Deciding when to update your LinkedIn profile after leaving a job is an important consideration. Your LinkedIn profile serves as your professional online presence and resume, so you want to ensure it accurately reflects your work history. However, you also don’t want to alert your current employer that you might be leaving before you’re ready. Here are some tips on when and how to update LinkedIn after quitting a job.
Give Notice First
Before making any changes to your LinkedIn, it’s important to first submit your resignation letter and give proper notice to your employer. Updating LinkedIn prematurely could signal to your current employer that you’re job searching or planning to leave. This could damage those relationships and complicate your remaining time there.
It’s generally recommended to wait until after you’ve given notice and are serving out your last weeks or months before making any LinkedIn changes. This ensures you leave on good terms.
Update After Your Last Day
The safest approach is to wait until after your last official day with your employer before updating LinkedIn. At that point, you are no longer employed there, so it’s perfectly acceptable to update your profile.
Some advantages to waiting include:
- Allows you to clearly separate current and past roles
- Lets you collect all relevant information from the job to update the description
- Prevents your current employer from seeing premature changes
Updating after your last day provides closure and aligns with the timeline that you no longer work there.
Update Within 1-2 Weeks
While you can wait until your very last day, it’s also fine to update your LinkedIn within 1-2 weeks of your final day. This still provides some separation from when you were employed there.
Some benefits to updating within 1-2 weeks include:
- Allows you to start reconnecting with your network sooner
- Lets potential employers know you are available
- Capitalizes on your excitement right after leaving
Use your discretion based on your relationships and circumstances. If you left on positive terms, updating within a couple weeks is often acceptable.
Mark Current Job as Past Role
Once you decide on your timing, the first change to make is marking your current role as a past position. Follow these steps:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile
- Click “View profile”
- Find your current job listing
- Click “Edit”
- Check the box for “Past role”
- Fill in your end date
Marking your role as a past position clearly shows you no longer work there. You can also fill in details like your accomplishments and skills gained.
Remove Current Position Details
In addition to marking your role as past, also consider removing specific details that indicate you still work there. This includes:
- Deleting your current job title
- Removing your employer name
- Taking down your company description
- Deleting any responsibilities that suggest you currently work there
You can leave the overview and highlights of what you achieved. But removing company-specific details helps convey you’ve moved on.
Add New Position
If you already have a new job secured, you can add your new position to your LinkedIn profile within the same 1-2 week timeframe.
To add a new job:
- Go to your profile
- Click “Add profile section”
- Select “Position”
- Fill in details like job title, company, location, dates
- Describe your new responsibilities
Adding a new role clearly shows your career progress after leaving your last company.
Hold Off if Unemployed
If you are leaving your job without having a new position lined up, you may want to briefly keep your current job listed on LinkedIn. This avoids signaling to your network that you are unemployed.
Once you secure your next job, you can then remove your past position and add the new role.
Customize Public Profile URL
When you change jobs, it’s a good time to customize your LinkedIn public profile URL using your name. Your LinkedIn URL appears on your resume and in professional correspondence, so update it to match your new circumstances.
To create a custom URL on LinkedIn:
- Go to your public profile
- Click “Edit public profile & URL” on the right rail
- Enter your name or some variation
- Check availability
This gives you a more professional branded URL to share moving forward.
Update Headline
With your new status, also consider updating your LinkedIn headline, which appears right below your name. Options include:
- Your new job title and company
- “Recently joined [Company]”
- “Previously [Old Job Title] at [Company]”
- Your industry and areas of expertise
Refreshing your headline helps convey your latest career stage.
Revise Summary
Take this opportunity to also update your LinkedIn summary to reflect your recent move. Some things to include:
- Brief background of your previous roles
- What motivated you to make a change
- What you’re looking for in your next position
- Your professional passions and aspirations
This summary targets your profile to your updated career goals.
Expand Skills Section
Update your LinkedIn skills section to showcase everything you learned and gained from your last position. Make sure to include both hard and soft skills.
For example, you may have improved skills in:
- Data analysis
- Project management
- Communication
- Team leadership
Displaying these skills keeps your profile competitive and relevant.
Update Media
Refresh media on your profile like your profile photo, banner image, and work samples in your portfolio. Update any imagery that is outdated or heavily branded with your old company.
Some elements you can update include:
- Profile photo – consider a more professional headshot
- Background photo – display one related to your industry
- Portfolio samples – showcase independent work or passion projects
New media gives your profile a fresh coat of paint.
Expand Connections
Timing your profile update allows you to proactively reconnect with your LinkedIn community when you make a job change. Consider reaching out to:
- Former colleagues at previous jobs
- Your new coworkers
- Classmates, mentors, networking contacts
- Recruiters in your industry
Broadening your connections can lead to new opportunities and relationships.
Join Industry Groups
Look for LinkedIn groups to join that align with your new career aspirations and interests. Great groups to consider include:
- Industry professional organizations
- Company pages
- Alumni associations
- Local networking groups
Joining groups expands your reach and visibility when transitioning roles.
Follow New Companies
To stay on top of your new industry, follow relevant companies by visiting their LinkedIn company pages. Good ones to follow include:
- Your new employer
- Competitors and partners
- Industry thought leaders
- Potential future employers
Following companies positions you as engaged in your new field.
Showcase Volunteer Work
Refresh your LinkedIn profile to feature any volunteer work, causes, or organizations you actively support. This allows you to highlight passions beyond your job.
Ways to showcase volunteer work include:
- Adding role descriptions under your Experience section
- Including affiliations under your Accomplishments section
- Linking to the organization website
Volunteer work demonstrates your values and well-rounded interests.
Get Recommendations
When leaving your job, request LinkedIn recommendations to showcase your achievements before moving on. Key people to ask include:
- Your former manager or direct supervisor
- Colleagues you worked closely with
- Subordinates you managed
- Clients, vendors, or partners
Recommendations validate the skills and accomplishments you bring to a new employer.
Review Privacy Settings
Take the opportunity of a job change to review your LinkedIn privacy settings. Update them based on your comfort level, especially if looking for a new role.
Settings to review include:
- Profile viewing options
- Activity broadcasts
- Ad preferences
- Sharing profile edits
- Notifications
Adjusting these settings gives you control over your online presence during a transition.
Turn On Open To Work
If you’re looking for new job opportunities, turn on the LinkedIn Open To Work setting. This privately signals to recruiters that you’re interested in roles.
To enable:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile
- Click “Edit public profile & URL”
- Toggle “Open to Work” to the On position
- Select interested roles and industries
The Open To Work setting gets your profile in front of hiring managers.
Conclusion
Updating your LinkedIn profile when leaving a job requires balancing professionalism with putting your best foot forward. Wait until after giving notice and finishing employment before making changes. Then, thoughtfully refresh your profile to advance your career goals. With strategy, your LinkedIn can be an asset when making a job change.
