Whether to use your personal or work email for your LinkedIn profile is an important decision that requires careful consideration. Both options have their pros and cons, so it’s best to weigh them carefully before choosing which email to use.
The Case for Using Your Personal Email
Using your personal email for LinkedIn can be advantageous for the following reasons:
- You’ll maintain access even if you leave your company. With a work email, if you leave your job you may lose access to that email address and subsequently lose access to your LinkedIn profile.
- It keeps your professional life separate from your work life. This allows you to keep your work and personal brands distinct.
- You have total control. Your company won’t have access to your login information or be able to make changes to your profile.
Additionally, many people use LinkedIn to network and look for new job opportunities. Using your personal email ensures recruiters and contacts will still be able to reach you if you change jobs.
The Case for Using Your Work Email
On the other hand, there are also some potential benefits to using your work email on LinkedIn:
- It associates you with your current company. Displaying your work email on your profile clearly conveys where you are employed.
- You can access LinkedIn at work. If you’re allowed to access LinkedIn during work hours, linking your work email makes this easier.
- It looks more professional. Some people believe a work email comes across as more professional on a resume or online profile.
Using your work email also means your profile is tied to your employment. Your company may appreciate you linking to them through your work email and listing them on your profile.
Key Factors to Consider
When deciding which email to use, here are some important factors to take into account:
- Job search status – If you are passively or actively looking for a new job, use your personal email so recruiters can still contact you even if you change jobs.
- Industry norms – Some industries tend to gravitate toward personal vs. work emails. Take cues from profiles of other professionals in your field.
- Career stage – Early career professionals often use a personal email, while more established professionals sometimes prefer to use work emails.
- Privacy concerns – If you prefer to keep your work and personal life separate, opt for your personal email.
Pro Tips
If you’re still undecided between your personal and work email, here are some professional tips to consider:
- Use your personal email but include your work email in your profile’s contact info section. This provides visibility into where you work while still giving you control.
- Use your work email on your profile but set your personal email as the notification email for LinkedIn. This way you get notifications even if you leave your company.
- Use your work email but set up an email forwarder so you still receive messages if you leave your company. However, this doesn’t work with all email platforms.
The Verdict
In most cases, using your personal email tends to be the better overall option for LinkedIn. It allows you to control your profile, retain access if you leave your job, and gives recruiters and contacts a way to get in touch.
However, there are certainly situations where using your work email could be advantageous, especially if you want to clearly identify with your current company and leverage LinkedIn during work hours.
Take the time to think through your specific circumstances and career objectives. In many cases, the right email comes down to personal preference based on your priorities and goals for leveraging LinkedIn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it bad to use your personal email for LinkedIn?
No, using your personal email for LinkedIn is perfectly acceptable and often recommended. It gives you control over your profile and allows continued access if you leave your company. The only potential downside is it doesn’t clearly convey your current company like a work email would.
Can you change the email on LinkedIn?
Yes, you can change the email associated with your LinkedIn account at any time. Simply go to your account settings and choose the option to change your email address. Keep in mind you’ll have to confirm the new email.
What happens if I delete my work email on LinkedIn?
If you delete your work email on LinkedIn, your profile will no longer display that email publicly. However, LinkedIn will still have it on record in your account information but it will not be visible to others viewing your profile.
Is it better to use Gmail or Outlook for LinkedIn?
Gmail and Outlook both integrate well with LinkedIn in terms of being able to easily import contacts and connect with people. Neither is necessarily better overall. Choose whichever you personally prefer using for managing email communications.
Conclusion
When deciding between using your personal or work email on LinkedIn, weigh the pros and cons carefully based on your own career situation and goals. For most professionals, using a personal email tends to be the best option. But there are certainly situations where a work email could be beneficial. Take the time to make an informed decision to choose the right email address for your needs.
