If you're a frequent user of LinkedIn, you probably understand just how easy it is to
set your profile up to let recruiters know that you're actually open to opportunities.
I mean, the setting is front and center, as soon as you sign into your LinkedIn profile.
But I think the settings in some ways can actually hurt you.
And that's what I want to talk about in today's video.
So, my name is Bill Benoist.
I'm a certified professional career coach here in Silicon Valley.
I upload career tips and strategies just like this one every Tuesday.
So, if you haven't already subscribed to this channel, make sure that you do so hit the
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That way, you're not going to miss anything moving forward.
So, before we begin with explaining why I think that some of these settings can hurt
you, let me start out by just explaining the different membership levels when it comes
to LinkedIn, because it's important for you to understand that.
So there's the free level, which I think 80% of the people have.
And then there's the LinkedIn Premium Career.
A lot of people in career transition may have this one.
There's the LinkedIn Premium Business, there's the Sales Navigator.
And then there are three levels of LinkedIn Recruiter with the lowest level starting at
about $115 a month.
So, when you turn this switch on, that says, let recruiters know that you're open to opportunities,
it's only people with that recruiter membership level that is going to see that.
I have the business level.
I pay $60 a month.
If you turn this on and you go to your profile, or if I go to your profile, I will not see
that.
Okay.
I don't pay the $115 for the recruiter level.
So, you're going to look like just any other ordinary LinkedIn user.
But if I was the recruiter, I would see that you're open to opportunities.
Now there's also another setting and it's kind of what I want to get into and what the
meat of this video is that says, “Open to all LinkedIn members.”
So instead of just marking the switch, open to recruiters, you're allowing all LinkedIn
members to know that you're open for opportunities.
And a lot of people think this is a great idea.
Personally, I don't.
And here's why - The reason why first off, only people that are going to be normally
seeing your LinkedIn profile day in and day out are your first connections, right?
So, if you're one of my first connections, you're going to be in my feed.
If you're a second connection, I'm not going to know anything about you, unless maybe you
post something out there and we have a mutual, a first connection that shares your posts.
Then it may come up in my feed.
But for the most part, the only people that are going to be seeing your feed is going
to be your first connections.
So, when you turn this trigger on letting your entire LinkedIn network members know
what you're really doing is just letting your network know.
And as soon as you turn this on, it puts this ring around your LinkedIn profile photo that
says, hi, I'm needy.
No, it doesn't say hi, I'm needy, but it does say open to opportunities.
And I think it's almost the same thing.
It, to me, it just looks desperate and needy.
And I don't think I'm alone in this.
I mean, just about every career coach out there that I have spoken with feels the same
way.
Now, again, this is, it's a personal preference, right?
It's personal preference, but this is what I'm sharing with you.
I do think it makes you look needy and desperate.
And from a hiring manager's perspective, I never wanted to hire somebody that came across
as needy or desperate in an interview.
I wanted people that were confident.
Okay.
So that's the first reason, but here's the second reason.
And that is, it's not really seen anything to the people out there.
Okay.
You're open to opportunities.
What kind of opportunities?
What are you looking for?
How can I help you?
And this is why when I'm working with my clients, I have them actually write a post, telling
their network.
They're open to opportunities because this way they can explain exactly what it is that
they're looking for, the industries that they're looking at and how those individuals can help
them.
I'll share something with you.
This works phenomenally.
So here's a little script that you can use, just customize it to, you know, your own situation.
“Hi, friends and colleagues.
I wanted to let you know I recently left my position as a senior auditor with Bumblebee
and Associates, and I'm currently exploring new opportunities.
If you are aware of any senior auditor or compliance positions in the finance or banking
industry, I would appreciate any and all leads.”
That's it, it's short and simple.
It sounds confident.
It doesn't make you sound needy by any means.
And it tells your, your connections out there exactly how it is that they can help you.
Now, something else that I will share with my clients in that is post that same script
about once every three or four weeks, because people are going to miss it the first time
around, maybe even the second time around, but I have seen this work and it's a great
little tip out there.
Now, is that going to hurt any of the recruiters?
No, because like I said, you have it turned on for recruiters only.
So, when they're doing a search for individuals like yourself and they're doing the search
of keywords, and they're looking for that auditor who, you know, has whatever skills
that you have out there, you come up and in their search, they're going to see that you're
open to opportunities, right?
So you've got that base covered as well.
So get, this was a short video today, but it's something that's been driving me nuts
a lot because when I'm on LinkedIn, I'm surfing, you know, I'm looking at things every now
and then I see this little ring around the collar from somebody that says open a work.
And I'm just thinking to myself, I don't think this is really
Helping you.
I think it might even be hurting you a little bit more than helping you for sure.
So thanks for stopping by again, if you haven't subscribed to this channel, make sure that
you do so get the bell notification and I look forward to seeing you next week.