benefit you while currently employed, here are some tips to use it discreetly:
– Keep your Open To Work status private so only recruiters can see it. Don’t risk your employer finding out.
– Customize your Open To Work settings to reflect the types of roles and opportunities you want to focus on.
– Only engage with recruiters for opportunities you would seriously consider. Avoid wasting time interviewing just for practice.
– Schedule any interviews and screening calls during lunch breaks or before/after work hours.
– Assess new opportunities based on your long-term career goals, not just compensation and perks. Don’t quit for the wrong reasons.
– Let trusted colleagues know you are exploring options, but avoid gossiping about it widely in your workplace.
– If leaving, give proper notice to maintain your reputation. Don’t burn bridges even if you are eager to quit.
– After giving notice, you can then update your profile visibility settings and make your Open To Work status public.
– Consult an employment lawyer if you are concerned your employer may retaliate illegally against exploring new roles.
Should you make your Open To Work status public?
Making your Open To Work status visible to your whole network on LinkedIn has risks and rewards to weigh:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
– Increased exposure and recruitment |
– Current job loss risk if employer sees |
Some good guidelines around public Open To Work visibility include:
– Keep it private unless your employer already knows you plan to leave.
– Make public only after submitting formal resignation notice at your current job.
– If valued at your company, resigning publicly could forfeit a counteroffer.
– Get trusted colleagues to endorse you when publicly open to validate your skills.
– Use visibility settings to exclude current colleagues from seeing your open status.
– Customize visibility by group – public to recruiters only for example.
How recruiters use LinkedIn’s Open To Work feature
Here is some insight into how recruiters and hiring managers use Open To Work when sourcing candidates:
– Open To Work profiles appear highlighted in search results, making them stand out.
– Recruiters can filter LinkedIn searches specifically for those open to opportunities.
– Even if not urgently hiring, recruiters will connect with high potential Open To Work prospects.
– The Open To Work tag signals you are interested in exploring options and worth engaging.
– Recruiters assess how urgently you seem to want to make a change based on visibility settings.
– Public Open To Work settings generally convey higher urgency than just private visibility.
– Recruiters look for direction from Open To Work status on types of roles and industries of interest.
– Candidates open to opportunities are often approached about contract and temporary assignments as well.
– Those discreetly open are assumed to be more passive job seekers just researching options.
– Recruiters may periodically check back on passive candidates to gauge changes in their interest levels.
Conclusion
While being discreet is prudent, using LinkedIn’s Open To Work feature even while currently employed can expand your career horizons.
It keeps you aware of the job market, incoming opportunities, demand for your skills, compensation benchmarks, and more. This empowers more informed career planning and upward mobility.
Just be strategic in managing visibility settings and recruiter interactions to avoid jeopardizing your current role. With the right approach, Open To Work puts career power in your hands as an employed professional.
