Opening
Adding the “open to work” status on LinkedIn is a great way to get your profile in front of recruiters and hiring managers who are looking for candidates. LinkedIn makes it easy to indicate that you’re interested in new job opportunities directly on your profile. Here are some tips on how to add and optimize the “open to work” status:
Enable open to work on your LinkedIn profile
To start, go to your profile settings by clicking on the Me icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage. Then click View profile. Scroll down and click Edit public profile & URL on the right rail.
This will open your full profile in edit mode. Go to the Looking for section (you may need to click Show looking for options if it’s minimized). Check the box next to Let recruiters know you’re open to work opportunities.
You can also select interested in: A new job and write in any other details like job titles, locations, or remote options that describe the types of roles you’re interested in.
Set preferences for who can see you’re open
In the same Looking for section, use the preferences to select who can see this status. You can choose from:
– Your connections only
– Recruiters only
– All LinkedIn members
Most professionals choose Recruiters only or All LinkedIn members to get maximum visibility.
Show recruiters you’re open to remote work
To indicate you’re open to remote work options, write “remote” in the Locations field of the Looking for section. You can also list specific cities or regions you’d be willing to work in.
Highlight relevant skills
Make sure your Skills section is up-to-date with keywords recruiters may search for. LinkedIn lets you add up to 50 skills. Prioritize hard skills and specialized certifications first.
Expand your network
Networking is key to finding new opportunities. Use LinkedIn’s search tools to find and connect with people at companies you’re interested in. Message new connections to introduce yourself.
Follow companies to see job postings
Follow companies you’d like to work for to see their job postings in your LinkedIn feed. You can also search openings under Jobs. Apply for roles that are a good match.
Best Practices for Open to Work
Here are some best practices to maximize the impact of the open to work status:
Customize your LinkedIn URL
Claim a customized LinkedIn URL with your name to make your profile link more professional. From your profile, click Edit public profile & URL > Customize your public profile URL.
Update your profile summary
Use your summary to highlight your professional background, biggest accomplishments, and skills you want to leverage in your next role. Share why you’re exploring new opportunities.
Refresh your profile photo
Add a high quality, polished headshot photo wearing professional attire. First impressions matter, so make sure your photo looks approachable.
Showcase key skills and achievements
Beef up the skills on your profile as well as your work experience descriptions. Quantify your achievements and responsibilities from past roles.
Get recommendations
Ask managers, colleagues, and clients from your network to write you LinkedIn recommendations. This displays social proof of the value you delivered in past roles.
Improve your visibility with a background photo
Add a header photo that captures your personality. This spotlights your brand when recruiters visit your profile.
Leveraging LinkedIn’s Job Search Tools
LinkedIn provides robust tools to find the right opportunities:
Save search alerts for new job postings
Run searches by title, skill, company, or location and then save them to get email notifications when new roles match your criteria.
Look for easy apply filters
When searching jobs, use the Easy Apply filter to only see roles you can submit to with your LinkedIn profile and resume vs. needing to re-enter everything manually on a company’s site.
Ask for referrals from your network
When you see a posting from someone in your network, reach out to ask if they can refer you or put you in touch with the hiring manager.
Take skill assessments
Complete LinkedIn Skill Assessments related to your field. Add the badges you earn to showcase verified skills.
Follow company pages
Stay up-to-date on new openings by following company pages. You’ll see posts from their page in your LinkedIn feed.
Tips for Getting Noticed
As a job seeker, you want your LinkedIn profile to stand out. Consider these tips:
Optimize your profile for applicant tracking systems (ATS)
Many recruiters use ATS tools to scan profiles for keywords from job descriptions. Update your profile with the most relevant terms for positions you want.
Use media content to showcase skills
Add examples of your work such as videos, slide decks, or published articles. This media content allows you to demonstrate skills visually.
Comment on content from target companies
Engage with updates published by employers you want to work for. Commenting shows your interest and gets you on their radar.
Join active LinkedIn Groups
Pick relevant groups based on your industry or interests to connect with like-minded professionals in your field. Contribute to discussions when possible.
Follow influential thought leaders
Follow executives, authors, founders, and thought leaders at companies you admire. Like and reshare their updates to spread your network.
Leveraging Premium Features
LinkedIn Premium offers features that give job seekers more visibility including:
See how your profile ranks
Premium shows you how your profile stacks up compared to other applicants based on factors like skills, current title, and alma mater.
Know who’s viewed your profile
See who has looked at your profile recently like recruiters or hiring managers. You can then prioritize following up with those viewers.
Send InMails to recruiters
InMail messages go directly to recipients without needing an existing connection. Use InMails to contact recruiters at your dream companies.
See salary insights
Gain access to typical salary ranges for specific job titles and companies so you know what to expect.
Take unlimited Skill Assessments
Premium removes the cap on the number of skill assessments you can complete each month to validate all of your expertise.
Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile
Below are key steps for optimizing every section of your LinkedIn profile as an active job seeker:
Professional headshot photo
Add a high-quality headshot photo wearing professional attire or business casual dress. Crop the image close on your face and position yourself against a plain, light background.
Customized public profile URL
Create a custom URL like www.linkedin.com/in/yourname to establish your personal brand and make it easy for others to share your profile link.
Concise, keyword-rich headline
Summarize your professional identity in just a few words using power verbs and keywords recruiters search for.
Summary section highlighting experience
Use your summary to provide an overview of your skills, career history, achievements, and what makes you unique. Share why you’re looking if actively job searching.
Work experience showcasing achievements
Detail the scope of each role, your responsibilities, successes, and results. Quantify accomplishments with numbers and metrics when possible.
Robust skills section
Include all relevant hard and soft skills. Prioritize technical abilities, coding languages, software, etc. Recruiters search profiles based on skills.
Education with details
List your degrees, certifications, concentrations, activities, honors, and coursework highlights. Share dates to showcase your educational background.
Volunteer experience and causes
Sharing any volunteer work or causes you support adds dimension to your profile. It presents a more well-rounded image of who you are.
Recommendations and endorsements
Ask managers, colleagues, professors, or clients to write recommendations highlighting your work. Collect skill endorsements from your network.
Project examples and media content
Include examples of your work, presentations, publications, or portfolios. Visual content allows you to showcase skills and achievements.
Contact info and links
Add phone number, email, portfolio or personal website links so recruiters can easily reach out to you or learn more about your experience.
Conclusion
Optimizing your LinkedIn profile and indicating that you’re open to work is an effective strategy to get noticed by recruiters and hiring managers. Take advantage of LinkedIn’s robust job search features to find relevant postings and expand your visibility. Keep your profile updated, engage with your network, and pursue premium tools to maximize your chances of landing interviews. With a comprehensive LinkedIn presence, you can propel your career forward to new opportunities.