LinkedIn has become an essential platform for professionals to network, build their personal brand, and even find job opportunities. However, some employees may want to use LinkedIn discreetly without notifying their current employer for various reasons. Thankfully, there are steps one can take to use LinkedIn discreetly and avoid detection from your employer.
Be Discreet With Your Profile and Activity
When setting up your LinkedIn profile, avoid listing your current job title and employer. Simply put “Currently Employed” or a vague title like “Marketing Professional”. Do not connect with any co-workers or add your company as a past position. Also, customize your profile URL if it contains any identifying information about your name or employer.
When engaging on LinkedIn, do not like, share or comment on any posts related to your employer. Avoid interacting with coworkers’ profiles or posting any updates about your current work projects. The less affiliation with your employer on your profile and activity, the better.
Increase Your Privacy Settings
Adjust your privacy settings in LinkedIn to restrict public viewing of your connections and activities. Go to your account Privacy & Settings and set your profile visibility to be viewable only by your connections rather than all LinkedIn members.
Also disable the options to allow search engines outside of LinkedIn to index your profile. Turn off notifications and disable the publishing of your profile changes to limit notifications to your connections.
Use a Personal Email Address
Do not use your work email address on your LinkedIn account. Always sign up and operate your LinkedIn with a personal email like Gmail. This ensures work IT or management cannot link the account back to you through a work email audit. Never access LinkedIn on a work device either.
Connect Strategically
Be selective when connecting and only accept invites from people you trust, ideally that do not work closely with you or your employer. Avoid connecting with executive leadership, direct managers, or more than a handful of coworkers. The more connections affiliated with your company, the higher the chance of detection.
Use An Alternate Phone Number
When setting up your LinkedIn account, verify your profile with your personal cell or home phone number instead of your work number. This adds another layer of separation and prevents employer tracking. Avoid listing any work numbers or email in your profile’s contact info as well.
Don’t Mention Your Job Search
Never mention that you are exploring new job opportunities or dissatisfied at your company on your LinkedIn profile or posts. Assume your employer will likely review your profile and activity. Wait until after you have secured a new position to update your employment status.
Use Public Computers
When actively using LinkedIn for job hunting, do so on your personal devices and public computers like the library. Avoid accessing it on any employer owned technology which they can monitor. Also clear cookies, cache and browsing history to cover your tracks.
Monitor Your Appearances
Occasionally Google yourself and check your LinkedIn profile views to see if any coworkers or company leadership have looked you up recently. Seeing their names may indicate your employer is privy to your account.
Remove Work Contacts After Leaving
Once you have found a new job and left your employer, you can then “clean up” your LinkedIn by connecting with former coworkers, adding your past company and removing any vagueness about your current position. Just be sure to wait until fully separated.
Use Premium Anonymously
Upgrading to LinkedIn Premium allows you to browse profiles anonymously, so employers won’t be notified when you view someone’s profile. If you can afford it, Premium is worthwhile for discreet networking and job searching. Just don’t use any company payment info that could out you.
Apply With a Different Resume
If applying to jobs through LinkedIn, use an alternate resume that does not contain your current employer’s name or any identifying information found on your workplace resume. Omit your exact job titles, dates employed, supervisor names, or specifics about projects.
Inform Recruiters of the Situation
When connecting with recruiters or hiring managers through LinkedIn about new opportunities, let them know you need to keep your search discreet for the time being. Any professional recruiter will understand the need for discretion during a job search. Just emphasize your interest up front.
In summary:
- Omit any mention of your current employer from your profile and activity
- Increase privacy settings and disable public notifications
- Only connect with those you trust and avoid coworkers
- Use your personal contact info like an alternate email and phone number
- Never access LinkedIn from a work device or network
- Monitor your profile’s visitors and appearances in Google
- Apply to jobs with an anonymous version of your resume
- Inform recruiters to maintain discretion during outreach
- Wait until after leaving your job to fully update LinkedIn
Following these best practices allows you to unlock the benefits of LinkedIn for career networking and advancement while avoiding detection from your employer. With extra caution and separation between work and private social media activity, you can proactively manage and grow your career on your terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is having a LinkedIn account considered moonlighting?
Simply having a LinkedIn account is not typically considered moonlighting. Moonlighting refers more to active side jobs or businesses operated outside of your regular employment. Many people maintain professional networking profiles while employed. The key is to avoid promoting side work or conflicts of interest on a networking profile.
Can my employer require I connect my LinkedIn?
Employers generally cannot force employees to connect their LinkedIn profiles as a condition of employment or continued employment. However, some businesses may have social media policies that highly encourage it. As long as you are not contractually obligated per a social media agreement, connecting your LinkedIn is still fully voluntary.
Is LinkedIn activity protected speech?
In general, freedom of speech protections cover online activity like LinkedIn networking and discussion. However, posting company trade secrets or confidential information would not be protected. Employers can take action on that type of misuse of private information obtained on the job. But your opinions, endorsements, and factual career updates would typically be protected speech.
Can my employer punish me for having a private LinkedIn?
Employers should not retaliate or take adverse action against employees solely for having private social media accounts. However, some caveats are posting proprietary information or making disparaging comments about the employer online. Those types of abuses could warrant disciplinary measures. Merely searching for jobs, networking, and managing your own career should not.
What happens if my employer finds my private LinkedIn?
If your employer somehow discovers your preferred-private LinkedIn presence, the best course is honesty. Explain you are simply managing your own career development and networking, which is an encouraged professional activity these days. Assure them you would never use proprietary work information and request that they please respect your private account use. Most will understand.
Key Takeaways
– Always keep LinkedIn activity strictly professional and ethical to avoid issues. Do not post private company information or disparage your employer.
– Separation of your work and private social media presence is crucial. Never access LinkedIn from a work device or network.
– Transparency with recruiters helps — let them know you need discretion during a job search and most will oblige.
– Focus on building beneficial relationships and growing your brand, not questionable activities that could be misconstrued.
– Your career is your asset to manage. Never give full profile access to an employer unless contractually obligated and restricted as needed.
Conclusion
Exercising caution allows working professionals to reap the upside of LinkedIn for networking and career development without necessarily notifying one’s employer. Separation of work and private online presence, judicious use of privacy controls, and avoidance of unethical behavior enables discreet but effective use of LinkedIn to manage your career. With extra care taken, the platform can serve your professional needs without crossing lines with your employer.