As a job seeker, LinkedIn is one of the most important platforms for finding new career opportunities. With over 740 million members worldwide, LinkedIn has established itself as the premier social media site for professional networking and recruitment. One of the key elements of your LinkedIn profile is your location – but what exactly should you put for this field? Here are some tips on how to strategically optimize your LinkedIn location.
Why Your Location Matters
Your LinkedIn location serves multiple purposes. First, it indicates where you are based and looking for work opportunities. Many recruiters filter their searches by location to find local candidates. Second, your location provides context for your work history and qualifications. For example, highlighting that you worked for top companies in a major metro area can boost your credibility. Finally, your location helps you connect with other professionals in your geographic region to grow your network.
Options for Setting Your Location
You have a few options when setting your LinkedIn location field:
- Your current city and state/province/region
- Major metro area you live and work in
- “Open to work” and a region or country
- Leaving it blank
Let’s explore the pros and cons of each approach.
Your Current City
Listing your specific city and state/province/region where you currently live and work is the most literal option. This provides clear insight into where you are based. However, there are a few potential downsides:
- Your current location may be a small town that recruiters aren’t targeting
- You may be open to opportunities in other nearby cities
- You may be planning to relocate soon
So while listing your actual city is accurate, it may be too narrow for your job search needs.
Major Metro Area
A better option may be specifying the broader metro region where you live and have experience. For example, if you currently live in Hoboken, New Jersey but work in New York City – list “New York City Metropolitan Area” or “Greater NYC Area” instead of Hoboken. This conveys:
- You have professional experience in a major market
- You are able to commute/relocate within the metro region for work
- You are tapped into the regional professional network
This gives recruiters a wider geography to associate you with, while still being truthful.
“Open to Work” Location
If you are actively job searching across a wide area, another option is: “Open to work in [region or country]”. For example: “Open to work in the Pacific Northwest” or “Open to work in Germany”. This signals to recruiters:
- You are interested in relocating to this target region
- You are not tied to your current location
- You have existing connections/experience in this area
The key is picking a desired region where you can realistically see yourself moving to. Listing multiple countries across the world may seem too vague.
Leaving Location Blank
You also have the option to simply leave your LinkedIn location empty. Some of the advantages are:
- Allows you to stay discreet about where you are based
- Opens you up to opportunities across regions
- Lets you clarify location later in your job search
However, lacking any location can also make your profile seem vague, unfinished, or even suspicious to some recruiters. Proactively highlighting your target regions presents you as more approachable.
Tips for Optimizing Your Location
Here are some best practices to optimize your LinkedIn location for your job search:
- Research where your target companies and industries have concentrations of jobs, and reflect those locations or metropolitan areas.
- Ask contacts in your network for advice on how they strategically set their location.
- A/B test having your location blank vs. filled in, and see if it impacts recruiter outreach response rates.
- Experiment with different geographic scopes – city, metro, region, country – and see what generates the most interest.
- If you have local credentials (degrees, certificates), consider including your city to emphasize that.
- Rotate your location strategically during a multi-region job search, focusing on areas with the current best opportunities.
The right LinkedIn location depends on your situation and goals. With some strategic testing and optimization, you can tailor it to open up more career opportunities.
Common Questions
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about setting your LinkedIn location:
Should my LinkedIn location match my resume?
Your LinkedIn location and resume location don’t necessarily have to match exactly. Your resume location typically lists your current city or metro area. Your LinkedIn location can be broader if your search is regional or national. Having slightly different locations is fine as long as both are accurate and strategic.
What if I’m relocating soon?
If you know you are relocating in the near future, list your target city and indicate it is your upcoming location. For example: “Relocating to Austin in March 2023”. You can change your location once you have actually moved.
Should I list multiple locations?
Listing two different metro areas or regions may send a confusing signal on where you want to be located. Exceptions could be rotating between target cities as you search, or indicating a city and country for international searchers. In general, stick to one strategic geographic area.
How specific should the location be?
More specificity is better, within reason. While your exact neighborhood may be too narrow, listing both the metro area and state helps recruiters pinpoint opportunities near you. Vague regions like “East Coast” or “Mountain West” are less ideal.
Can I change my location in the future?
Yes, you can edit your LinkedIn location at any time as your geographic preferences and situation changes. Recruiters will see your newest location. You may want to rotate it quarterly when job searching across different target markets.
Key Takeaways
Here are some key takeaways on optimizing your LinkedIn location:
- Use your location to match your job search goals – whether specific city, wider region, or open to relocating.
- Wider metro areas showcase your experience in major markets.
- Be truthful about regions you have existing connections and can realistically move to.
- Research where jobs are concentrated in your industry.
- Test different geographic scopes and see which generates most recruiter interest.
- Consider rotating location over time when exploring new markets.
With a smart LinkedIn location strategy, you can expand your professional opportunities and stand out to recruiters in your target regions.
