LinkedIn has become an invaluable tool for connecting job seekers with recruiters and potential employers. However, sometimes a connection with a recruiter may not work out as planned. In cases where you want to sever the contract or agreement you have with a recruiter on LinkedIn, there are a few simple steps you can take.
Should You Remove A Recruiter From LinkedIn?
Before removing a recruiter from LinkedIn, consider if doing so is necessary or wise. Some situations where removing the connection might make sense include:
- The recruiter is not actively submitting you for jobs or following up in a timely manner
- You are no longer interested in job opportunities from that recruiter
- The recruiter has been unprofessional or inappropriate in their communication
- You have accepted a job through a different recruiter or channel
However, before burning bridges, you may want to communicate your concerns to the recruiter first. Explain that you do not feel the partnership is currently working for you and see if improvements can be made. Recruiters may simply be busy or distracted and not realize you expected more engagement. Opening the lines of communication can sometimes get things back on track.
If you have already found a new position that will remove you from the job market, definitely notify any recruiters you have contracts with so they know to focus their efforts elsewhere.
How To Formally End A Recruiter Contract on LinkedIn
If you have decided to formally end the working relationship with a recruiter on LinkedIn, here are the steps to do so:
- Open your LinkedIn homepage and click on the My Network icon in the top toolbar.
- This will bring you to a page listing your contacts. Click on the Connections tab at the top.
- You will then see an alphabetical list of all your LinkedIn connections. Locate the recruiter you want to remove.
- Hover over their name and click on the three dots icon that appears to the right side.
- A dropdown menu appears. Select Remove connection.
You will then get a confirmation pop-up box asking if you are sure you want to remove the connection. Click Remove to complete the process.
Removing A Recruiter As A Signed In Partner
If the recruiter you want to part ways with is designated as a Signed In Partner in LinkedIn, there is an additional step to break that formal contract agreement:
- Go to your LinkedIn Profile page and click on the Partners icon along the top toolbar (it appears as a standing person icon).
- On the Partners page, any Signed In Partners will be listed. Locate the recruiter you wish to remove.
- Hover over their name and click the three dots icon that appears.
- Select Remove partner from the dropdown menu.
This will immediately end any active contract along with removing the designation as a Signed In Partner from your profile.
Notifying The Recruiter
To maintain professional courtesy, it is smart to let the recruiter know directly that you are formally ending the working partnership. This allows them to remove you from their rosters and focus energy elsewhere.
You can notify them either before or after severing the LinkedIn connection – whichever you are most comfortable with. A short email, LinkedIn message, or phone call stating your desire to terminate the contract is sufficient.
Sample language could be:
Hello [name], After giving it some thought, I’ve decided it is time to formally end our recruiter contract and remove you as a partner from LinkedIn. I appreciate you taking the time to submit me for opportunities thus far. I will be pursuing next steps in my job search independently. Best of luck to you.
Keep the message professional and polite. There is no need to provide extensive reasons for ending the partnership unless asked.
Will The Recruiter See I Removed Them?
When you remove someone as a connection on LinkedIn, they will receive a notification alerting them of the change in status. So yes, the recruiter will know you have taken steps to remove them from your network.
The notification will simply state that you are “no longer connected on LinkedIn.” It does not give any additional context or details.
If you also remove them as a Signed In Partner, this notification will be sent as well. They will see that partnership has been revoked.
Can The Recruiter Re-Connect With Me?
Just because you remove a recruiter does not mean they no longer have access to your profile or are prevented from attempting to reconnect.
Unless you block the individual, they can still view your full public profile like any other LinkedIn member. They also have the ability to send you an invitation to connect again.
Whether you accept a new connection request after ending the partnership is up to your discretion. In most cases, refusing makes sense if your goal was a clean break from that recruiter.
Should I Inform Other Recruiters?
If you have multiple open contracts with recruiters, it is a toss up whether informing them is necessary after removing one.
There are a couple schools of thought:
- Proactive Notification: You may want to give your other recruiters a heads up that you have closed one partnership but are still very much open to opportunities from them. This prevents any confusion or assumption that you suddenly dropped out of the job market.
- Stay Silent: On the other hand, the separation may have no impact on your status with the other firms. Letting them know could spur unnecessary questions. If your remaining recruiters’ efforts remain unaffected, there is no reason they need to hear about your personnel change.
Use your best judgment based on the relationships and communication frequency with your recruiters on whether to disclose that one connection has ended.
How Does Removing A Recruiter Impact Job Opportunities?
Once you have formally severed ties with a recruiter, they will no longer be able to submit you for job openings through their firm.
If they have already submitted your information to a hiring manager, you may still hear about roles you were presented prior to the removal. However, any new opportunities will not be coming your way.
Make sure you have discussed the status of your candidacy for any open roles in the pipeline prior to removing a recruiter from your network. You want to avoid losing out on jobs you have already been submitted for.
As for the recruiter, they will simply need to remove you from their pool of qualified candidates. This allows them to refocus efforts on contacts who remain signed in partnership.
Will It Harm My Reputation or Burn Bridges?
Removing a recruiter may feel like a dramatic step, but there is no need to view it as “burning bridges” if handled professionally.
Recruiters understand that partnerships end at times. As long as you give proper notice and maintain cordial relations, there is no reason the separation must be viewed negatively.
In the closely connected recruitment world, you never know when paths may cross again. Maintain your integrity and reputation by keeping the tone polite and utilizing good communication.
In rare cases, a recruiter may take offense to being removed, especially if the partnership has been long-standing. But in most circumstances, ending a contract is just business as usual.
Can I Add The Recruiter Back In The Future?
If down the road you change your mind, you can always re-connect with a previous recruiter on LinkedIn.
However, be aware they may be more hesitant to engage in a new contract given the past history.
Before attempting to resurrect the relationship, reflect on what went wrong last time. Be prepared to explain how you plan to communicate differently should a second chance be offered.
It may be wise to allow some time to pass first and build back some good will before asking to be partners again. Rushing to add them back right away may undermine your previous choice to disconnect.
Other Options Besides Complete Removal
Removing a recruiter entirely does not have to be the only course of action if the relationship is on shaky ground.
Some alternatives include:
- Putting the relationship on hold for a set period of time instead of permanently severing ties.
- Transitioning to more of a casual friendship connection without the signed partner contract.
- Asking the recruiter to only submit you for selective roles rather than removing yourself from contention completely.
These solutions can allow you to recalibrate the partnership without having to fully cut ties. Gauge if the recruiter is open to compromises before making your final decision.
Do Recruiters Get Notified if I Block Them?
If you decide on a more permanent separation from a recruiter, you may choose to block them on LinkedIn in addition to removing the connection.
This prevents the recruiter from viewing any part of your profile and also removes their ability to message you.
When you block someone, LinkedIn does NOT notify them or indicate in any way that you have blocked an account.
From the recruiter’s perspective, it will seem like you deleted your profile altogether. They will simply no longer be able to find or contact you on LinkedIn.
Conclusion
Removing a recruiter from your LinkedIn connections is a simple process, but warrants some thought and care. Prioritize communication, grace, and leaving things on a positive note if possible.
With the proper handling, eliminating a recruiter contract does not have to be overly contentious or “burn bridges” in your industry. LinkedIn still provides value in connecting opportunities even without that single partnership.
Trust your judgment, end the arrangement officially but amicably, and move forward focused on finding the best fit for your career goals.
