Deciding when to update your LinkedIn profile with a new job is an important consideration when changing roles. Your LinkedIn profile serves as your professional online presence and a reflection of your career journey, so timing your profile update appropriately can have implications on your personal brand and future opportunities.
Should you update your profile immediately?
There are pros and cons to updating your LinkedIn profile right away with a new job. Here are some things to consider:
Pros:
- Lets your network know about your new role and career progress
- Keeps your profile up-to-date and accurate
- Allows you to join new industry or company groups and expand your connections
- Shows you are excited about the change and proud to broadcast it
Cons:
- Could signal that you left your last role very suddenly or under less than ideal circumstances
- May be seen negatively by your previous employer or coworkers who have not yet heard your news
- Recruiters may reach out before you are ready to make another career move
- Gives less time to thoughtfully craft your profile update and announcement
Updating immediately can work well if you left your previous role on positive terms after an appropriate notice period and are excited to share the news. However, in some cases it may be wise to wait.
Should you wait to update your profile?
There are also good reasons you may want to wait to update your LinkedIn profile with a new position. Some considerations include:
Pros:
- Allows time for a thoughtful announcement and profile update summary
- Gives you space to transition out of your old role and focus on your new position
- Prevents signaling a hurried or unfavorable departure from your old job
- Gives you flexibility to choose when and how you want to inform your network
Cons:
- Delays visibility into your new role for your connections
- Leaves your profile outdated and inaccurate for a period of time
- Makes it appear like you are trying to cover something up if you wait too long
- Prevents you from joining new groups immediately relevant to your new role
Waiting can be a good strategy if you want time to create a well-crafted post and prevent misperceptions around your job change. However, you don’t want to wait too long.
When is the right time to update your profile?
Given the pros and cons, here are some recommended timelines for when to update your LinkedIn profile with a new position:
| Situation | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Left previous role on good terms with standard notice | Within 1-2 weeks |
| Need time between roles for personal reasons | Within 1 month |
| Concern about perception of your departure | 2-4 weeks |
| Starting a significantly higher level role | 1-2 months to craft your announcement |
| Under NDA or non-compete after departure | After NDA/non-compete expires |
The ideal time is typically 1-4 weeks after leaving your old role, depending on your specific circumstances. This allows a reasonable gap so as not to appear rushed or negative, while still keeping your profile accurate and letting your network know of your progress.
How should you update your LinkedIn profile?
Once you decide on timing, thoughtfully updating your profile is key. Follow these best practices:
- Customize your profile headline and summary to reflect your new position
- Add your new job title, company, employment dates, and description of responsibilities
- Expand your skills section with new abilities gained from your role
- Revise your profile photo and backdrop photo if relevant
- Craft an announcement post sharing the news, tailored to your network
- Join new groups and expand your connections in your new industry or location
Make your new role prominent in your profile, but don’t forget to maintain other sections on your background, skills, accomplishments, education, and interests.
What should you include in your announcement post?
When sharing the news of your job change on LinkedIn, keep your announcement post professional and enthusiastic. Some tips:
- Thank your previous employer and colleagues
- Share why you are excited about your new company and position
- Explain how the change aligns with your career goals and growth
- Express gratitude for the support of your LinkedIn network
- Invite others to connect if they have insights to share on your new industry or employer
Keep the tone positive and don’t share confidential details about your previous employer. This is an exciting time to expand your network and evolve your profile.
Key takeaways
Updating your LinkedIn profile with a new job is an important step after changing roles. Key tips include:
- Wait 1-4 weeks to allow a smooth transition between jobs
- Craft a thoughtful profile update and announcement post
- Expand profile sections like your summary, skills, and experiences
- Join new LinkedIn groups relevant to your position
- Keep the tone positive and forward-looking
With the right timing and content, your profile update can effectively share your latest career milestone with your professional network.