LinkedIn is a powerful tool for professionals around the world to find new career opportunities. One of the platform’s features – “Open to Work” – allows you to signal to employers that you are ready for new offers. However, sometimes you need to remove this status. Let’s take a look at how to do this using a less formulaic approach.
Why should you remove the “Open to Work” status?
The reasons may vary. Perhaps you have already found your dream job or decided to take a break from your search. Maybe you want to look more professional in front of your current employer. Regardless of your motives, it’s important to know how to remove this status correctly.
- Step 1: Start with your profile. As always, the first step is to log in to your LinkedIn profile. Do this through the app on your phone or the web version on your computer. Once you’re logged in, find your photo in the top menu and click on it.
- Step 2: Go to the “Open to Work” section. In the profile menu, click on “View profile”. Here you will see the “Open to Work” section under your name and title. Click on the pencil next to this section to edit the settings.
- Step 3: Edit your settings. After clicking on the pencil, you will be taken to the editing screen. Here you will have the opportunity to change the visibility settings or remove the “Open to Work” status completely. To do this, find the “Remove from profile” option and click on it.
- Step 4: Confirm your changes. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm your changes. This is an important step because removing your status will affect your visibility to recruiters. Click “Save” to confirm your actions.
- Step 5: Verify your profile. After saving your changes, go back to your profile to make sure that the “Open to Work” status has actually been removed. If everything was done correctly, this section will no longer appear under your name.
Benefits of removing the “Open to Work” status
After removing the status, your profile will become less obvious to recruiters, but this can have its advantages. For example, you can look more confident and successful as a professional who is not actively looking for a job. This can increase your appeal to potential employers who are looking for passive candidates.
Change your job search strategy
Removing your “Open to Work” status doesn’t mean you stop looking for opportunities. Instead, you can use other strategies to advance your career. For example, update your profile, add new skills and accomplishments, and actively engage in professional groups and discussions on LinkedIn.
Alternative approaches
Sometimes, you can use less obvious methods to attract the attention of recruiters without using the “Open to Work” status. These include:
- Active participation in LinkedIn communities: Join groups, post articles and comments to show your expertise in a particular field.
- Expanding your network of contacts: Add professionals with similar interests, recruiters, and HR managers to your network.
- Update your profile: Regularly update your profile by adding new skills, achievements, and recommendations from colleagues.
Conclusion
Removing the “Open to Work” status on LinkedIn is a simple but strategically important action that can affect your professional image. Remember that job search is not only about social media statuses, but also about active engagement, professional development, and building trusted connections. Use all available tools to achieve your career goals and stay on top of the professional world.
