Deciding when to announce a job change on LinkedIn is a common question many professionals face. LinkedIn has become the de facto place for professionals to list their work history and make major career announcements. With over 740 million members worldwide, updating your LinkedIn profile is an effective way to broadcast career moves to your network.
However, questions often come up around timing and strategy. Is it better to wait until you’ve officially started the new job? Or should you announce it when you accept the offer? Does saying something too early breach confidentiality agreements? And what’s the best way to actually word the announcement?
This article will dive into the pros and cons of different timing strategies and provide best practices for crafting an announcement that positively represents you and your career trajectory.
When Should You Announce a New Job on LinkedIn?
There are a few different options for when to announce your new role on LinkedIn:
Option 1: Wait Until After You’ve Started
The most conservative option is to wait until after your first day on the job before announcing the news. This ensures confidentiality agreements have been met and all paperwork finalized. Some of the pros of waiting include:
– Allows time to learn more about the company and role before announcing
– Avoids speaking too soon in case plans change last minute
– First day excitement can be channeled into a post announcing the news
However, there are some limitations to this approach:
– News may already spread through other channels before you announce
– Some of the excitement is lost after already starting
– Misses out on pre-start advice and congratulations from network
Option 2: The Week Before Starting
A middle ground option is to announce the new job about a week before your start date. This allows you to share the good news and capitalize on the excitement before day one. Some benefits include:
– Builds anticipation and gives connections time to congratulate you
– Lets you control the announcement versus gossip spreading
– Gives time for advice and leads from your network pre-start
Potential cons include:
– Legally, confidentiality may still be in effect
– If plans fall through at the last minute, you’ll have to backtrack
– Quite soon for some company’s comfort levels
Option 3: As Soon As You Accept the Offer
Some choose to share the news on LinkedIn as soon as they accept a job offer. Reasons this can make sense include:
– Capitalizes on your own excitement levels at the news
– Immediate influx of congratulations and support from your network
– Avoids getting scooped on your own news leaking out
Downsides to move quickly include:
– Legally, confidentiality is likely still in effect until start date
– If you change your mind, it’s publicly embarrassing to retract
– Hiring manager may prefer waiting until closer to start date
There are merits to all three approaches. Think through the various considerations to land on the right timing for your unique situation. The key is being intentional in when and how you share the news.
Crafting the Perfect Job Announcement
Once you’ve decided on timing, the next step is crafting the actual language used in your LinkedIn announcement. Here are some best practices to follow:
Highlight Your Excitement
This is a post celebrating your career progression. Don’t be afraid to show your enthusiasm! Using upbeat language sets the right tone and gets your connections excited for you.
For example:
“I’m thrilled to share that I’ve accepted a new position as VP of Sales at XYZ Company. This is an incredibly exciting opportunity scaling a rocketship SaaS startup!”
Thank Your Current Employer
Taking a moment to thank your current (or previous) employer adds class to any job announcement. A simple line showing gratitude for the experiences and opportunities they provided goes a long way.
For example:
“I’m grateful for the growth and mentorship provided during my time at 123 Corporation and will cherish the lifelong friendships made.”
Explain Why You Took the Job
Helping people understand what drew you to this new role provides valuable context. Share what excites you about the company mission, values, leadership, opportunities for impact, etc.
For example:
“I was inspired by XYZ’s innovative approach to transforming the industry. Their stellar culture and leadership team provide the perfect environment for the next step in my career progression.”
Call Out Specifics
Being somewhat detailed about your new position illustrates it’s an upgrade and source of pride. Share specifics like your new job title, department, projects you’ll own, and how your role will expand.
For example:
“In my new position as Director of Engagement Marketing, I’ll own our strategy to drive membership growth across all of our east coast territories. I’m looking forward to building an incredible team.”
Tell Your Network How They Can Help
One of the biggest benefits of announcing your job change is tapping into your network’s support. Be explicit on how they can help you succeed in your new role. Do you need introductions to key people? Are you hiring? Ask for what you need!
For example:
“I’d greatly appreciate any warm introductions you may have to strategists and designers in the area. I’m kicking off an exciting rebrand project and want to meet the best talent.”
Sample Job Announcement Posts
Putting all these elements together, here are some sample posts announcing a new job on LinkedIn:
Example 1: Start Date in 1 Week
I’m thrilled to share some exciting news! In just one week, I’ll be starting a new position as Vice President of Sales at Rocket Co.
This is an incredible opportunity to join the industry’s fastest-growing SaaS firm revolutionizing digital payments. I’m grateful for the many lessons learned and connections made during my time at FinTech Inc and know they’ll serve me well in my new role.
I’d appreciate any warm introductions to sales executives and mentors in the payments space as I get ramped up. Please reach out if you have any advice! I can’t wait for this next step scaling Rocket Co’s 200% YoY growth.
Example 2: Start Date in 1 Month
Excited to announce I’ve accepted the role of Chief Product Officer at Vision Media! This is an amazing chance to shape product strategy at one of the most innovative publishers out there.
Joining VM’s leadership team in a month’s time. Beyond grateful for my team at MediaCorp – the last 5 years have shaped me as a product leader.
As I transition over the next month, please connect me to any stellar product minds across the digital publishing space. I want to chat with those passionate about our mission of transforming the industry. The future is bright!
Example 3: Already Started New Job Last Week
Last week, I started an exciting new chapter as Director of Data Science at Analytics Inc!
I’m thrilled to be leading Analytics’ first data team. Looking forward to building a world-class group of data scientists as we tackle meaningful problems.
A huge thank you to my former colleagues at Informed LLC for their mentorship and friendship. The lessons learned there will stay with me forever.
If you know any talented data scientists looking for their next challenge, please connect us! Eager to grow our team with passionate problem-solvers.
Key Takeaways
– Time your LinkedIn announcement strategically based on confidentiality agreements and your personal preferences. Common options are waiting until after your start date, a week before, or when you accept the offer.
– Craft your language and tone to showcase professionalism, gratitude, excitement, and specifics about the new opportunity.
– Explicitly ask your network for relevant introductions, advice, and referrals.
– Announcing your new job on LinkedIn rallies support from your connections. Be intentional, but don’t overthink it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it unprofessional to announce a job change before leaving your current company?
It’s generally fine to announce a new job before you’ve officially left your current company, as long as you’ve already formally accepted the offer and set a start date. Two weeks’ notice is standard, but avoid sharing the news before telling your manager and transitioning your ongoing work.
How do I gracefully leave my current job after announcing a new one?
After announcing your new job, finish strong and avoid burning bridges at your current company. Provide ample notice, document your work, and offer to train others on your responsibilities. Have an exit interview to give constructive feedback. Offer consulting after you depart if it makes sense.
Is it better to make a new LinkedIn profile for a job change?
Rather than creating a brand new LinkedIn profile, simply update your existing profile. Add the new job title, company, start date, description, etc. You want to maintain your connections and engagement under one profile throughout your career shifts.
Should I change my LinkedIn profile photo when starting a new job?
It’s not mandatory, but a new profile photo can complement your new job announcement on LinkedIn. It portrays your professionalism for the latest career chapter. Even if you keep the same photo, update your background photo to feature imagery from your new company.
What if I don’t want certain connections knowing about my job change?
When sharing your job update on LinkedIn, you can select which groups receive the notification. Focus on Groups and only your 1st-degree connections. Avoid sharing with 2nd-degree networks to maintain privacy. You can always individually message close contacts outside your 1st-degree networks.
Conclusion
Announcing major career moves on LinkedIn comes with many benefits—from rallying support to controlling your narrative. Following best practices around timing, messaging, and audience targeting will ensure your job change announcement is professional and well-received. Utilize the support and engagement from your network during major transitions. And remember—your connections will be genuinely excited for you!