Having an up-to-date LinkedIn profile is important for networking and career development. However, some employees may hesitate to signal they are open to new job opportunities if their current employer can see their profile. This article explores whether it’s possible to show you’re open to work on LinkedIn without your current employer finding out.
Should you make your LinkedIn profile public if looking for a new job?
If you are actively looking for a new job, having a public LinkedIn profile is recommended. Here are some benefits of having a public profile while job searching:
- Recruiters and hiring managers can find you more easily.
- You can connect with more relevant people at companies you want to work for.
- You can join industry or local LinkedIn groups to increase your visibility.
- You showcase your skills, experience and accomplishments.
However, having a completely public profile may alert your current employer that you are open to new opportunities. Here are some potential risks:
- Your boss or coworkers may see you are actively networking.
- Your profile content and settings may signal you are looking for a job.
- If your company monitors social media, they may be notified of changes to your profile.
So how do you balance getting your profile in front of the right people, without prematurely signaling to your current employer you might leave?
How to be “open to work” privately on LinkedIn
LinkedIn offers a “Open to Work” profile setting that allows you to privately signal to recruiters that you are open to new job opportunities.
Here’s how to use the “Open to Work” setting:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile and click “View profile”
- In the top right, click the “More” icon and choose “Settings & Privacy”
- Click “Settings” and go to the “Profile” section
- Under “Career interests” check the box for “Let recruiters know you’re open to work opportunities”
- Select who can see this setting – you can limit it to recruiters only
The “Open to Work” setting does not visibly change anything on your profile. However, recruiters who work at companies seeking to hire will now be notified you are open to opportunities.
Some other tips for privately signaling you’re open to work:
- Set your current job title to “Open to Work”
- Add “Open to Work” to your profile summary section
- List the types of roles or companies you are interested in
You can also change your local job search preferences to a specific area to indicate you are open to relocating.
Who can see your LinkedIn profile and activity?
To understand how to use LinkedIn privately during your job search, it helps to know what aspects of your profile and activity are publicly visible or hidden.
Publicly visible parts of your profile
These parts of your LinkedIn profile are always public:
- Your name
- Your profile photo
- Your headline
- Your current position and company
- Your public profile URL
- Your location (city and country)
- Your industry
Even if you have a private profile, the above details are visible to anyone on LinkedIn.
Parts of your profile you can make private
These parts of your LinkedIn profile can be made private:
- Your full work experience
- Your education history
- Your skills, endorsements and recommendations
- Your accomplishments, certifications, volunteer work and courses
- Your summary and background sections
Making the above sections private means they will only be visible to your direct connections.
Profile activity that is publicly visible
Even with a private profile, some of your LinkedIn activity can be seen publicly:
- When you like or comment on a post
- When you join a new group
- When you follow a company
- When you share new content
So even if your profile itself is hidden, your engagement on LinkedIn can expose that you are active on the platform.
Keeping your LinkedIn activity private
Here are some ways to keep your LinkedIn activity more private while job searching:
- Turn off notifications for new followers and messages. Disable email and push notifications.
- Be selective in liking, commenting, joining groups and following companies. Don’t engage with everything.
- Use anonymous mode when viewing profiles. You can see other profiles without them being notified.
- Limit sharing articles or content that displays on your profile.
Being more passive in your LinkedIn use can help avoid signaling to your employer that you are actively networking.
Should you tell your employer you’re looking for a new job?
Many employees worry their employer will find out they are job searching and let them go prematurely. Here are some pros and cons of being open about looking for a new role:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Shows transparency and integrity | Company may terminate you more quickly |
Avoids awkwardness if employer finds out | Damages relationship with your manager |
Employer may offer you more to stay | Seen as disloyal or not committed |
Leaves company on positive terms | Reduces bargaining power for raise or promotion |
There are good arguments on both sides. Some tips on deciding whether to tell your employer:
- Consider the culture and your relationship with your manager
- Reflect on your reasons for leaving – are they fixable?
- Evaluate your value to the team – are you indispensable?
- Think through the right timing if you do plan to tell them
Being upfront with an employer about looking for a new opportunity always involves some risk. But in some cases, it can be the most ethical and favorable path forward.
How can you explain using LinkedIn while employed?
If your employer finds out you have an active LinkedIn profile, here are some harmless reasons you can provide:
- Networking with colleagues and former coworkers from other companies
- Following news and trends in your industry
- Researching clients, partners, vendors and other companies you work with
- Learning about job opportunities at your own company
- Participating in LinkedIn groups relevant to your role
- Gaining skills and knowledge that benefit you in your current job
Everyone uses LinkedIn differently. Focus on the productive reasons LinkedIn helps you perform in your current job, not just for finding a new one.
You can also remind your employer that:
- Having an updated LinkedIn profile is standard professional practice today
- Most of your connections are colleagues, not recruiters
- You are not actively looking, just open to learning about roles
The vast majority of LinkedIn members are passive users, not active job seekers. Make it clear you are using the platform responsibly while employed.
Should your LinkedIn profile match your resume?
It’s common advice that your LinkedIn profile should mirror your resume. But if you are privately looking for a new job, matching your resume exactly may reveal too much.
Here are some ways to differentiate your LinkedIn profile from your resume:
- Showcase a longer work history on LinkedIn
- Include more details on responsibilities, knowledge and impact
- List skills, tools and certifications not on your resume
- Highlight non-work related achievements and volunteer work
The LinkedIn profile allows much more space to demonstrate the full breadth of your capabilities. Use this to your advantage when job searching discreetly.
You can also update your resume selectively for specific applications, so it need not match your general social media presence. Tailor your resume tightly for each job to better match what the employer is looking for in candidates.
Should you notify LinkedIn connections you’re job searching?
Letting your LinkedIn network know you are looking for new opportunities can definitely help generate job leads. But notifying all connections simultaneously may alert your employer.
Here are some tips for privately tapping your LinkedIn network for job search help:
- Selectively reach out to former managers, colleagues or classmates who can assist your search
- Personally message recruiters at companies you are interested in
- Ask your closest connections to recommend or refer you to opportunities
- Share your search privately with family and friends willing to help
Targeted, personal outreach often garners the best results. Broadcasting to everyone in your network should generally be avoided if concerned about employer discovery.
How can you balance your online presence across networks?
In addition to LinkedIn, also consider your profile and activity on networks like Facebook, Twitter, Github and others. Tips for managing your presence:
- Audit settings and content across each network
- Limit public information to basic professional details
- Be consistent with job titles and company names
- Clean up old posts or content that may reflect poorly
Maintaining an up-to-date presence across networks is important. But be wary of sharing too many job search signals publicly. Keep privacy settings on and remain thoughtful about what content might jeopardize your current role.
Conclusion
Using LinkedIn to look for new job opportunities while still employed requires careful balancing. You want to get your profile in front of the right people, without your employer catching on prematurely.
Focus first on cleaning up and customizing your general profile content and settings. Then utilize LinkedIn’s privacy controls to selectively showcase you are open to work and new connections. Avoid signaling too strongly across all social networks at once. Targeted, proactive communication will drive more fruitful job search results.
With some prudence and strategic relationship management, you can unlock the power of your LinkedIn network to progress your career, without endangering your current role unnecessarily.