How to Remove ‘Open To Work’ on LinkedIn: A Step-by-Step Guide

LinkedIn’s ‘Open to Work’ feature is a valuable tool for job seekers, allowing them to signal their availability to recruiters and potential employers. However, there may come a time when you no longer wish to display this badge. Whether you’ve secured a new position, prefer a more discreet approach to job searching, or simply want to adjust your profile’s appearance, knowing how to remove the ‘Open to Work’ label is essential. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process with detailed steps and screenshots, ensuring you can easily manage your LinkedIn visibility.

Understanding the ‘Open To Work’ Feature

Before diving into the removal process, it’s helpful to understand how the ‘Open to Work’ feature works. When you activate it, a green banner with the text ‘Open to Work’ appears on your profile picture, making it instantly recognizable to recruiters. This feature also allows you to specify your desired job titles, locations, and work preferences, giving recruiters a clear idea of your interests. While this can significantly increase your visibility, it might not always align with your current career situation or preferences. Therefore, having the flexibility to manage its display is crucial.

Reasons to Remove ‘Open To Work’

Several reasons might prompt you to remove the ‘Open to Work’ badge from your LinkedIn profile:

• You’ve accepted a new job: Once you’ve secured a new position, the ‘Open to Work’ badge is no longer relevant and may even be misleading.
• You’re no longer actively seeking employment: Your circumstances may change, and you might temporarily decide against actively pursuing new opportunities.
• You prefer a discreet job search: You might prefer a less visible approach to exploring new opportunities, choosing to connect with recruiters more privately.
• You want to adjust your profile’s appearance: You might simply feel the badge detracts from your profile’s aesthetic, especially if you’re not actively seeking work at the moment.
• You’re getting unwanted attention: In some cases, the badge can lead to an influx of messages from recruiters, and you might wish to temporarily curb that attention.

Step-by-Step Guide to Removing ‘Open To Work’ on LinkedIn

Here’s a detailed guide on how to remove the ‘Open to Work’ badge from your LinkedIn profile, covering both desktop and mobile app versions:

Method 1: Removing ‘Open To Work’ on Desktop

The most convenient way to remove the ‘Open to Work’ badge is through LinkedIn’s desktop version. Here’s how:

1. Log in to your LinkedIn account: Open your web browser and navigate to the LinkedIn website (www.linkedin.com). Enter your username and password to log in.
2. Navigate to your Profile: Once logged in, click on your profile picture or ‘Me’ icon located at the top of the screen (usually on the top-right navigation bar). From the dropdown menu, select ‘View profile’.
3. Locate the ‘Open to Work’ Section: Once on your profile page, look for the ‘Open to Work’ section. This is typically located just below your profile headline, near the ‘Add profile section’ or ‘Edit profile’ button. It’s displayed as a blue box stating ‘Open to Work’ with a green banner at the top of your profile picture if active.
4. Click on the ‘Open to Work’ Box: Click on the ‘Open to Work’ box. Doing so will open up a new window where you can adjust or remove your preferences.
5. Select ‘Remove from Profile’: Inside the window, you’ll see two tabs or options related to the ‘Open to Work’ feature: ‘Let Recruiters Know’ and ‘Share With Your Network’. Click on the option that corresponds to whether you are making your profile open to work just with recruiters or with your entire network. If you have only selected ‘Let recruiters know’ select that option. If you have selected ‘Share with your network’ as well, then select that option. There, you should find the option to remove open to work from your profile. Usually it will be a button or link which will state ‘Remove from Profile’ or ‘Remove’. Select this button.
6. Confirm Removal: A confirmation window will appear, asking if you’re sure you want to remove the ‘Open to Work’ badge. Click the ‘Remove’ or ‘Yes, remove’ button to confirm.
7. Verify Removal: Go back to your profile page to confirm the ‘Open to Work’ badge is no longer visible on your profile picture. This may take a second or two to reflect the changes.

Method 2: Removing ‘Open To Work’ on the LinkedIn Mobile App (iOS/Android)

If you prefer using the LinkedIn mobile app, here’s how to remove the ‘Open to Work’ badge:

1. Open the LinkedIn app: Launch the LinkedIn app on your mobile device (either iOS or Android).
2. Tap on your Profile Picture: Tap on your profile picture, which is typically located in the top-left corner of the app, next to the search bar. This will take you to your profile page.
3. Locate the ‘Open to Work’ Section: Scroll down your profile until you find the ‘Open to Work’ section. It will be displayed similarly as it is displayed in the desktop version, but it can be located between other profile sections. Look for the blue box stating ‘Open to Work’ and the green banner over your profile picture on the profile.
4. Tap on the ‘Open to Work’ Box: Tap on the ‘Open to Work’ box. This action opens up the settings for the ‘Open to Work’ feature.
5. Select ‘Remove From Profile’: In the window, you will see similar tabs related to sharing your open to work status. Find the appropriate option, usually found under ‘Let Recruiters Know’ and ‘Share with your network’. Select the button or link stating ‘Remove from Profile’ or simply ‘Remove’.
6. Confirm Removal: A popup confirmation message will appear, asking if you are sure you want to remove the badge. Click or tap ‘Remove’ or ‘Yes, remove’ to confirm.
7. Verify Removal: Return to your profile screen and confirm that the ‘Open to Work’ badge is no longer displayed. You might need to refresh the page to view changes.

Additional Tips and Considerations

Here are some additional tips and considerations to keep in mind while managing your ‘Open to Work’ status:

• Privacy Settings: The ‘Open to Work’ feature has privacy options. You can choose to share your open status with just recruiters or with your entire network. Consider reviewing these settings before you make any changes to your open to work status.
• Updating Your Profile: Whether you remove the ‘Open to Work’ badge or not, always keep your profile updated with the latest information, skills, and experience. This ensures a better representation of your capabilities and expertise.
• Networking: Even without the ‘Open to Work’ badge, proactive networking remains crucial. Continue to connect with people in your industry and engage with relevant content.
• Reactivating ‘Open to Work’: If your situation changes again, you can easily reactivate the ‘Open to Work’ feature following the same steps described above but by selecting ‘Share with recruiters’ or ‘Share with your network’.
• Job Preferences: Don’t forget to adjust your preferences in the ‘Open to Work’ settings. You can change your desired job titles, locations, and work preferences, making sure they always align with your career goals.
• Be Discreet in your Job Hunt: Even if you’re no longer publicly advertising your job search, you can use the ‘Open to Work’ setting while choosing to be only visible to recruiters. This can help if you still want recruiters to find you without your connections knowing you are searching.
• Be Aware of Potential Visibility: The ‘Open to Work’ badge makes your profile instantly recognizable to recruiters. It can lead to a higher volume of messages from recruiters. Be prepared for this influx, and plan your actions according to your needs.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While the removal process is straightforward, you might encounter some minor issues. Here are a few troubleshooting tips:

• Badge Not Removing: If you followed the steps, and the badge is still visible, try refreshing the page. If the problem persists, log out of LinkedIn and log back in. You can also clear your browser’s cache. On the mobile app, try closing and reopening the app or logging out and logging back in.
• Settings Not Appearing: If you are unable to locate the ‘Open to Work’ section or settings, ensure you are looking in the correct place. On the desktop, it’s usually under your profile headline. On the mobile app, you will have to scroll down your profile.
• App Issues: If using the LinkedIn mobile app, ensure it is updated to the latest version. This helps resolve most technical issues.
• Check LinkedIn’s Help Center: If you continue facing problems, consult LinkedIn’s help center for more specific troubleshooting guidance.

Conclusion

The ‘Open to Work’ feature on LinkedIn is a great asset for job seekers. However, being able to easily manage its visibility is equally important. By following the steps outlined in this comprehensive guide, you can effortlessly remove the ‘Open to Work’ badge from your LinkedIn profile on both desktop and mobile devices. Whether you’ve accepted a new position, prefer a discreet job search, or simply want to adjust your profile’s appearance, you now have the know-how to control your visibility on the LinkedIn platform. Remember to keep your profile updated, network effectively, and adjust your preferences according to your career goals. Taking control of your online presence empowers you to navigate your career journey with greater confidence and precision. Good luck!