You’ve likely heard the advice: The best time to look for a new job is while you’re employed. The challenge? Keeping your job search under wraps so your current employer doesn’t catch on. Sneaking away for an interview during a lunch break or using a sick day is one thing, but well before that, you need to make yourself visible to recruiters without raising red flags at work. LinkedIn, a go-to platform for job seekers, offers ways to navigate this delicate balance, according to career experts.
Stay Subtle to Avoid Suspicion
Your manager or coworkers probably aren’t scrutinizing your LinkedIn profile, but you can still take precautions to stay discreet, says Beth Granger, a consultant specializing in LinkedIn networking and personal branding. Avoid obvious signals like posting about interviews or publicly commenting on job-related posts.
Your manager or coworkers probably aren’t scrutinizing your LinkedIn profile, but you can still take precautions to stay discreet, says Beth Granger, a consultant specializing in LinkedIn networking and personal branding. Avoid obvious signals like posting about interviews or publicly commenting on job-related posts.
To project loyalty, consider adding your company’s logo to your LinkedIn banner, suggests Virginia Franco, an executive résumé and LinkedIn writer. In your headline, stick with your official job title to play it safe, then use the remaining character space to weave in keywords that boost your visibility in recruiters’ searches.
Update Your Profile Gradually
A sudden LinkedIn profile overhaul can scream “job search” to your employer. “If your profile’s been dormant and suddenly it’s polished and robust, it might make your boss suspicious,” Franco warns. To avoid this, make changes incrementally. For example, add skills one week, update older experience the next, and slowly refine your profile over time.
A sudden LinkedIn profile overhaul can scream “job search” to your employer. “If your profile’s been dormant and suddenly it’s polished and robust, it might make your boss suspicious,” Franco warns. To avoid this, make changes incrementally. For example, add skills one week, update older experience the next, and slowly refine your profile over time.
In your settings, disable notifications for updates to your Experience section to prevent LinkedIn from alerting your network, likely including coworkers, about your edits.
Leverage Privacy Settings
LinkedIn’s “Open to Work” banner can signal your availability, but set it to “Recruiters Only” to minimize exposure. Note that LinkedIn cautions this isn’t foolproof: “We take steps to prevent LinkedIn Recruiter users at your company from seeing your shared career interests, but we can’t guarantee complete privacy.”
LinkedIn’s “Open to Work” banner can signal your availability, but set it to “Recruiters Only” to minimize exposure. Note that LinkedIn cautions this isn’t foolproof: “We take steps to prevent LinkedIn Recruiter users at your company from seeing your shared career interests, but we can’t guarantee complete privacy.”
Another key setting is Connection Visibility, says Meg Guiseppi, an executive job search strategist. If you’re connecting with multiple recruiters, hide your connections list so only you can see it. Be aware that mutual connections and endorsements may still be visible to others.
Be Cautious in Groups
LinkedIn groups are great for showcasing your expertise, but tread carefully. Coworkers or others in your network might be in the same groups and see your activity. Share thought leadership strategically to avoid tipping off colleagues about your job search.
LinkedIn groups are great for showcasing your expertise, but tread carefully. Coworkers or others in your network might be in the same groups and see your activity. Share thought leadership strategically to avoid tipping off colleagues about your job search.
Final Tip
Discreetly optimizing your LinkedIn profile requires a balance of visibility to recruiters and invisibility to your current employer. By making gradual updates, using privacy settings, and being mindful of your activity, you can position yourself for new opportunities without jeopardizing your reputation at work.
Discreetly optimizing your LinkedIn profile requires a balance of visibility to recruiters and invisibility to your current employer. By making gradual updates, using privacy settings, and being mindful of your activity, you can position yourself for new opportunities without jeopardizing your reputation at work.