LinkedIn has become an invaluable tool for networking and job searching. With over 740 million members worldwide, LinkedIn is the largest professional networking platform. As more and more recruiters utilize LinkedIn to source candidates, job seekers wonder – can your LinkedIn activity indicate you’re looking for a new job?
Does LinkedIn notify connections when you update your profile?
When you make changes to your LinkedIn profile, your connections are not notified unless you directly share an update with them. Updating your profile details, work experience, skills, education, etc. does not trigger notifications to your connections. However, when you do share an update, your connections will be able to see you have updated your profile recently.
Types of profile updates that notify connections
- Sharing a new profile photo
- Posting a new article, experience, education, volunteer experience, skill, or project
- Leaving or starting a new position with the same company
- Changing your industry, location, or job title without changing companies
So if you’re actively job searching, be thoughtful about the types of updates you broadcast to your network. You may not want to alert all connections that you are looking for a new opportunity.
Does LinkedIn show recruiters you have viewed their profile?
One common question is whether LinkedIn notifies recruiters or hiring managers if you look at their profile. The simple answer is no. When you view another member’s profile, they will not receive any notification. This applies both to premium and free members. You can remain anonymous as you research companies and view profiles of potential mentors, business partners, or future employers.
Two exceptions
There are two potential ways LinkedIn can give away the fact that you viewed someone’s profile:
- You engage with their content by liking, commenting, etc. Any engagement on LinkedIn profiles and content surfaces as a notification.
- You appear in their “Viewers of this profile also viewed” section. LinkedIn generates this list algorithmically based on who has viewed the profile, not necessarily who has engaged. So you may appear here even without engagement.
Other than that, your browsing remains private. Make sure you’re logged into your account for the full anonymous viewing experience.
Does applying for jobs through LinkedIn notify your connections?
One of the most common ways people inadvertently signal they are job searching is by applying for jobs through LinkedIn. Whenever you submit an application or click “Interested” on a job posting, there is a chance your connections will be notified.
Here are three scenarios where your connections may be tipped off you have applied for a new job:
- The hiring manager or recruiter is in your network – They will be notified you applied for the role at their company.
- You share an update about applying – Posting about your application publicly means all connections see your job search activity.
- Your profile displays “Open to work” – This signals to your network that you are actively job hunting. Premium subscribers get visibility into who clicked “Open to work”.
Otherwise, your job applications remain private. If you want to keep your search discreet, avoid these three sharing scenarios.
Does LinkedIn show who viewed your profile?
One of LinkedIn’s premium features allows you to see who has viewed your profile in the past 90 days. So if you are job hunting, it’s possible recruiters and hiring managers will know they were spotted if you have this premium feature.
Here’s a breakdown of what each type of LinkedIn account can see:
Account Type | Who Can See Your Profile Views? |
---|---|
Free Account | You can’t see who viewed your profile |
Premium Account | You can see the last 90 days of profile views segmented by industry and location, but not specific names or companies |
Recruiter, Sales Navigator, or Premium Career Accounts | You can see the names of viewers (first and last name only) and their companies |
So with a premium account, recruiters and hiring managers at companies you have applied to may be revealed if they have viewed your profile. This visibility works both ways if they also have a premium account.
Tips for a confidential job search
Here are some best practices for keeping your job search discreet on LinkedIn:
- Maintain a professional presence – Continue engaging with your network and posting relevant content to avoid raising suspicions.
- Be selective when updating your profile – Only broadcast updates that are valuable to your professional brand.
- Research companies anonymously – View profiles and pages without liking, commenting or connecting.
- Apply for jobs offline – Avoid applying through LinkedIn to prevent being flagged as “Open to work”.
- Turn off notifications – Disable notifications for profile views and messages to avoid being tipped off.
- Review settings – Double check your privacy and account settings to customize visibility.
Following these best practices allows you to continue leveraging LinkedIn for networking while discreetly researching and applying for new job opportunities.
Conclusion
While LinkedIn provides many benefits for active job seekers, your activity is not as private as you may assume. With careful usage and the right settings, you can maintain your confidentiality during the job hunting process. Avoid oversharing profile changes, applying for jobs within LinkedIn, and upgrade to a premium account to manage visibility. With a strategic approach, you can proactively manage how and when your connections are notified that you are looking for new career opportunities.