Having an “open to work” banner on your LinkedIn profile can be a useful job search tool, but it also comes with some potential downsides. Here’s what you need to know about displaying your openness to new job opportunities on LinkedIn.
What does the “open to work” badge on LinkedIn mean?
The “open to work” badge or banner is an optional setting you can enable on your LinkedIn profile to signal to recruiters and hiring managers that you are actively looking for a new job opportunity. When enabled, a subtle banner highlighting your openness appears at the top of your profile. You can customize the text to say things like “Open to work” or “Seeking new opportunities.”
Displaying this banner makes it easy for recruiters browsing LinkedIn to identify you as a prospective job candidate. It essentially puts a sign on your profile saying you are open to being approached about new roles. The banner is also seen by anyone else viewing your profile, including your current employer if you have coworkers connected on LinkedIn.
Should you display that you are open to work on LinkedIn?
Here are some potential pros and cons to consider:
Pros:
- Increases visibility with recruiters and hiring managers
- Saves recruiters from having to guess if you are open to new opportunities
- Projects an image of you as an in-demand professional
- Allows you to discreetly look for jobs while employed
- Makes it easy for your network to advocate for you
Cons:
- Current employer may see it and question your commitment
- Some think it looks desperate or unprofessional
- Recruiters may makebiased assumptions about why you are looking
- Need to be prepared to act quickly on outreach
- If inactive for too long, may imply you are not serious
Should you use the LinkedIn open to work banner if you are currently employed?
Using the LinkedIn “open to work” banner when you are currently employed merits extra caution. Here are some factors to weigh:
- How likely is your current employer to see your profile?
- Does your company culture support employees looking for jobs?
- Are you prepared to discretely interview if opportunities arise?
- Do the pros of increased visibility outweigh the risk of employer finding out?
- Would you posting about openness cause issues with colleagues?
In general, it is safest to keep your search discreet until you are ready to formally give notice at your current job. But for some, the pros may justify the risks.
How recruiters view the LinkedIn open to work badge
Studies show recruiters are increasingly using LinkedIn to source job candidates:
| Year | % of Recruiters Using LinkedIn to Find Candidates |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 63% |
| 2012 | 79% |
| 2013 | 87% |
| 2014 | 94% |
| 2015 | 96% |
When browsing through profiles, the “open to work” badge immediately signals to recruiters that you are open to being contacted. This makes their job easier by avoiding guessing whether you would be receptive.
However, some recruiters advise cautious use of the badge if currently employed. Advertising openness too eagerly can raise questions or signal issues in your current role. Savvy recruiters look for indicators of discretion such as lack of current employer listed.
How to display open to work on LinkedIn
You can easily enable the LinkedIn open to work banner through your account settings:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile
- Click “View profile” to see how your profile appears to others
- In the top right, click the “Edit public profile & URL” pencil icon
- Select “Open to…
- Choose “Seeking a job” or other options in the dropdown
- Customize the banner headline as desired
- Click “Save” to make the banner live on your profile
Once enabled, the banner will be displayed prominently at the top of your profile anytime it is viewed. You can remove or edit the banner at any time the same way.
Customizing the LinkedIn open to work banner
You have some flexibility in customizing the message displayed in your LinkedIn open to work banner. Some options to consider:
- “Open to new opportunities”
- “Seeking new role”
- “Ready for a change”
- “Exploring options”
- “Available for relocation”
Choose wording that communicates your openness to prospects while maintaining professionalism and discretion.
Should you add skills to your LinkedIn profile when open to work?
When utilizing the open to work banner, also take time to optimize and expand your LinkedIn profile’s skills section. This allows recruiters to immediately identify you as a match for open positions requiring specific skills. Consider adding any newer skills you have developed at your current role that are not yet reflected in your profile.
Tips for showing off relevant skills
- Prioritize listing skills specifically called out in job postings
- Include both hard skills and soft skills
- Add multimedia examples demonstrating skills
- Get endorsements from colleagues to verify skills
- Take LinkedIn skills assessment tests to get badges
- Enroll in relevant LinkedIn Learning courses
An up-to-date, robust skills section allows recruiters to immediately identify you as a match for open roles requiring those abilities. Pairing skills with the open to work banner amplifies the power of your LinkedIn profile.
Should you notify your network when open to work?
Another way to maximize your LinkedIn profile’s open to work setting is letting your connections know you are seeking new opportunities. This allows them to advocate for you within their own networks.
Ways to discreetly notify your network:
- Share status updates indicating your interest in new roles
- Engage connections at target companies about roles
- Join LinkedIn Groups for professionals in your desired field
- Follow leading companies to get vacancy notifications
- Ask connections to actively recommend you for opportunities
This can expand the visibility of your search beyond just recruiters viewing your profile. But maintain discretion based on your comfort level.
Should you pay for LinkedIn Premium when open to work?
LinkedIn Premium subscriptions unlock additional capabilities that may aid your job search, including:
- Seeing who viewed your profile
- Contacting recruiters with free InMail messages
- Seeing full profiles of anyone who views yours
- Filtering searches by likelihood to respond
- Company research beyond basics
Premium costs range from $29.99 to $79.99 per month depending on plan. The expanded networking and search capabilities may justify the price while actively looking.
| LinkedIn Subscription Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Premium Career | $29.99 |
| Premium Business | $47.99 |
| Premium Sales | $64.99 |
| Premium Hiring | $99.95 |
Weigh the benefits against the cost to decide if premium makes sense for your search needs.
How to remove open to work on LinkedIn
It is easy to remove or modify your LinkedIn profile’s open to work banner when you are ready. Simply follow these steps:
- Go to your profile and click “Edit public profile & URL”
- Under “Open to…”, choose “Not seeking opportunities”
- Delete any text you added to the headline banner
- Click “Save” to remove the banner from your profile
After saving, your profile will no longer display any indication that you are seeking new job opportunities. The banner will be disabled until you choose to re-enable it.
Conclusion
Using LinkedIn’s open to work profile banner can significantly increase your visibility and chances of being contacted by recruiters. But it also comes with some potential downsides to consider carefully.
Weigh factors like current employer visibility, hiring urgency, and discretion comfort level. Pair openness with optimized skills and network engagement for maximum impact. Consider premium subscriptions for advanced capabilities.
Be ready to act quickly when opportunities arise. Monitor how long your banner stays active. And remove it once you are happily placed in a new role!
