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Writer's pictureDebra Boggs

4 Reasons to Never List You’re Seeking New Opportunities on LinkedIn

Updated: Oct 22, 2018



LinkedIn is a great platform to grow your professional network, search for a new job, and to get noticed by recruiters. In fact, according to the Jobvite Recruiter Nation Report done in 2016, 87% of recruiters find LinkedIn effective when finding new candidates. While LinkedIn is the place to find a job, there is one phrase you should never include in your profile.

Writing phrases in your headline such as “seeking a position in _____” or “open to new opportunities” can actually hurt your chances of landing your dream job.


Below are four reasons why you should never tell LinkedIn you’re looking for a new job:

  1. Your headline is one of the most important parts of your profile. If a recruiter uses Google (or even LinkedIn’s search bar), they will only see your name, location, and your headline. If your headline does not explain what you do, they will skip over your profile and find someone whose headline states skills suited to their specific job description.

  2. Recruiters never actually use the keywords “actively seeking for new opportunities” when they are searching for a candidate. This phrase says nothing about what you do or why you could be of value. Also, many hiring managers tend to prefer connecting with candidates who are already employed so this isn’t something you want to advertise.

  3. If you waste your precious few headline characters with “open to new opportunities,” then you actually hurt your chances of being found by recruiters. If a recruiter is searching for a Marketing prospect, they will use keywords such as “Social Media Manager” or “Email Campaign Expert.” You want to make sure your headline explains your skills.

  4. Recruiters will contact you whether or not they think you are seeking new opportunities. If your profile, experience, and skills fit the job description, they will reach out anyway to see if you would be interested.

You may be asking yourself, “If I can’t write ‘open to new opportunities’ on my LinkedIn profile, how am I supposed to find a new job?”


The only way you should signify that you are open to finding a new job is by using a feature from LinkedIn called “Let Recruiters Know You’re Open.” You can find it in your privacy settings in your profile. Only recruiters with a premium LinkedIn account will be able to see it. Plus, this will be hidden from your current employers, so you do not have to worry about your boss coming across your profile and questioning your commitment to the company.


Are you actively seeking a new job? Optimizing your LinkedIn is vitally important in this process. At D&S Professional Coaching, we partner with executives around the world to create highly effective job search tools to compete for top positions. We can work with you on the best way to optimize your LinkedIn profile so that you are ranked higher in searches. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you!

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