Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Career experts are divided on the effectiveness of LinkedIn's "open to work" banner, which signals that a user is actively seeking job opportunities.
According to Nolan Church, former Google recruiter, and Lindsay Mustain, former Amazon recruiter turned career coach, the banner can be perceived as a red flag by employers, indicating a power dynamic that favours recruiters. “There is a truism in recruiting that the best people are not looking for jobs," said Mustain according to a CNBC report.
Contrary to some expert opinions, LinkedIn data suggests that the banner has been widely adopted, with over 33 million users currently using it.
While LinkedIn cannot directly measure job offers resulting from the banner, users who activate it are reportedly twice as likely to be contacted by recruiters and 20% more likely to receive messages from the LinkedIn community.
However, for smaller companies, who don't have the access to LinkedIn's recruiter tools, find the banner helpful for identifying potential candidates, according to Angelina Darrisaw, CEO of C-Suite Coach.
The effectiveness of the banner may vary depending on cultural fit, with some employers finding it useful and others not. Ultimately, the content of a user's LinkedIn profile, including job history and accomplishments, remains crucial in attracting recruiters' attention.
Career coach Phoebe Gavin emphasizes that the impact of the "open to work" banner is limited if a user's profile lacks substance, highlighting the importance of a well-crafted profile regardless of the banner status.
While opinions on the banner differ among experts, its utility ultimately depends on individual circumstances and the quality of the user's LinkedIn profile.