The “open to work” section on LinkedIn is a feature that allows members to privately signal to recruiters that they are looking for new job opportunities. This section only appears to recruiters and is not visible to your wider network or connections. It’s a useful way to discreetly get in front of relevant hiring managers and recruiters when you’re exploring the job market. But where exactly is this feature located within the LinkedIn recruiter platform? Read on for a quick guide to finding the open to work section as a recruiter.
Accessing the Recruiter Platform
To view candidate profiles with the open to work photo frame or badge, you’ll first need access to LinkedIn Recruiter. This is LinkedIn’s enhanced platform specifically designed for recruiters and hiring managers to source, manage, and engage talent. Access to Recruiter requires a paid subscription. You can explore LinkedIn’s recruiter plans and pricing at the following link:
https://business.linkedin.com/talent-solutions/cx/17/10/recruiter-pricing
Once you have an active Recruiter account, you can access the platform by logging into your LinkedIn account and clicking the “Recruiter” tab at the top of your homepage. This will direct you to the Recruiter dashboard.
Searching for Open to Work Candidates
From the Recruiter homepage, there are a few ways to specifically search for profiles that have indicated they are open to new job opportunities:
Using Filters
When performing a general talent search on Recruiter, you can filter by the “Open to work” attribute under the “Details” section. Checking this box will narrow your search results to only profiles that are actively open to work.
Searching for the Photo Frame
Members with the open to work status will display a photo frame around their profile picture with the text “Open to work”. You can search for this visual indicator by using the following operator:
“open to work” photo frame
This will return profiles displaying the open to work frame.
Searching Badges
In addition to the photo frame, open to work members may also display an “Open to work” badge on their profile. You can find candidates with this badge using:
“open to work” badge
Identifying Open to Work Profiles
Once in a candidate’s profile, here are some ways to confirm if they are open to new opportunities:
– Profile photo has “Open to work” frame
– “Open to work” badge displayed on profile
– “Open to opportunities” listed in the About section
– Current job title includes “Seeking new opportunities”
You can also filter search results by job seniority levels like manager, director, vice president, etc. More senior-level professionals are generally more likely to be passive candidates open to being approached by recruiters.
Engaging with Open to Work Candidates
Once you’ve identified profiles that are open to work, reaching out with a personalized message is key. Here are some best practices for engaging:
– Mention why you think they’re a fit for openings at your company
– Ask about their skills, experience, and job search preferences
– Attach current job descriptions that align with their background
– Avoid generic outreach templates
– Follow up after connecting to schedule intro calls
Proactively engaging qualified, passive candidates leads to building strong talent pipelines and surfaces great hires.
Automating Your Outreach
If you want to streamline the process of connecting with open to work candidates, Recruiter offers automated tools like InMail campaigns. These allow you to instantly reach out to multiple profiles that match your search criteria and customize individual messages at scale.
You can learn more about Recruiter’s automation features and tips for effective recruiter outreach in these additional resources:
– LinkedIn’s 3 Steps to Proactively Sourcing Passive Candidates (https://business.linkedin.com/talent-solutions/blog/recruiting-strategy/2019/proactively-sourcing-passive-candidates)
– How to Effectively Use LinkedIn InMail for Recruiting (https://business.linkedin.com/talent-solutions/blog/recruiting-strategy/2018/how-to-effectively-use-linkedin-inmail-for-recruiting)
– LinkedIn Recruiter’s Guide to InMail Templates (https://business.linkedin.com/talent-solutions/blog/recruiting-strategy/2018/linkedin-recruiters-guide-to-inmail-templates)
Additional Tips for Finding Open to Work Profiles
– Search by industry to uncover passive candidates in your field.
– Browse Groups related to your target roles to discover group members open to work.
– Follow Company Pages and search employees from competitors or similar businesses.
– Look for spikes in profile views, as members often update their profiles before starting a job search.
– Connect with contacts at target companies who may know of colleagues open to new roles.
– Search by timeline updates like “Looking for new challenges” or “Exploring what’s next”.
– Turn on LinkedIn Recruiter Point triggers to get real-time notifications when members add the open to work frame.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the open to work profile badge free?
Yes, any LinkedIn member with a free or premium account can add the open to work photo frame or badge to their profile. It’s a built-in feature available to all members.
Who can see if I’m open to work?
The open to work status is only visible to recruiters who have LinkedIn Recruiter seats and hiring managers using LinkedIn recruiter tools. It will not appear to your general connections or network unless you choose to notify them.
How long does the open to work indicator last?
The open to work photo frame and badge will remain on your profile indefinitely until you manually remove it. It does not automatically expire after a set time period.
Can I show open to work to only certain recruiters?
No, the open to work setting is a broad signal that is visible to any recruiter or hiring manager with access to LinkedIn’s recruiting tools. You can’t target it to specific individuals.
Is open to work a fully passive way to get approached by recruiters?
Generally yes, adding the open to work status allows you to privately signal your interest without actively applying for roles. However, you can increase your visibility by also engaging with recruiters in your network and proactively optimizing your profile to get found.
Conclusion
The open to work feature on LinkedIn Recruiter is a simple but powerful talent sourcing tool. By understanding where it’s located and how profiles display their openness to new opportunities, recruiters can unlock access to qualified, passive candidates. With the right recruiter tools and a proactive approach, you can source great talent and make the right hires.