Linkedin has a feature called Open to Work that lets recruiters know you’re open to new job opportunities.
I’ll quickly explain Open to Work for context, but this post isn’t about the feature itself.
The public version adds the #OpenToWork photo frame to your profile pic, and this status is shown to everyone on LinkedIn (including those at your current company).
The private version doesn’t include the photo frame, and LinkedIn tries to limit this status to recruiters not associated with your current company (but they don’t guarantee complete privacy).
But like I said, this post isn’t about Open to Work on LinkedIn and whether you should use it or not.
It’s to make the argument that everyone should always be Open to Work.
I totally understand all the sensitives that go with career transitions, but just imagine if you always had the #OpenToWork photo frame around your profile picture.
Would it change the way you’re considering your career trajectory?
Should you only be aware of other opportunities when things aren’t going well or you really want things to change?
How would your relationship with your employer change if they kept actively working to keep you?
Likewise, if you’re an employer or a manager, imagine if all the people reporting to you had #OpenToWork on their profile.
Would you be doing more to invest in their commitment to your team?
Now what’s to say they’re not Open to Work privately?
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