Linkedin - TechExams Community

binatical

If currently employed, is it bad to say on my linkedin profile that I'm actively seeking new opportunities?

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

alias454

Only if you care about your current employer finding out.

tmtex

Good question, My boss is noisy and is always looking at me about every couple/few months. I had Seeking new opportunities when he first looked but haven't changed it. I would love to change into something more detailed but afraid to.

binatical

Can they fire you for that though, isn't it personal information?

NetworkNewb

Nah, I'm sure your current company won't care that you don't want to stay with them

TLeTourneau

binatical wrote: »

Can they fire you for that though, isn't it personal information?

Depends on the governing law where you are employed. Where I live a person can be terminated for a non-protected reason such as a social media post or mismatched socks.

Replicon

They can fire you over everything unless you work for a government or state owned company where workers have more rights.
It you are in the private sector, you don't want to give me the impression you want to leave. Besides, if your profile is good you will still get offers by recruiters. I am not looking for new opportunities, and with a bad economy, I still get on average one job offer monthly.

Remedymp

I think there is an option under the profile to let recruiters know you're available without actually saying it in words. I could be wrong though. The idea that you can fired for something minimal speaks volumes about the culture itself.

NetworkNewb

Remedymp wrote: »

The idea that you can fired for something minimal speaks volumes about the culture itself.

Is telling everyone your looking for another company to work for that minimal though? A company has to prepare and do what is best for them. And hanging to someone who is just planning to leave as soon as they possibly can doesn't sound like a smart strategy to me.

Remedymp

That's not the resources problem.

kiki162

Why would you want to attract a whole bunch of recruiters? Do the work of finding a new job directly instead. Always assume that if HR isn't watching, then someone else is.

NetworkNewb

Remedymp wrote: »

That's not the resources problem.

huh? He is telling everyone on social media he is "actively seeking new opportunities"

powerfool

Recruiters are now trying to differentiate themselves based on their highly level of confidentiality and discretion... do you really think it is a good idea to broadcast to a place that would leak this information to your employer?

cyberguypr

Can a company legally fire you for seeking employment elsewhere? Not a lawyer, but most likely not. Can they fire you for some other "random/unrelated" reason? Absolutely! I worked for one of those evil companies that loved to retaliate against employees like this. Even if you didn't get fired for that random reason, they would make your life miserable in the most passive aggressive way possible. My personal policy is to never announce anywhere that I am looking. The potentially negative outcome outweighs the diminutive benefit that can come from it. Be smart and keep it to yourself.

PCTechLinc

I'm with Cyberguy... don't advertise more than you need. At a previous employer, management got word that I was actively seeking new employment and going through interviews. Needless to say, they found out before I wanted them to know, so I should've just kept my mouth shut. You never know who you can trust, so I would just err on the side of caution.

jeremywatts2005

I wouldn't do it publicly, but I would be hitting up recruiters and HR folks on the side through messaging. I have a premium account so that helps with those sorts of things. If you are military or former military linkedin premium is FREE!!

Remedymp

I think the premium account only allows this. At least from the control plane under my account that's what it looks like.

Moldygr33nb3an

Like I tell my boss: "Don't give me a praise, give me a raise."

I never understand why managers and bosses take it to heart when you say you're seeking new opportunities. Everyone is trying to move up. Not everyone is 100% satisfied in the position they are in. To be honest, I probably will never be satisfied; but I use that mentality to keep me going. When I'm old and decrepit, I'll decide what was and was not worth it.

BradleyHU

as others have stated, i believe premium accts have a function where you can let recruiters/firms now that you're looking, and that's only if you want that recruiter/firm to know.

JDMurray

Yes, if your boss has a LinkedIn Premium account then s/he can see your "hidden" stuff too.

TechExams.Net has a LinkedIn group for all TE members. Join today!

NetworkNewb

Moldygr33nb3an wrote: »

Like I tell my boss: "Don't give me a praise, give me a raise."

I never understand why managers and bosses take it to heart when you say you're seeking new opportunities. Everyone is trying to move up. Not everyone is 100% satisfied in the position they are in. To be honest, I probably will never be satisfied; but I use that mentality to keep me going. When I'm old and decrepit, I'll decide what was and was not worth it.

I don't think they are taking it personally, but they gotta prepare and plan for you leaving. And if they found out your looking to move into another position, whether that be up or sideways, via linkedin and instead of talking to them about it first you probably gonna run into some issues.

Remedymp

NetworkNewb wrote: »

I don't think they are taking it personally, but they gotta prepare and plan for you leaving. And if they found out your looking to move into another position, whether that be up or sideways, via linkedin and instead of talking to them about it first you probably gonna run into some issues.

Issues such as?

NetworkNewb

Remedymp wrote: »

Issues such as?:

Reread all the posts on this thread, answers to your question can be found there. If you still can't find the answer to your question, reread them again.

Verities

Don't change that stupid section that says "Open to new opportunities", etc. or put that in your job title or summary. All you need to do is regularly update your LinkedIn with your skill set and people will contact you with offers.

Moldygr33nb3an

NetworkNewb wrote: »

I don't think they are taking it personally, but they gotta prepare and plan for you leaving. And if they found out your looking to move into another position, whether that be up or sideways, via linkedin and instead of talking to them about it first you probably gonna run into some issues.

This is why you provide a good amount of notice prior to departing. Besides that, the only reason a boss should have issues with one of his employees trying to move up in their career is if there are problems in the workplace. I have a great relationship with my boss and he knows I'm also looking for new work. I enjoy my job. I enjoy my boss. I enjoy the people I work with. But my livelihood takes precedence. I think everyone can share the same sentiment including a supervisor who too may have worked their way up.

NetworkNewb

Definitely agree ^^ A boss should know when your looking to move up and be helpful in that process. That's where that good communication with your boss, like you have, comes extremely important. Just don't want to surprise them and have them find out your not happy in current position through a status update on LinkedIn.

Remedymp

Every place I have worked has had Quarterly goals and One on One's. If there are no One on One's taking place as well as quarterly goals being discussed, I would bolt and be unapologetic about it too. Just because they can't find a resource to fulfill that role is not the problem of the current employee.

They can go take a hike.

dustervoice

Verities wrote: »

Don't change that stupid section that says "Open to new opportunities", etc. or put that in your job title or summary. All you need to do is regularly update your LinkedIn with your skill set and people will contact you with offers.

I thought that the "open to new opp" is a private feature where recruiters but none associated with your currently employer will know that you are actively looking for work.

$bvb379

Remedymp wrote: »

I think there is an option under the profile to let recruiters know you're available without actually saying it in words. I could be wrong though. The idea that you can fired for something minimal speaks volumes about the culture itself.

FYI this is accurate. LinkedIn sent an email out with a toggle that allows you to notify potential employers that you are open for a move. You do not need to verbally state this on your profile.

NavyMooseCCNA

$bvb379 wrote: »

FYI this is accurate. LinkedIn sent an email out with a toggle that allows you to notify potential employers that you are open for a move. You do not need to verbally state this on your profile.

I looked for this last year, and I was having trouble finding it. Are you able to send out the toggle?

volfkhat

JDMurray wrote: »

Yes, if your boss has a LinkedIn Premium account then s/he can see your "hidden" stuff too.
TechExams.Net has a LinkedIn group for all TE members. Join today!

For all these reasons,
my profile doesn't list my First name.

Instead, i use my Middle-Name in it's place.
i also don't use a photo of myself.

Hence, you can still have your profile say "looking for new opportunities"... and no one at your current job would know it's you.

Ah, so obviously....
be smart about who you choose to "connect" with (in the first place).