Introduced over four years ago, the “Open to Work Badge” has divided many an opinion on the LinkedIn online community as to whether the badge helps or hinders a profile.
What is the Badge
The “Open to Work” badge is a feature on LinkedIn that tells your network and recruiters you are open to new job opportunities. When you toggle this on, a green circle with a white outline and the text “#OpenToWork” appears around your LinkedIn profile picture. If you set the settings the public, the badge is then invisible to anyone who views your profile, including other LinkedIn users, recruiters, and employers alike. You will also find settings which will allow you to reduce down who can view your profile picture with this badge.
Pros
One of the biggest benefits of the “Open to Work” badge is visibility to recruiters and hiring managers. Recruiters who use LinkedIn’s search tools can filter profiles by those who are open to new opportunities. So your profile may show up more in their searches and you’ll have a better chance of being contacted for suitable job openings.”
Signals Proactive Job Search
A fantastic use of the badge is to announce to recruiters that you are actively looking for new opportunities, which can be especially helpful if you are in a competitive field with specific job titles. This will also come in handy if you found yourself immediately thrusted onto the market and need to proactively target opportunities. Basically, you are telling potential employers and recruiters that you are ready to discuss new opportunities, which is a great signal for recruiters and employers who are actively targeting people with your similar LinkedIn profile.
Networking Opportunities
When you use the badge during your networking and conversations with others, may trigger discussions relating to job openings or refer you to opportunities they (who you are networking with) have come across. Having a personal connection through your LinkedIn profile can make these interactions more meaningful. Sometimes a simple social connection can lead to unexpected job offers or valuable introductions.
Reduces Guesswork for Recruiters
Recruiters spend a lot of time trying to figure out if candidates are actively job hunting (in fact, it can take a recruiter many weeks to find suitable candidates in the platform). The badge removes that guesswork so recruiters can focus on matching you with opportunities. This is a major time saver and sometimes a game changer for both you and the recruiter I like.
Cons for Hiring Managers
Stigma
There is a stigma around openly saying you are looking for a job. Furthermore, the badge design could do with modernising. Some LinkedIn users worry that using the badge will make them look desperate or impact their standing within their current company. This is especially true if you are currently employed and don’t want your current employer to know you are job hunting. In fact, we would suggest that you do not use this badge if you are currently employed, and instead adjust the setting in the backend.
Compromises Your Position?
While you can choose who can see the badge, it’s not foolproof. There is always a chance your current employer or colleagues will see your profile and find out you are job hunting. This can lead to awkward situations especially if you pop up on their searches. However, this can beg the question as to why are they searching candidates with your position title? No matter, think about who can view your profile and who you want to view your profile.
Not All Recruiters Use the Tool
Not all recruiters use LinkedIn’s search tools that filter for the “Open to Work” badge, so don’t think that just because you are displaying the badge, you are likely to get instant results.
Perceived Competition
Using the badge might make you look like a less competitive candidate in a competitive job market, and may even come across as a little bit desperate?. In the recruitment world, recruiters often enjoy connecting with the passive candidate.
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Tips for Highlighting Key Skills with the “Open to Work” Badge
Consider Your Situation
If you are currently employed and concerned about the impact, use the badge in a more subtle way—set it to be visible only to recruiters for example. Don’t let your job search interfere with your current responsibilities.
Optimise Your Profile
Before you activate the badge, make sure your LinkedIn profile is fully optimised. Update your resume, make sure your key skills are current and highlight your achievements. Combine your academic and professional experiences to create a complete and engaging profile. A well written profile will get more visibility from recruiters regardless of the badge.
Leverage Your Network
Use the badge as a tool in addition to active networking. Engage with your connections, participate in industry related discussions and attend virtual events. Networking often leads to opportunities the badge won’t catch.
Check Your Settings
Regularly check your settings to make sure you have control over who can see the badge. LinkedIn gives you options to manage visibility so make sure you adjust those settings accordingly.
Write a Great LinkedIn Profile Summary
Write a great LinkedIn summary that showcases your unique value and career story. A good summary can make a big difference in your profile. Summaries sit at the top of your profile so they are key to introducing yourself and connecting with others. Tell a personal story to make your summary more relatable and engaging. Highlight your related passion to show how your personal interests have influenced your career.
The “Open to Work” badge on LinkedIn and a good summary can be a powerful job search tool, making you visible and telling recruiters you are open to new opportunities. But it’s not without its cons, stigma and desperation.
