Should I update my LinkedIn when changing positions internally?
It’s generally recommended to update your LinkedIn profile when changing positions internally at a company. However, you can control who sees the update and avoid notifying your entire network if you wish. Here are a few options:
- Update your position but only notify your 1st-degree connections. Go to your profile, edit the position, and under the “Notify your network” section, uncheck “Yes, notify all of my connections.” This will only notify your 1st-degree connections.
- Update your position but notify no one. Go to your profile, edit the position, and under “Notify your network” select “No, don’t notify my network.” This will update your profile without notifying anyone.
- Add the new position but keep the old position too. You can list multiple positions at the same company on LinkedIn. Add the new role but leave the old one listed too. This lets you update your profile without removing the old position.
So in summary, you have options to update your internal move discreetly on LinkedIn without notifying your entire network.
Should I wait to update LinkedIn until I tell certain colleagues?
If you want to personally tell close colleagues or contacts about your internal move before updating LinkedIn, it’s perfectly acceptable to wait. Here are some tips:
- Inform key contacts first. Tell your close colleagues, direct reports, manager, etc. before updating LinkedIn. This gives them a heads up.
- Set a time limit. Give yourself a timeframe, say 2 weeks, to tell key people before you update LinkedIn. This prevents prolonging informing too many people unnecessarily.
- Update your closest connections. Once you’ve told key contacts, update your profile and notify only 1st-degree connections first.
- Wait on wider notification. Hold off notifying 2nd and 3rd-degree connections until you’re ready for the world to know.
So it’s fine to wait strategically before updating LinkedIn more publicly. But set a timeframe for yourself to avoid delaying too long.
How can I update my LinkedIn without my company finding out?
It can be tricky updating LinkedIn without your company finding out, but here are a few tips:
- Keep your old position too. Add your new role but don’t remove your previous title. This prevents a noticeable change.
- Customize viewer options. Use the visitor settings to exclude your company from seeing certain parts of your profile.
- Update but only notify 1st-degree connections. This limits the visibility of your change.
- Wait to update work experience until after leaving. If it’s a short-term interim role, you can wait until you leave the company to update.
However, it’s impossible to completely prevent your company from finding out if they look at your profile. The safest option is to be upfront about internal changes to avoid surprises.
Can I change my profile privacy settings while changing positions?
Yes, when changing positions internally, you can adjust your LinkedIn profile privacy settings to control visibility. Here are some options:
- Temporarily make your profile private. Set your profile to private while you change roles and notify those you want.
- Exclude your company. Use the visitor settings to exclude your company from seeing your full profile.
- Limit old position visibility. For your old role, select that it should only be visible to your 1st-degree connections.
- Limit new position visibility. For your new position, make it visible only to your connections for now.
When ready, open up visibility again to your entire network. Adjusting profile privacy while changing roles lets you transition discretely.
Should I notify my network when moving to a less senior position?
When moving to a less senior role internally, notifying your full network may be awkward. Here are some recommendations:
- Notify close contacts only. Let close colleagues know directly but limit wider notifications.
- Frame it positively. Explain how the new role will expand your skills and experience.
- Wait to update. Consider waiting until settled in the new role before updating publicly.
- Make other updates first. Add skills, volunteer work etc. before announcing the move to downplay it.
- Keep old position too. List both old and new roles to ease the transition visually.
The most important thing is framing the move positively, whether as a learning opportunity or Work-life balance improvement. With discretion, a lateral move doesn’t have to be perceived negatively.
Conclusion
When changing positions internally, you can control how and when you update LinkedIn to manage the messaging and perceptions. Key tips include:
- Strategically notify close contacts first before wider network.
- Keep old position listed in addition to new role during transition.
- Limit profile visibility and post updates during the change.
- Frame lateral moves positively as career growth.
With some discretion and planning, you can navigate internal moves smoothly on LinkedIn.