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Hey, #LinkedIn community! ๐ย I was fortunate enough to be featured in this fantastic article by LifeHacker: Is Using LinkedInโs ‘Open to Work’ Badge Helping or Hurting Your Job Search?
The features has both advantages and disadvantages, according to recruiters.
Current job seekers have access to an unprecedented array of programs, platforms, and other online tools designed to make the tedious and time-consuming task of finding employment a little easier. Unfortunately, knowing how and when to use them isn’t always straightforward.
Takeย LinkedIn’s “Open to Work” feature, for example. Starting inย 2020, the platform’s users have been able to add a green frame to their profile photo reading “#OPENTOWORK,” and are given the option of either making it visible to anyone who looks at their profile, or only to recruiters.
In the years since, some big opinions have emerged about what is, at least appearance-wise, a relatively small aspect of a job-seeker’s LinkedIn profileโincluding from career experts whoย encourage people to use it, and others who advise against it, claiming itย makes people look desperate. Of course, it’s more complicated than always embracing or avoiding the optional profile photo frame. Here are some of the pros and cons of using LinkedIn’s “Open to Work” feature to help you navigate the conflicting advice.
My take:
The pros
- Increased visibility. Adding the “Open to Work” banner to your LinkedIn photo can make recruiters’ jobs easier, providing them with a visual signal to check out your profile as they’re scrolling through potential candidates for a position. It makes you quickly identifiable as someone who is open to considering new roles, says Matthew Warzel, the president ofย MJW Careers, who has more than 15 years of experience in recruitment, outplacement, and career coaching.
- Access to unadvertised jobs.ย Many job listings aren’t posted publiclyโat least at first. When you indicate that youโre โOpen to Work,โ and recruiters turn to LinkedIn to find candidates to fill that role, you may be putting yourself in the running for an opportunity you didnโt know existed, Warzel says.
The cons
- Unwanted attention.ย Sure, publicly identifying yourself as being #OpenToWork may make you 20 percent more likely to receive messages from the LinkedIn communityโbut how many of those messages do you actually want? “The badge might attract a deluge of spammy messages or irrelevant connections,” Warzel says. “Sorting through these can be time-consuming and detract from your focused job search. Be prepared to manage this influx efficiently.”
- Overexposure. According to Warzel, the feature can become less effective over time. โAfter an initial surge, recruiters might move on to newer โOpen to Workโ profiles,โ he says. โUse it strategically and consider removing it after a set period.โ
When to use the ‘Open to Work’ feature
When to make your ‘Open to Work’ banner visible to recruiters only
The most obvious reason to go this route is to avoid signaling to your current employer that you might leave. “This is especially helpful if you like your job, but just want to passively explore what else is out there,” Warzel says. “Recruiters can still find you, but bosses and coworkers won’t get a hint.”
When it makes sense to use LinkedIn’s ‘Open to Work’ feature
- Tech industry.ย The fast-paced nature of the tech industry means there’s a constant need for new employees with specialized skill sets. “Hiring needs evolve quickly, so staying visible to tech recruiters is vital,” Warzel says. This also applies to other rapidly evolving sectors, like digital marketing and renewable energy, “where innovation and proactive career advancement are valued,” says Ben Richardson, the founder and director ofย Acuity Training. Indicating that you’re “Open to Work” signals “a readiness to embrace new challenges and opportunities,” he adds.
- Healthcare industry.ย According to theย U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,ย between 2022 and 2032, employment in healthcare roles is projected to outpace the average growth of all other occupations. With so many new openings expected, clearly signaling your availability can help you quickly connect with recruiters who likely need to fill several roles at once, Warzel says.
- Early-career job seekers.ย People who don’t have lengthy resumes can pick up new skills through on-the-job training, Warzel says, and advertising that you’re #OpenToWork shows your willingness to learn.
- Mid-career professionals. Recruiters judge potential by experience. “For mid-level positions, ‘Open to Work’ badges signal untapped talent that companies can attract without huge investments,” Warzel says.
When it may be better not to use the ‘Open to Work’ feature
- Specialized occupations.ย Those with niche occupationsโwhere the applicant pool is small, and people in the industry are more likely to know each otherโadvertising your availability may not be the best way to go about a job search, Warzel says.
- Overqualified candidates.ย Along the same lines, someone open to working in roles far below their experience level can be a red flag for recruiters and hiring managers. No only will the self-demotion look suspicious, but it might lead employers to see the candidate as temporary, rather than invested, Warzel says.
Read the article here: https://lifehacker.com/work/pros-and-cons-of-using-linkedins-open-to-work-badge
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