LinkedIn has become an essential tool for job seekers and career professionals. With over 750 million users worldwide, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform. Your LinkedIn profile serves as an online resume and is often the first impression hiring managers get of you as a candidate. Therefore, it’s crucial to optimize your LinkedIn presence, especially when you are in between jobs.
When unemployed, one of the key things to consider is what to put for your LinkedIn status. Your status appears right under your name on your profile. It’s an opportunity to communicate your current situation to your connections and potential employers. However, it can be tricky to find the right words to convey you’re looking for new opportunities without sounding desperate.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover:
- Should you disclose you are unemployed?
- What are common unemployed statuses to avoid?
- Examples of good unemployed LinkedIn statuses
- How to customize your status for your situation
- Additional LinkedIn profile optimization tips
Follow these LinkedIn status best practices to put your best foot forward during your job search.
Should You Disclose You Are Unemployed?
Knowing whether or not to share your employment status is one of the first considerations when determining what to put for your LinkedIn status while unemployed. Here are some pros and cons to disclosing you are between jobs:
Pros of Disclosing You Are Unemployed
- Honesty and transparency build trust with your network.
- It alerts recruiters you are open to new opportunities.
- Shows you have nothing to hide.
Letting your connections know you are looking for your next position has some benefits. Being upfront establishes trust and shows you have integrity. Your network is there to help you, so it allows them to keep you in mind for job leads or introductions.
When recruiters view your profile, it signals you are a potential candidate to be approached about job openings. Over 70% of new hires come from passive candidates that weren’t actively job searching, so disclosing your status makes it clear you are open to connecting about the right opportunity.
Cons of Disclosing You Are Unemployed
- Some hiring managers have biases against candidates not currently working.
- It dates your profile and indicates how long you have been out of work.
- You may get random solicitations.
However, there are some risks with making your unemployment known as well. Unfortunately, some hiring managers still look down on candidates who are currently unemployed, making assumptions about their skills or work ethic.
Listing you are looking for work also puts a timestamp on your profile showcasing how long you’ve been without a job. The longer you are unemployed, the more it can work against you.
Additionally, advertising your availability can lead to random outreach from recruiters about roles that may not be relevant. While recruiters reach out hoping you will be interested, mismatched opportunities can be annoying or frustrating.
Overall, it’s typically recommended to indicate you are exploring opportunities in your status unless you have concerns about discrimination or have only been unemployed for a very brief time. Most hiring managers will look past gaps of a few months or less. However, you can also showcase your status in subtler ways covered later in this guide.
Unemployed LinkedIn Statuses to Avoid
While you likely want to broadcast you are seeking a new position, that doesn’t mean any status will do. Here are some unemployed LinkedIn statuses you should avoid using if you want to appear professional and appeal to hiring managers.
“Unemployed and Looking”
Statuses that directly state you are unemployed or looking come across overly salesy. It’s obvious to most viewers you are job seeking if listed as “Open to work” in the top section of your profile. Bluntly saying you are unemployed and searching seems gratuitous.
“Between Opportunities”
Calling yourself between opportunities or between jobs is commonly suggested status language. However, it’s become so commonplace it now feels cliché and rings hollow or disingenuous. Find a more unique way to say you are exploring new roles.
“Let’s Connect!”
Vague statuses trying to drum up conversations like “Let’s connect!” or “Interested in networking” are too forward and random. Reserve your status for sharing professional details about yourself rather than broadcasting requests to connect.
“Looking for a Job”
Language clearly stating you are looking for a job comes across a bit desperate and lacking nuance. Avoid phrasing that makes you appear overly eager or overt in your ask. Employers want candidates with confidence even when unemployed.
“Unemployed Since [Date]”
Calling out the specific date you became unemployed shares too much information most times. As mentioned, you don’t want to draw extra attention to how long you have been out of work.
“Hire Me”
Outright asking viewers to hire you not only seems desperate but is also too aggressive and pushy. You are marketing yourself as a strong candidate, not begging for a job.
Good Examples of Unemployed LinkedIn Statuses
Here are examples of great status updates that effectively communicate you are exploring opportunities while also showcasing your value:
“Seeking New Data Science Role After 5 Years at XYZ Corp”
Mention your previous title and company to share your experience level while making it clear you moved on. This provides context for recruiters on your background and skills.
“Consultant Focused on Digital Marketing Strategy”
Even if currently in between contracts, positioning yourself as a consultant or specialist emphasizes the expertise you offer in your niche.
“Professional Writer & Editor – Inquiries Welcome”
Calling out your profession and main skills helps position you as an authority in your field available for hire. Saying inquiries are welcome hints at your search in a subtle way.
“Recent Accounting Grad Looking to Build Career”
If a fresh graduate without full-time experience, focusing on your education and aspirations is an effective approach.
“Passionate About Customer Success – Exploring Opportunities”
Highlight what excites you professionally and your interests related to the role you seek. Close by sharing you’re open-minded about new opportunities in your field.
Customizing Your Status for Your Situation
While the above are great examples, the right status also depends heavily on your specific circumstances. Here are tips to personalize based on your scenario:
If You Were Laid Off
Emphasize your past role and experience while avoiding saying you were let go or fired:
“Product Marketing Manager – Recently at XYZ Corp”
“Nonprofit Communications Director – 5 Years at ABC Org”
This provides context while letting you tactfully skirt that you didn’t voluntarily leave your last position.
If Currently Freelancing
Showcase your independent consulting status:
“Freelance Web Designer”
“Independent Management Consultant”
This communicates you have active projects while also looking for new clients and full-time work.
If You’ve Been Out of Work for Awhile
Focus more on your skills versus past roles:
“Skilled Project Manager – Delivery Focused”
“Experienced Customer Service Professional – Thrives in Fast-Paced Environments”
De-emphasize employment gaps by playing up expertise that appeals to employers.
If Graduated Recently
Highlight your education, accomplishments and career passions:
“Recent Computer Science Grad – Dean’s List Honoree”
“MBA Graduate – Excited to Launch Marketing Career”
For those newer to the workforce, spotlight promising qualities as you lack extensive work history.
Additional LinkedIn Profile Tips
Beyond your customized status, be sure to optimize the rest of your LinkedIn presence when unemployed with these additional tips:
- Craft an informative, keyword-rich headline. Summarize your value proposition.
- Build a robust skills section using relevant keywords. This helps you get found in searches.
- Flesh out work history descriptions. Share key achievements and responsibilities.
- Cut overly early roles unrelated to your target. Draw attention to most relevant experiences.
- Spotlight licenses, certifications, courses and test scores. Include key credentials that set you apart.
- Publish posts sharing professional insights and trends. Demonstrate thought leadership.
- Engage regularly with your network by liking and commenting on updates. Stay top of mind.
A complete, detailed profile is far more than a static resume. It shows you are actively developing your brand – even when between roles.
Conclusion
Your LinkedIn status is prime real estate to communicate your professional situation when unemployed. While you typically want to indicate you are exploring opportunities, avoid sounding desperate or dated.
Craft a status that highlights your skills, experience and career passions. Also resist statuses that are too salesy, awkward or overused. Follow the other tips to flesh out the full profile.
With these best practices, your networked is informed about your search in a way that keeps you top of mind when new roles arise. You can stand out from the crowd of other unemployed professionals on LinkedIn.
