How do I hide my LinkedIn profile from everyone except recruiters?

Having a LinkedIn profile visible to recruiters but hidden from everyone else can be advantageous if you are not actively looking for a job. Displaying your profile selectively allows recruiters to find you for opportunities without alerting your current employer or professional network that you may be open to new roles. Here are some tips on how to hide your LinkedIn profile from the public while still being discoverable by recruiters.

Make Your LinkedIn Profile Private

The easiest way to hide your LinkedIn profile from the general public is to make your profile private. Here are the steps:

1. Go to your LinkedIn profile settings.
2. Under “Profile visibility,” select “Private mode.”
3. Save your settings.

This will make your entire profile invisible to anyone you are not directly connected to on LinkedIn. The downside is that recruiters you are not connected to also cannot view your full profile.

Show Your Profile to Recruiters Only

A better option is to show your profile to recruiters only. Here’s how:

1. Go to your LinkedIn settings.
2. Under “Select who can see your profile,” choose “Only people who have recruiter role.”
3. Save your settings.

This will make your profile visible only to people who have a recruiter account on LinkedIn. Other users will only see your name, headline, and that your profile is set to private.

Customize Visibility by Section

You can also customize visibility section-by-section in your LinkedIn profile. For example:

• Make your education and volunteer experience public.
• Make your work experience visible only to connections and recruiters.
• Make your contact info and recommendations visible only to recruiters.

Here’s how to customize visibility settings:

1. Go to your profile settings.
2. Select “Customize your public profile settings.”
3. For each section, choose from public, connections only, or recruiters only.
4. Save your settings.

This allows you to strategically showcase parts of your background while hiding other info.

Showcase or Hide Your Profile on Google

Adjust your public profile settings to manage how and where your LinkedIn profile appears in Google search results:

• To showcase your profile, make sure “Make my public profile visible to search engines” is turned ON in your settings.
• To hide your profile, turn this setting OFF.

Consider a Basic Profile

If you want to be very discreet, consider creating a basic profile with just your name, headline, and a few key skills or endorsements highlighted. This gives recruiters enough to identify you, while preserving your privacy.

Use LinkedIn Recruiter to Your Advantage

LinkedIn Recruiter is a paid talent-seeking tool used by recruiters and hiring managers. Take advantage of it:

• Complete your profile thoroughly – this will attract recruiters.
• List skills recruiters may search for.
• Join relevant LinkedIn groups visible to recruiters.

Network Strategically

Grow your network selectively to boost your discoverability:

• Connect with more recruiters and staffing professionals.
• Avoid mass connection requests.
• Target contacts at companies you want to work for.

Include the Open to Work Photo Frame

The “Open to Work” photo frame on your profile picture alerts recruiters that you are interested in new opportunities. To add it:

1. Click on your profile photo.
2. Select “Add frame.”
3. Choose the “Open to Work” frame option.
4. Save the change.

This signals to recruiters that you are interested in hearing about roles while maintaining your privacy from your wider network.

Set Up Job Alerts

Optimize your LinkedIn search settings to get notified about new jobs that interest you:

1. Go to the Jobs section.
2. Select “Job alerts” on the left.
3. Enter keywords for your target job titles or companies.
4. Choose how frequently to receive email alerts.

This allows recruiters to find you while proactively searching for opportunities on your own terms.

Join Industry or Alumni Groups

Join relevant industry and alumni groups on LinkedIn to increase connections with recruiters:

• Search for industry-specific groups like “Marketing Professionals” to connect with recruiters in your field.
• Look for alumni groups from your university to connect with recruiters from your school.
• Participate in group discussions to stand out.

Follow Target Companies

Follow companies you want to work for to get notified about new job postings:

1. Visit the company’s LinkedIn page.
2. Click “Follow” to get updates in your feed.
3. Check the jobs tab on the company page for openings.
4. Apply to roles through LinkedIn to stand out.

Promote Recommendations

Ask managers and colleagues for recommendations to impress recruiters:

• Choose connections who can vouch for your skills.
• Send them a message directly asking for a recommendation.
• Write recommendations in return and offer to do the same.

Summarize Qualifications

Tailor your professional headline and summary to highlight qualifications recruiters search for:

• List key skills, certifications, and specialties.
• Emphasize experience level and industries.
• Include keywords recruiters seek when searching profiles.

Conclusion

Making your LinkedIn profile visible only to recruiters while hidden from your overall network lets you explore new job opportunities privately while maintaining your current role. Take advantage of LinkedIn’s recruiting-oriented features to control your exposure and showcase your qualifications to recruiters looking for talent.