How to Let Recruiters Know You’re Open to Work on LinkedIn

For job seekers, online job boards and social networking sites, such as LinkedIn, make it easier to navigate the job search process. These user-friendly sites allow you to apply for jobs quickly. While many sites are available, LinkedIn is the largest professional networking site globally. The platform has over one billion users worldwide [1]. It aims to link professionals from multiple industries and countries so they can engage with each other and build networks that can help them in their careers. In 2023, LinkedIn was ranked the third most important social media site for marketers worldwide [2]. 

According to LinkedIn, professional social networking sites are more effective sources for finding talent, and they rank better than job boards and referrals from current employees [3]. For this reason, LinkedIn should be at the top of your list when looking for a new job. You want to be visible to the people doing the hiring. 

Explore how to let recruiters know you’re open to work on LinkedIn, how to do this without your employer knowing you are actively searching for a new job, and how the platform's #OpenToWork function works.

How to let recruiters know you’re open on LinkedIn

LinkedIn offers many ways to let recruiters know you’re open to work, from optimizing your profile to actively using the #OpenToWork label and understanding how these functions work can help you choose the best methods for your job search.

What is #OpenToWork, and how does it function?

#OpenToWork is a function implemented by LinkedIn to provide an effective way for job searchers to connect with recruiters. It allows you to specify the type of work you’re looking for, as well as your location and availability, with the promise that your information will appear in searches done by recruiters looking for individuals in your line of work.

This means you share your profile and details with recruiters, expanding your reach and giving you more opportunities to impress with your profile. Even better, you can hide this function from your current employer if they are unaware you are seeking a new position.

How to enable the #OpenToWork feature

Enabling the #OpenToWork feature on LinkedIn is very straightforward and simply involves clicking the “Open to” button on your profile below your photo. This opens up a short menu of options. From there, click “Finding a new job.” 

You can select or add job titles to include in your job search, the type of work you’re looking for (on-site, remote, or hybrid), and your location. You can even include whether you are looking for part-time, full-time, or contract work. All of this information appears in the searches for prospective recruiters who are a match. For more details on this feature, go to the Enable the #OpentoWork dropdown on this page.  

At this stage, you can restrict who can see your information. If you don’t want to make your job search public, choose “recruiters only” so LinkedIn won’t share your open-to-work status publicly on the platform. Thanks to this feature, recruiters may add you to recruiter databases. If you select “all LinkedIn members,” your profile picture will receive an “#OpenToWork” frame that all users can see. 

How to turn off #OpenToWork

The #OpenToWork feature is just as easy to remove. From your profile, click on the “open to work” box under your photo and headline. Here, you can change the details or go to the bottom of the box and click “delete from profile.”

LinkedIn will also automatically turn off this feature if it thinks you're not interested in a new job. For example, if you receive multiple InMails from recruiters that you don’t answer or you’ve been inactive for a few months, you should notice the feature turned off.

Read more: Job Search Guide: Resources for Your Next Career Move

Other ways for recruiters to notice you

Enabling the #OpenToWork function isn’t the only way to let recruiters know you’re open to working as part of your effective online job search. The tips below may also be helpful.

Impress with your profile. 

It might seem obvious, but maintaining a fully updated profile is one of the most effective ways to get a recruiter's attention. Statistics show that a LinkedIn profile with a photo gets 14 times more views than one without a picture [4].

Catching their attention is just the first step. If the information in your profile impresses them, recruiters are more likely to contact you, even if you have not expressly stated that you’re open to work. 

Use the right keywords.

When writing your LinkedIn profile, look for ways to incorporate keywords into the text. Using keywords that people in your industry search for frequently helps to increase your visibility to the recruiters who use keyword searches. Look at advertisements and job descriptions of roles you’re interested in and choose the keywords from there.

When choosing keywords, look for phrases recruiters will likely use in their searches. Phrases such as “searching for work” and “open to opportunities” will likely not improve keyword optimization since they are not terms recruiters typically use to find qualified talent. For example, a recruiter looking for an accountant is probably looking for someone with specific skills like Excel, not "accountants looking for work."

Look to the future.

Share information about your future ambitions rather than solely focusing on the fact that you’re looking for work now. The ideal place for this content is the summary section. As you detail your achievements here and outline your career plans, use the right keywords. Focusing on what you are good at and making yourself stand out gives the recruiter something positive rather than just knowing you are looking for a job. 

Build your network. 

You may be able to get on a recruiter's radar by becoming part of their network. If you have mutual connections, ask for an introduction. You can also invite recruiters to connect, but be selective. Choose recruiters who work in the industry of interest to you.

Keep in mind that recruiters often get a lot of requests from other users, so craft your introduction carefully. Start with something personal to pique the recruiter’s interest. For example, mention a mutual connection or a place you both once lived.

Read more: 9 Networking Tips to Expand and Strengthen Your Network

How can I prevent my employer from knowing that I am job searching?

If you don't want your current employer to know you're searching for a job, check your #OpenToWork settings and make sure your job search is visible only to recruiters. Otherwise, all users on the platform can see the label when they view your profile. It’s also a good idea to be mindful about who you're contacting and avoid recruiters who work for your employer. 

Remember, though, that it's still possible for your employer to find out about your job search even when you take these precautions. If someone in your employer’s network views your profile and sees the #OpenToWork label, they can share this information with your employer. Also, ensure your profile's visibility settings are off so colleagues or bosses can’t see your updates. 

Learn more about how to use LinkedIn for career opportunities.

Discovering how to use LinkedIn and leverage your connections on the platform is a worthwhile project, no matter where you are in your career. A great place to start is with a Guided Project on Coursera, such as Utilize LinkedIn for Career Search on Coursera. This two-hour course covers topics such as connecting with recruiters, searching the job bank, and more. If you're new to the LinkedIn platform or need to refresh your profile, consider the course Create a Profile and Network on Coursera.