How to Use LinkedIn's 'Open to Work' Feature Strategically

Q: How can I look for a job without my current manager seeing it?

Choose the 'Recruiters only' option instead of the public green frame. LinkedIn tries to hide your Open to Work status from recruiters at companies listed in your work history. To stay safe, keep your profile updates quiet and avoid making multiple changes in a short period.

Q: Is the green Open to Work badge worth using?

Skip the public frame and use the private setting for recruiters only. Recruiters appreciate this tag because it flags you as easy to contact, without broadcasting your job search to your entire network and current employer.

Main Points to Remember

01
Lower the Hidden Cost of Signaling Change how you tell people you are looking. Make it seem like a smart, planned step you chose, not a frantic search. This keeps you looking valuable in the job market.
02
Use a Clear Story for Your Next Move Don't just say you're available. Explain exactly why you are moving and what specific, high-value role you want next. This stops recruiters from guessing you aren't in demand.
03
Don't Just Wait Passively Stop setting your status and forgetting it. Actively manage your profile to attract only the opportunities that match your high standards, filtering out low-quality interest.
04
Act with Purpose and Control Present your availability as a rare chance for companies to get top talent. This puts you in charge, making sure your next job is a choice you made from a place of power, not need.

How to Signal Your Career Change Correctly

For successful people, choosing to turn on the "Open to Work" light on LinkedIn often brings a hidden problem called the "Social Proof Tax." This is the worry that telling everyone you are job hunting actually makes you look less valuable in the market.

They fear that the green banner looks like they aren't in demand, rather than simply making a planned change in their career. Most people fall into the trap of just turning the signal on and leaving a basic, unchanging profile to attract employers.

This lazy approach starts a "Recruiter Lottery," leading to tons of messages that aren't a good fit. In contrast, the best professionals use a system called Targeted Intent Architecture. This means replacing simple signals with a detailed story that clearly explains why they are moving and proves they are still highly wanted.

Below is the step-by-step guide to make this change, ensuring your next career move is based on your control, not on appearing desperate.

What Is LinkedIn's 'Open to Work' Feature?

LinkedIn's 'Open to Work' feature lets you signal to recruiters (or your entire network) that you're actively seeking new opportunities. You choose between a public green photo frame visible to everyone, or a private "Recruiters only" mode that surfaces your profile only to LinkedIn Recruiter users.

The feature lives under your profile's "Open to" section and lets you specify up to five target job titles, preferred locations, employment types, and your earliest available start date. Over 220 million professionals have activated it, per LinkedIn's 2025 platform data, making it one of the most widely used job search signals on the platform.

What Recruiters Really Think

Let’s be honest: When a senior manager sees that bright green "Open to Work" sign on your profile, they don't immediately think "Here is a great person to hire!" Their first thought is, "Why are they available?" For top talent, being hard to find is part of your value. The second you advertise to everyone that you are available, you risk making yourself seem less sought after.

To a hiring manager or a top recruiter, the "Open to Work" setting is a risky tool. If you use it badly, it looks like you are in trouble. If you use it smartly, it's a quiet invitation for a private talk.

Here is the key difference between people who get ignored and the top 1% who get the important calls.

The feature does work when used right. According to LinkedIn's platform data, profiles with "Open to Work" active are 40% more likely to receive an InMail from a hiring manager. The recruiter response rate also jumps from around 5% to 15% once the status is on, three times the baseline rate. What separates strong results from weak ones is how the signal is set up.

The Majority (99%)

What Most People Do (The Noise)

Most people use LinkedIn like they are begging for food.

Looks Like Panic: You aren't telling us what you want; you are telling us you will take any job.
Weak Bargaining Position: Being public about being open means you have no other offers, giving the company all the power in salary talks.
Stale Profile: The feature is on, but your profile hasn't been updated in years. You're asking for interest without proving you are still a top performer.

Top 1%

What the Top Talent Does (The Signal)

The best moves are planned quietly, using the "Recruiters Only" setting like a sharp knife.

Intentional Scarcity: They keep the public banner off, making it look like they are happy where they are but open to the right major career step.
Specific Pitch to Recruiters: The private note is pointed: "Currently leading X at Y, looking for COO roles at Series C+ software companies funded by Private Equity." (This is a demand, not a request.)
Proof of Relevance: Their public posts show they are an expert sharing useful thoughts while their status is quiet.

The Key Test for Leaders

When I see that you've marked yourself as "Open," I need to see one thing immediately: Momentum.

I want to see that you are moving toward* a bigger goal, not running *away from a bad situation. If your profile looks like an old list of duties, the "Open to Work" tag is a warning sign. But if your profile shows you are at the top of your game and just looking for a bigger challenge, that tag becomes a signal to call you right away.

The Insider Rule:

If you want the top jobs that aren't advertised publicly, stop acting like someone who needs a job. Start acting like a consultant who is deciding which high-value project to take on next. Hide the public banner, make your private settings explicit, and let the right recruiters come to you.

How to Change Your Profile Strategy

What People Do Wrong	The Smart Strategy	The Resulting Message
The Weak Signal Just showing the green banner, but keeping a general title like "Experienced Manager" everywhere else.	Match Make sure your main title clearly states your specific skills and the exact problems you can solve next, along with the banner.	Shows you are in control of your career move, not that you are damaged goods.
Missing the Story Turning on public visibility but not updating your "About" section to explain why you are available now.	Explain Write a short summary that frames your current availability as a special "chance" for companies looking for top talent.	Stops people from worrying about why you are available by providing a good reason for your career change.
Trying to Catch Everything Selecting every possible job type and location in the settings to get the most messages possible.	Focus Choose job titles and locations with precision so only high-quality, relevant roles show up in your messages.	Filters out junk messages so you only talk to recruiters who are looking for exactly what you offer.

Action Steps

Choose Who Sees Your Status

The Idea: Don't let everyone see you are looking. Hide it from your current company but let specialized recruiters find you.

What to Do: In the "Open to Work" settings, choose "Recruiters only," NOT "All LinkedIn members." This prevents the public green frame from showing up.

Quick Tip: LinkedIn tries to hide this from your current employer based on your job history, but keep your profile updates low-key if you are worried about visibility.

Write a Title That Sells Your Value

The Idea: Don't use a generic title. Use your main profile title to immediately tell recruiters what specific value you offer.

What to Do: Change your title from "Project Manager" to something like: "Leader in Improving Team Efficiency | Helping Tech Startups Grow Fast | Looking for Chief of Staff Roles."

Quick Tip: Avoid saying "Seeking new jobs" in your title; use that space for keywords that help you show up in search results.

Pick the Right Job Categories

The Idea: Choose up to five job titles that match where you want to go, not just where you’ve been, to get better matches.

What to Do: When setting up the feature, list titles for the jobs you want now, roles you might consider, and similar leadership roles.

Quick Tip: Be strict with location settings (On-site, Remote, Hybrid). If you only want remote work, don't check the "On-site" box, or you'll get lots of irrelevant local offers.

Explain Why You Are Available

The Idea: In your "About" section, talk about your availability as if you are ready to take on a new big project, not that you finished your last one.

What to Do: Add a sentence like: "After a successful run at [Company], I am now looking for my next challenge where I can use [Skill] to solve [Specific Industry Issue]—ready to discuss leadership roles."

Quick Tip: If you can start soon, mention it. Recruiters often have urgent needs, so saying you are "ready for a Q3 start" makes you more useful right now.

Deep Dive: How to Manage Your LinkedIn Visibility

What Your Signal Communicates

The Goal: Use the "Open to Work" status to tell recruiters directly that you are ready to talk, which should help them see your true skill level and high ambition.

The Danger: If the signal is too easy to get, recruiters might worry you are available because you performed poorly or were laid off, instead of seeing you as a top candidate.

The Best Way: Make sure your profile strongly backs up the signal so recruiters think your openness is a sign of honesty and high value. A strong LinkedIn profile is the foundation — see how to build a professional LinkedIn network that amplifies your signal.

Using Other Proof to Back Up Your Status

The Goal: The public status must be supported by strong proof of your success—like numbers showing what you achieved, recommendations, and recent learning achievements.

The Danger: If you only rely on the status without strong proof, it just confirms the negative idea that you are desperate.

The Best Way: Your profile should show you are in high demand, which makes your status a sign that you are being selective about your next move. Peer recommendations are one of the strongest proof signals — learn how to ask for LinkedIn recommendations strategically that highlight the skills you want in your next role.

Turning the Status Into an Opportunity

The Goal: Combine the clear "Open to Work" feature with proof that you are usually a "passive" candidate (someone who doesn't normally look for jobs).

The Danger: People might think you are just looking for any job out of panic.

The Best Way: This combination makes the status look less like a sign of trouble and more like a sign that you are available for the right kind of high-level conversation.

Tools to Help You Get Noticed

For Your Image

LinkedIn Profile

This helps you turn your resume into a profile that tells a compelling story and has a headline that grabs attention, before you turn on "Open to Work."

For Reaching Out

Networking

Helps you use your new visibility by creating personalized messages to contact recruiters and your network right after you become "Open to Work."

For Finding the Right Jobs

Job Analysis Tool

Looks closely at job ads to show you the exact skills and words you need, keeping your profile perfectly competitive in recruiter searches.

Common Questions About LinkedIn ‘Open to Work’

How can I look for a job without my current manager seeing it?

Choose the "Recruiters only" option instead of the public green frame around your picture. LinkedIn promises that recruiters at your current company won't see it, but to stay safe from others who might spot changes, keep your profile updates quiet.

How do I set up Open to Work for a career change?

Do not list your old job title. Instead, manually enter up to five target job titles in the settings that match the career path you want. This helps your profile show up in searches by recruiters looking for your future role, not your past one.

Is the green Open to Work badge worth using?

Skip the public frame and use the private setting for recruiters only. Recruiters appreciate this tag because it flags you as easy to contact, without broadcasting your job search to your entire network and current employer.

Does LinkedIn notify your employer when you turn on Open to Work?

LinkedIn does not directly notify your employer, but it does try to hide your status from recruiters at companies listed in your work history. To stay safe, choose "Recruiters only" and avoid making multiple profile updates in a short period, since those changes can surface in your connections’ feeds.

How many job titles should I add to Open to Work?

LinkedIn lets you add up to five job titles. Use all five slots to cover your target role, close variations, and adjacent leadership titles. Specific titles like "Head of Product" outperform vague ones like "Product Leader" because they match how recruiters actually run their searches.

Take Charge of Who Notices You

The Targeted Intent Architecture shifts your mindset from passively waiting for luck to actively controlling who pays attention to you.

This method ensures your professional story is so strong and specific that it cancels out the Social Proof Tax, turning the worry about "Signaling Anxiety" into a clear show of your power as a professional.

Don't keep your value hidden—log into the Cruit platform now to sharpen your story and start your next career move with a solid plan.

Log in to Cruit

Your career move should be about making an impact, not just asking for a job.