LinkedIn status symbols are small icons that appear next to a user’s name and headline on their profile. These icons indicate the user’s current position, education level, skills, awards, volunteer work, and more. Understanding what each LinkedIn status symbol means can provide useful context about a user’s background when viewing their profile.
Profile Status Symbols
The main status symbols shown on LinkedIn profiles relate to a user’s current position and education level. These include:
Current Position Icons
- Briefcase – Indicates the user is currently employed
- Self-Employed Tag – Shows the user is self-employed
- Hourglass – Signals the user is in between jobs
- Graduation Cap – Displays when a user is a student
- Suit & Tie – Denotes the user is an open networking contact
Education Level Icons
- Mortarboard – Displayed next to degrees earned by the user
- Multi-Colored Mortarboard – Indicates the user is an alumnus of a university
- Microscope – Shows the user has a PhD
- Certificate Ribbon – Signifies the user has completed certifications
These profile status symbols provide instant visibility into a user’s current job status and education history when viewing their LinkedIn profile.
Skill Endorsements
In addition to profile status icons, LinkedIn uses symbols to represent skill endorsements. LinkedIn members can endorse each other’s skills and expertise, providing social proof of their abilities. When a user is endorsed for a skill, a symbol will appear next to the skill on their profile.
Skill Endorsement Symbols
- Chat Bubble – Shows 1-9 endorsements for a skill
- Bar Graph – Displays 10-49 endorsements for a skill
- Full Bar Graph – Indicates 50+ endorsements for a skill
The more endorsements a user has for a particular skill, the higher the bar graph icon that is displayed. This provides a quick visual indicator of the user’s level of expertise based on social affirmations from their connections.
Account Verification Symbols
LinkedIn uses checkmark symbols to verify the authenticity of user accounts. Verified accounts on LinkedIn include:
Verified Account Symbols
- Blue Checkmark – The user’s profile has been verified by LinkedIn
- Gold Checkmark – Indicates the user is a LinkedIn influencer or thought leader
- Green Checkmark – Shows the user has a job listed on LinkedIn
The blue verified badge is LinkedIn’s way of signaling the profile belongs to the authentic person or company it represents. The gold and green checkmarks indicate the user has an elevated status as an influencer or active recruiter on the platform.
Account Activity Symbols
LinkedIn uses symbols next to a user’s name to denote recent activity. This provides quick insight into how active they are on the platform.
Activity Symbols
- Open Speech Bubble – Means the user has published a recent LinkedIn post
- @ Mention Speech Bubble – Indicates the user has been mentioned by someone else in a post
- Plus Icon – Shows the user has made a new connection
- Star Icon – Signals the user was recently endorsed for a skill
- Briefcase Icon – Means the user started a new position
These small icons next to a user’s name allow you to see at a glance what types of actions they’ve taken recently on LinkedIn at a high level.
Organization Page Verification
Organization pages on LinkedIn also show symbols to indicate their verification status. These include:
Organization Page Verification Symbols
- Blue Checkmark – The organization page has been verified by LinkedIn
- Gold Briefcase – Indicates the organization has a LinkedIn recruiting account
- Green Checkmark – Shows the organization has active job listings on LinkedIn
The blue verified checkmark shows LinkedIn has confirmed the authenticity of the company page. The gold briefcase and green checkmark symbols signal the organization is actively using LinkedIn for recruiting and job posting.
Profile Badges
In addition to symbols, LinkedIn profiles can display badges highlighting accomplishments, volunteer work, publications, honors, and awards. These include:
Profile Badge Examples
- Volunteer Badge – Denotes volunteer experience
- Patent Badge – Indicates the user holds a patent
- Publication Badge – Shows the user has published books, articles, etc.
- Honor Badge – Displays professional honors and awards
Profile badges showcase notable achievements and distinctions in a user’s career journey. They add further context beyond the standard profile status symbols.
Premium Profile Symbols
LinkedIn members who pay for premium subscriptions unlock additional profile symbols and badges. These include:
Premium Profile Symbols
- Premium Badge – Indicates user has a LinkedIn Premium subscription
- Open Profile Badge – Shows the user has enabled open profile viewing
- InMail Envelope Icon – Denotes the user can send InMail messages
The premium badge and open profile icon signal the user has access to expanded LinkedIn services through a paid subscription. The InMail envelope indicates they can directly message other members.
Job Seeker Symbols
Members actively searching for jobs on LinkedIn may display additional icons and badges. These include:
Job Seeker Symbols
- Open To Work Photo Frame – Indicates the user has enabled the open to work photo frame
- Rising Talent Badge – Shows the user is marked as a rising talent in their industry
- Easy Apply Icon – Means the user has enabled LinkedIn Easy Apply
The open to work frame and rising talent badge signal the user is actively seeking new job opportunities. The easy apply icon allows them to quickly apply to jobs with one click.
LinkedIn Services and Products Symbols
Symbols are also used throughout LinkedIn to denote use of other services and products. For example:
LinkedIn Services Symbols
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| LinkedIn Learning Logo | Indicates user has taken LinkedIn Learning courses |
| LinkedIn Salary Logo | Shows user has a Salary report |
| News Icon | Means user follows news publications on LinkedIn |
These icons signify the user actively utilizes other LinkedIn products beyond just their main profile and network.
The Takeaway
The various status symbols, icons, badges, and verifications on LinkedIn provide useful visual shorthand about a user’s identity, activity, skills, accomplishments, and more. Learning what the main LinkedIn symbols mean can help you better evaluate profiles at a glance.
While some symbols represent objective facts like verification status or account type, endorsements and badges can be more subjective. It’s important to look beyond just the symbols and read the full profile when evaluating a connection.
Overall, LinkedIn status symbols serve as helpful indicators that add necessary context when viewing member profiles and organization pages on the platform.
