Have you noticed the little green #OpenToWork frame around headshots on some LinkedIn profiles? Are you wondering whether to use it yourself?
A time-honored job search strategy is not to “out” the fact in your LinkedIn profile that you’re unemployed. Hiring professionals typically prefer people who are employed. But the pandemic changed things. They tend to be more understanding about employment now.
LinkedIn rolled out the #OpenToWork profile feature in 2020. LinkedIn Help says:
“If you’re looking for a job, you can let recruiters and your network on LinkedIn know you’re open to new job opportunities. If you specify the types of job opportunities that you’re interested in and your preferred location, we’ll help your profile show up in search results when recruiters look for suitable job candidates.”
If you opt to only let recruiters know you’re looking, the green swath isn’t displayed on your profile. But recruiters privately using LinkedIn Recruiter and other powerful people search tools will know your employment status.
If you opt to let all LinkedIn members know you’re job hunting, the green swath with #OpenToWork will go on your profile photo/headshot. People will likely assume that you’re unemployed.
On the same LinkedIn Help page as above, note that LinkedIn says when you choose this option:
“To protect your privacy, we take steps to prevent LinkedIn Recruiter users who work at your company from seeing your shared career interests. We take the current company on your LinkedIn profile marked as I am currently working here to know who to hide your Open to Work status from, however, we can’t guarantee complete privacy.”
Is Using #OpenToWork Risky?
The #OpenToWork green frame clearly marks members using it as unemployed. Is it a good or bad thing to use?
LinkedIn Product Manager Rohan Rajiv weighed in on the question “Should I broadcast on LinkedIn that I’m unemployed?”
“I often get asked if being unemployed positions job seekers unfavorably compared to those currently in a role. Results in our data and feedback from hiring managers suggests it does not.”
Jenny Foss, former recruiter and founder of JobJenny, believes using this feature is great for job seekers who are unemployed:
“I have heard people criticize Open to Work, saying that it’ll make people look needy or desperate or unappealing to a recruiter. I can’t speak for all recruiters, but as a recruiter myself, I actually appreciate the feature. It destigmatizes being an active job seeker vs. a passive one.”
Resume writer Peter Newfield suggested when it’s okay to use #OpenToWork:
“The “Open to Work” banner isn’t for everyone looking for a new job, even though it’s made for job seekers. Your current employment status and what kind of opportunities you’re looking for can affect whether or not the banner should be included in your profile. How quickly you want work will also play into this decision since posting more often may help bring about potential connections that could turn into career advancement opportunities down the road.”
Benefits of Using #OpenToWork
Rajiv went on to say:
#OpenToWork Increases Your Likelihood of Hearing from a Recruiter
When using the #OpenToWork feature, you can specify the types of jobs you’re interested in (job titles, remote location, start date and job type). This will also improve your job recommendations and turn on job alerts matching your preferences, enabling you to be one of the first to apply when a relevant job is posted. Applying early can increase your chances of hearing back by up to 4X. More than three million members have chosen to add a public #OpenToWork photo frame since launching in June 2020, and our data show that they are, on average, 40% more likely to receive InMails from recruiters.
#OpenToWork Connects You to People Who Can Help
If you choose to let the broader LinkedIn community know that you’re open to new jobs by adding an #OpenToWork photo frame to your profile photo, when someone sees your profile photo on LinkedIn (for example, when you post to your feed or show up in a search result), they’ll know you’re open to new opportunities and can connect you to open jobs they know of. Early results show that members who choose to add a public #OpenToWork photo frame are 20% more likely to receive messages from their community.
Recruiters on #OpenToWork
HR executive James Hudson makes the case for using one of the two options of this feature. Again, only use the #OpenToWork banner if you’re unemployed:
“Depending on where you are in your job search you may want to activate either or both features. The first feature [letting only recruiters know you’re looking] typically results in a 40% uplift in recruiter outreach. The second feature [letting all LinkedIn members know] typically results in a 20% uplift in messages from across the LinkedIn community. Activating these features results in more recruiter messages because the LinkedIn algorithm tells us you’re more likely to respond.
As a recruiter, I can’t imagine any universe where you wouldn’t want to use these features. All of the data confirms they significantly increase your chances of getting hired.”
Hung Lee, Curator of Recruiting Brainfood, ran a LinkedIn poll in November 2023 with this query:
“As a recruiter, when I see a candidate with an ‘Open to Work’ badge I think…”
Here are the results:
As you can see, nearly 3,000 recruiters weighed in and overwhelmingly said that #OpenToWork is a plus for them.
The CONS of Using this Feature
Even with the benefits, there are downsides to consider.
Job search and career strategist Donna Serdula weighed in with these cons for you to consider:
- Not everyone wants their job seeker status to infiltrate their brand image so completely. There’s nothing wrong with looking for a job but is that the message you want to lead with?
- By putting your jobseeker status front and center, certain people can inundate you with scams and spam. There are vultures on LinkedIn and the #opentowork photo frame is akin to tying a piece of meat around your neck.
- As long as your profile is optimized and aligns you perfectly to your next desired role, a recruiter searching LinkedIn will find you and reach out whether you are employed or not. A photo frame shouldn’t make a difference as long as you look like a match to the job they are filling.
What about scams and spam when using #OpenToWork?
Unfortunately, as noted above, some LinkedIn features including #OpenToWork can attract predatory offers, such as cut-rate resume writing and other job search services.
Job search coach Steve P. Brady suggests following these guidelines before engaging with anyone contacting you on LinkedIn (or elsewhere) to help you with job search:
- Vet any service providers thoroughly: Look for reviews, testimonials, and credible recommendations before committing to any professional help.
- Rely on trusted networks: Seek referrals from people you know rather than responding to unsolicited outreach.
- Strengthen your profile organically: Focus on showcasing achievements, engaging with industry content, and growing connections to draw the right kind of attention.
How Safe (and Wise) Is It To Display #OpenToWork on Your Profile?
Here’s one piece of advice, confirmed by other career professionals, notably by job search social media expert Hannah Morgan:
DON’T display the green #OpenToWork frame on your profile if you’re searching undercover (for whatever reason). EVERYONE who lands on your profile, or sees your LinkedIn activity, will see it. If you’re employed, your employer could see it or be told by others that you’re looking.
Otherwise, if you’re unemployed and actively job-hunting, this feature has more pros than cons. It’s an easy, passive way to alert your network(s) of your status. People forget, or don’t understand, how important it is to let their network(s) know when they’re job-hunting, so that they can help with leads, advice and support.
Other Things To Consider with #OpenToWork
Career Directors International lays it out succinctly. They say the feature will work to your advantage when:
- You are unemployed or soon to be and feel an urgency to leverage all tools at your disposal immediately and simultaneously.
- You are completely transparent about your desire to find a new job.
- You want to signal to recruiters that you are available more quickly to begin a new assignment than others that will have to work through a notice period with their current employer.
- You are entering the job market following a career break and want to generate interest and gain momentum around your return.
But it may be a hindrance when:
- You are actively employed, and your boss does not know you are pursuing other positions.
- You are relying on the banner and the related announcement to your network to be the foundation of your search.
- Your profile and messaging becomes centered on your unemployed status versus why an employer should hire you.
- You keep the banner on too long and any activity it may generated the first few weeks has dried up.
How To Show That You’re #OpenToWork on Your Profile
At this writing, here’s how you add #OpenToWork to your profile.
- Go to “View your profile” under “Me” in the navigation menu at the top of the page.
- You should see at the bottom of your Intro Card at the top of your profile (without clicking the edit pencil) something like “Open to”.
- In the drop-down, click on “Finding a new job. Show recruiters and others that you’re open to work”. Complete the applicable steps.
Complete the info in the pop-up and select either “Recruiters only” or “All LinkedIn members” (this option adds the #OpenToWork green photo frame).
You can also use the #OpenToWork hashtag in appropriate LinkedIn updates, to further broadcast your status.
And don’t forget: People will see your #OpenToWork green frame whenever and wherever you’re active on LinkedIn – updates, update comments and reactions, LinkedIn articles, etc.
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