LinkedIn’s “Open to Work” feature allows users to privately signal to recruiters and hiring managers that they are looking for new job opportunities. When the Open to Work setting is enabled, a user’s profile will display a banner or badge indicating their job seeking status. However, this status is not visible to the user’s connections or the general public – only recruiters and other hiring professionals who have been granted access by LinkedIn can see the Open to Work designation.
So in summary – yes, LinkedIn’s Open to Work feature allows job searching to be done privately without notifying your entire network or social connections. It gives users a way to discretely look for jobs without broadcasting it to everyone.
How Does the Open to Work Setting Work?
When a user enables the Open to Work setting on LinkedIn, it signals to recruiters, hiring managers, and other talent acquisition professionals that the individual is interested in new career opportunities. However, their connections and social contacts will not see any indication of this on their profile.
LinkedIn designed the feature this way intentionally, understanding that many professionals want to explore new jobs without notifying their current employer or professional network. The Open to Work setting allows for confidential job seeking.
Specifically, when Open to Work is turned on, a user’s profile photo will display a small purple open to work badge (on mobile) or banner (on desktop). Hiring professionals who have been granted access to view Open to Work statuses will see this banner or badge when viewing the user’s profile.
However, regular connections will simply see the user’s regular photo without any indication that Open to Work is enabled. The setting is completely invisible to the general public.
So in summary, the Open to Work status signals job seeking intent only to recruiters and hiring managers, without any visibility to the user’s connections or network. This allows for private, confidential job exploration.
Who Can See the Open to Work Setting?
As mentioned above, the Open to Work setting is only visible to recruiters, hiring managers, and other talent acquisition professionals – not to all of a user’s connections.
More specifically, access is granted to individuals who have one of the following roles or capabilities on LinkedIn:
– Recruiters who have purchased a Recruiter seat/license through LinkedIn. This gives them access to search for profiles with Open to Work enabled.
– Hiring managers and talent professionals at companies that have purchased LinkedIn Recruiter Corporate, LinkedIn’s enterprise level recruiting platform. This also provides visibility into Open to Work statuses.
– Anyone who has been endorsed for skills related to recruiting, HR, or talent acquisition. Endorsements signify that other users recognize them as having expertise in hiring-related functions.
– Users who have been identified by LinkedIn’s algorithms as recruiters or hiring professionals based on their profile data and activity. LinkedIn programatically determines eligibility to view Open to Work statuses.
In summary, access is restricted only to those actually involved in recruitment and talent acquisition, not the general user base. This allows Open to Work users to privately signal their job search interests with confidentiality.
How Do You Enable or Disable the Open to Work Setting?
Enabling or disabling the Open to Work setting is simple:
On desktop:
– Go to your LinkedIn profile and click on the “Open to Work” button in the top right corner, next to the Me icon.
– This will open a panel to manage your preferences. Toggle the switch for “Yes, I’m open” on or off depending on if you want to enable or disable the setting.
– You can also choose whether you want the Open to Work banner to be shown at the top of your profile or not. The badge on your photo will always be displayed if Open to Work is on.
On mobile:
– Tap your profile icon at the top of your LinkedIn app homepage.
– Tap Settings and Privacy.
– Go to the Job Seeking preferences.
– Toggle the switch for “Open to recruiters” on or off accordingly.
It’s easy to change at any time. You’re in full control over when your Open to Work status is displayed.
What Information is Shared When Open to Work is Enabled?
When you enable Open to Work, the only information that is shared with eligible recruiters and hiring managers is that you are open to potential new job opportunities.
Your current employer, connections, and network are not notified or informed in any way. Nothing else changes about your profile or privacy settings.
Specifically, recruiters who can view your Open to Work status will see:
– A purple “Open to Work” banner at the top of your profile (on desktop)
– A purple “Open to Work” badge on your profile photo (on mobile)
– Any job preferences you set in your Job Seeking Preferences (location, remote, job types, etc.)
– Your full name, headline, location, and profile summary
– Your photo, if you choose to display the Open to Work photo badge
– Your skills, accomplishments, certifications, and full profile, just as visible to anyone else
Notably, your current job title and company are not revealed or shared in any way. Your connections and network also remain hidden. No other information is surfaced except that you are open to opportunities.
You remain in full control over what is visible on your profile. The Open to Work setting simply signals your job searching intent privately with recruiters.
Pros of Using Open to Work Privately
There are several advantages to leveraging LinkedIn’s Open to Work feature to confidentially signal your job searching status only with recruiters and hiring managers:
– Maintains discretion from your current employer so they don’t know you are looking. Avoid an awkward conversation about job searching while still employed.
– Prevents notifying your broader professional network and connections about your exploration. Keep it private rather than publicly broadcasting it.
– Lets you focus your search and only engage with legitimate opportunities vs. getting inundated with contacts.
– Surfaces your profile and interest specifically to recruiters and hiring managers looking to fill roles. Gets you directly in front of decision makers and opportunity sources.
– Gives you control and flexibility over when you want your job seeking status visible vs. hidden. You can toggle it on and off.
– Displays your interest and availability without impacting your current role. Search discreetly on your own terms.
– Opens up new possibilities without forcing a job change until you’re ready. See what’s available while employed.
The bottom line is that Open to Work lets you privately, confidentially signal your job search intent to the right audience – recruiters and hiring managers – without broadcasting it publicly. This empowers your search.
Cons of the Open to Work Setting
There are very few drawbacks to leveraging LinkedIn’s Open to Work feature, since it was designed specifically for confidential job searching. However, some potential cons include:
– Your current employer could still find out if you begin interviewing for roles. At some point you’ll likely need to request time off or explain your activities if pursuing opportunities.
– Recruiters may contact you more frequently once they know you’re open to new roles. This could become distracting or annoying depending on volume.
– You’ll need to remember to toggle your Open to Work setting on and off accordingly if you want to pause your search for any reason. It doesn’t automatically disable.
– Opportunities surfaced may not always align with your preferences or qualifications. The quality of leads depends on your profile content and recruiters’ due diligence.
– Some recruiters may not look for Open to Work profiles specifically, so it won’t guarantee discovery. You’ll need to use other search features as well.
Overall though, there are very minimal cons to the Open to Work approach on LinkedIn since you maintain full control. It simply surfaces your background and interest privately to recruiters looking to fill roles.
Best Practices for Using Open to Work
To get the most out of LinkedIn’s confidential Open to Work feature, here are some best practices:
– Craft a detailed, informative profile highlighting your background, skills, experience, and capabilities. This gives recruiters context into the value you can provide in potential new roles.
– Make sure to set your job search preferences in your settings – location, remote options, job types/titles, industries, etc. These help surface the right kinds of opportunities.
– Set your profile and search preferences to “recruiter view” to see what hiring professionals will see with Open to Work enabled. Make any adjustments to maximize your discoverability.
– Research which companies and hiring managers you’re interested in connecting with and follow them on LinkedIn. That raises your visibility with key targets.
– Take advantage of LinkedIn’s other resources like online courses, skills assessments, and networking groups to stand out in search results.
– Whenever you begin engaging with a recruiter, move the discussion off LinkedIn to keep it confidential from your network. Don’t message extensively within the platform.
– Once you’ve secured a new role, disable your Open to Work setting so you don’t keep getting contacted after you’re no longer searching.
Following these tips will allow you to use Open to Work effectively for a private, focused job search experience with the right reach to recruiters and hirers.
Common Questions About Open to Work
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about LinkedIn’s Open to Work feature:
Can my connections see my Open to Work status?
No, your 1st-level connections will not see any indication that Open to Work is enabled on your profile. It is completely invisible to them.
Do I have to notify my company if I use Open to Work?
No, you are not obligated to notify your employer. LinkedIn designed Open to Work specifically to empower confidential job searching.
Can I customize what info is shared with my Open to Work status?
No, you cannot pick and choose which specific profile info is shown. Recruiters simply gain visibility that you are open plus your full profile.
Is my name and photo visible with Open to Work enabled?
Yes, recruiters can see your full name and your profile photo with the Open to Work badge on it. Your current job info remains hidden though.
Do I have to upgrade to a Premium account to use Open to Work?
No, Open to Work is available for free to all members as part of LinkedIn’s effort to democratize access to opportunities. You do not need a paid Premium account.
If I’m employed, should I still use Open to Work discreetly?
Yes, Open to Work empowers confidential search so you can uncover new opportunities without impacting your current role right away.
Conclusion
In summary, LinkedIn’s Open to Work feature does allow for private, confidential job searching without notifying your connections or network. It shares your status and interest only with recruiters and hiring managers who are equipped to surface relevant opportunities.
This gives professionals a powerful way to explore new roles with discretion and focus. By signaling to the right audience, Open to Work provides access to possibilities without broadcasting your search broadly and potentially jeopardizing your current position.
With full user control over when the status is enabled or disabled, Open to Work puts you in the driver’s seat of your job seeking journey while opening previously closed doors. It’s about expanding options on your own terms rather than forcing an immediate change.
As the future of work evolves, confidential job search capabilities like LinkedIn Open to Work will only become more relevant in empowering professional mobility and advancement. The opportunity to explore what’s next without pressure or publicity benefits both talent and employers.