The “Open To Work” feature on LinkedIn has caused confusion for some users who are unable to figure out how to turn it off. This setting allows recruiters to know you are looking for new job opportunities. While useful for active job seekers, others may find it distracting or unprofessional to display the open to work badge on their profile. In this article, we will walk through the steps to remove the open to work status as well as explain what this feature does on LinkedIn.
What Does Open To Work On LinkedIn Mean?
The open to work setting on LinkedIn signals to recruiters and connections that you are interested in new job opportunities. When active, a small badge is displayed on your profile photo that says “Open to work”. This makes it easy for recruiters to identify and target active candidates who are open to being contacted about job openings.
Some key things to know about open to work on LinkedIn:
- It makes your profile visible in LinkedIn search results for recruiters specifically looking for people open to work.
- You can customize the types of roles you are interested in so recruiters know what jobs to reach out to you about.
- The open to work badge only appears on your profile – it does not post on your feed or get shared with your network.
- You control who can see the badge – options include public, recruiters only, or private so only you can see it.
- It serves as a signal but does not automatically mean recruiters will contact you. You still need an optimized LinkedIn profile.
The open to work setting essentially puts your profile on recruiters’ radars and gives them a straightforward way to identify you as an active job seeker open to new opportunities. But it does not automatically mean you will be bombarded with messages. You still need a compelling, complete profile to attract their interest.
How to Turn Off Open To Work on LinkedIn
If you no longer wish to display the open to work badge on your LinkedIn profile, you can easily turn off and hide the setting. Here are the steps to remove open to work on LinkedIn:
- Access your profile settings – Click on your profile image at the top of your LinkedIn homepage. From the dropdown menu, select “View profile”.
- Find the open to work section – Scroll down your profile page and look for the “Open to work” box on the right rail. This will display your current status.
- Click on the edit pencil icon – Hover over the box and click the pencil icon that appears. This will open the editing window.
- Toggle open to work to “No” – From the editing view, change the toggle from “Yes” to “No”.
- Save changes – Hit the blue “Save” button at the bottom to remove open to work from your profile.
Once you save the changes, the open to work badge will no longer display on your profile. The setting is now disabled.
Why Can’t I Turn Off Open to Work?
While the steps to remove open to work are straightforward, some users report issues turning the setting off on LinkedIn. Here are some common reasons why you may be unable to disable open to work:
LinkedIn Recruiter Account
If you have a paid LinkedIn Recruiter account, the open to work setting cannot be disabled. This is because having the Recruiter account enables you to source candidates with the open to work filter. So LinkedIn requires recruiters with this premium account type to display the badge on their own profile.
Job Seeker Premium Account
Certain paid job seeker accounts on LinkedIn also may require the open to work setting to remain enabled. Some premium features are designed specifically for active job seekers. So read the details of your specific account type to see if you must keep it on.
Glitch or Lag Time
Sometimes there is a lag between making the change and having it take effect on your profile. Or a minor technical glitch may prevent the update from going through. Try logging out and back into LinkedIn before checking if open to work was removed. Give it some time to sync up across the platform.
Profile View Settings
Depending on your profile viewing preferences, you may not see the change reflected when logged in and looking at your own profile. Be sure to check how your profile appears in an “incognito” private browsing window to verify the open to work badge no longer shows.
Other Ways to Signal You’re Open to Work
Aside from the official open to work setting, there are a few other ways you can subtly signal you are open to new job opportunities on LinkedIn:
Customize Your LinkedIn Headline
Tweak your headline to say “Seeking New Opportunities” or “Open to Work”. Make sure to keep it professional. Recruiters pay extra attention to LinkedIn headlines.
Update Your Profile Summary
Briefly stating you are exploring new challenges or opportunities in your summary section can indicate you are open without directly saying it.
Join Industry or Interest Groups
Active participation in niche industry and interest groups shows you have time for networking and building connections.
Follow Company Pages
Following pages of companies you are interested in or applying to can reveal you may be open to a role there. But avoid mass following companies.
Increase Profile Views
Having an up-to-date profile with robust content will naturally attract more profile views. This passive interest can signal you are open.
Pros and Cons of Displaying Open to Work on LinkedIn
Before toggling your open to work setting on or off, consider the potential upsides and downsides:
Pros
- Increases visibility and discoverability for recruiters
- Opens up new connections and opportunities
- Puts your career interests and goals on display
- Allows you to specify types of roles to attract the right opportunities
Cons
- Current employer may notice if connections share your profile
- Could be seen negatively by some hiring managers
- Need to manage increased recruiter outreach
- Potentially shifts focus away from current job
Weigh these pros and cons against your own career situation to decide if displaying open to work is right for you on LinkedIn.
Conclusion
The open to work feature on LinkedIn provides an easy way to signal your job search status to recruiters and hiring managers. But if you need to remove it from your profile, simply access your profile settings, toggle open to work to “No”, and save the change.
In some cases, the setting may be required by certain premium account types or unable to be edited. You can also showcase your openness subtly through your headline, profile content, and platform activity. Consider the benefits and drawbacks before showcasing open to work on LinkedIn.