How to Remove Open to Work on LinkedIn

Welcome to the digital age! In this era, LinkedIn is your virtual business card, a snapshot of your professional life. One of its features that’s been making waves recently is the Open to Work feature. What’s that you ask? Well, it’s quite simple. This feature allows you to announce to recruiters and your professional network that you’re on the market for new opportunities.
Managing your Open to Work status is key in navigating the LinkedIn landscape. Why? Because it affects how recruiters see you, how your network perceives you and can even influence potential job opportunities.
So, what are we doing here? This article is your tour guide into understanding this feature better and will show you how to remove the Open to Work notification on LinkedIn. Whether you’ve landed a new job or simply prefer not to advertise your employment status – there are plenty of reasons why you might be interested in doing this. Buckle up folks, it’s time for some LinkedIn wizardry!
Understanding the Open to Work Feature
Let’s dive right into the heart of it. The Open to Work feature on LinkedIn is a beacon for opportunity, a clear signal for recruiters that you are ready and raring to dive into new professional adventures. It’s like having a bright neon sign over your profile, flashing “Hire me!”
So, how does it work? Once activated, a nifty green circle wraps around your profile picture. This circle boldly states Open to Work. Now that’s hard to miss!
This feature comes loaded with benefits. For one, it amplifies your visibility to recruiters scouring LinkedIn for talent – your talent. It offers a straightforward way to put yourself out there without shouting from the digital rooftops. Plus, it lets you specify the types of job opportunities you’re interested in, making sure the right kind of knocks come on your door.
What else? You can control who gets to see this badge – your network or only recruiters. So no worries about your boss stumbling upon it during their casual scroll.
But what if you want to remove Open to Work feature on LinkedIn? Well, stick around as we delve into that next!
Why Remove Open to Work?
A question that’s probably buzzing around in your head right now is, why would anyone want to turn off the Open to Work feature on LinkedIn? Well, the answer isn’t as complicated as you might think!
Job seekers and recruiters alike have a love-hate relationship with this nifty tool. For job seekers, it’s a beacon of hope, broadcasting their availability far and wide. However, for some, it can feel like a neon sign highlighting their current unemployed status.
There are also employers who view an active Open to Work badge as desperation rather than an open invitation for opportunities. This perception can inadvertently affect your professional image and employment prospects.
On the other hand, recruiters sometimes get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of candidates displaying the badge, causing them to overlook potential top talent.
So if you’re considering whether to disable Open to Work on LinkedIn or delete it entirely from your profile, remember these points. The decision is all about managing perceptions and ensuring that your online persona aligns with your professional goals and aspirations.
How to Remove Open to Work on LinkedIn
Let’s dive into the crux of the matter. You’ve decided that it’s time to remove the Open to Work feature on LinkedIn. Whether you’ve landed your dream job, or simply wish to maintain a certain level of privacy, knowing how to remove this feature can come in handy.
Step 1: Go to Your Profile
Start by visiting your LinkedIn profile. You can do this by clicking on your profile picture located at the top of the LinkedIn homepage.
Step 2: Click on ‘OpenToWork’
You will notice an ‘OpenToWork’ section under your profile picture. Give it a click. This is where you’ll find your current Open to Work preferences.
Step 3: Tap on ‘Open To Job Opportunities’
Once you’re in the OpenToWork settings, find and tap on ‘Open To Job Opportunities’. This option will guide you towards removing the Open To Work status.
Step 4: Select ‘No’
Under ‘Let recruiters know you’re open to opportunities’, select ‘No’. Voila! Just like that, you’ve managed to remove OpenToWork from your LinkedIn profile.
Step 5: Save Changes
Don’t forget this crucial step – saving changes! After selecting ‘No’, save your changes so that they reflect on your profile for everyone else to see.
Remember: Not saving changes is like baking a cake and forgetting it in the oven.
These steps are pretty straightforward, aren’t they? But wait, we aren’t done yet!
While these steps help remove the visible Open To Work indicator from your profile, recruiters using LinkedIn’s premium services might still be able to see your job-seeking status. If complete privacy is what you’re after, there’s an extra step involved.
Extra Step: Adjusting Privacy Settings
To ensure total privacy,
- Go to the main menu (those three lines at the top right corner).
- Tap on ‘Settings’.
- Select ‘Privacy’.
- Scroll down until you find ‘Job seeking preferences’.
- Set ‘Let recruiters know you’re open to opportunities’ to ‘No’.
With these steps, not only have you learned how to remove Open to Work feature from LinkedIn but also how to ensure total invisibility from prying eyes in the professional world!
While it might take some fiddling around with these settings initially, once you get the hang of it, managing your Open To Work status becomes as easy as pie! A bit of knowledge goes a long way in securing and personalizing your professional online presence.
So there we have it – a comprehensive guide on how to shoo away that pesky little green ring and take charge of your professional image. But hold up! There’s more!
Modifying Open to Work Preferences on Mobile App
With the convenience of smartphones, you’re not always tied to a computer. So, let’s dive right into how you can modify your Open to Work preferences on the LinkedIn mobile app.
Here’s your step-by-step guide:
- Launch LinkedIn App: Tap on the LinkedIn logo on your smartphone and sign in if you aren’t already.
- Profile Section: At the bottom of the screen, tap on your profile picture to get to your profile section.
- View Profile: Next, tap View Profile located under your name and headline.
- Intro Section: Scroll down slightly to find the intro section which includes your photo, name, headline, current position, and location.
- Open to Work Box: Here, you’ll see a box with the words Open To Work. Tap on it.
- Modify Settings: You’ll see a list of settings related to Open To Work. Here you can modify or completely remove this feature as per your preference.
Let’s say technology is playing tricks and you’re unable to locate the Open to Work box in the Intro section. Fret not! There’s another way around.
- Alternate Route: At the top right corner of your profile page, tap on the pencil icon (edit button). Scroll down until you see Job Seeking Preferences, tap it and modify as needed.
And voila! You’ve just learned how to manage open to work settings on LinkedIn mobile app.
No more worries about prying eyes or unsolicited job offers. The power is now back in your hands. It’s all about taking control over what others can see about your professional life.
But wait, there’s more! We’re not done yet. Let’s talk about why managing this status matters so much in our next section – stay tuned!
Benefits of Managing Open to Work Status
Think of your LinkedIn “Open To Work” status as a virtual billboard. It’s an advertisement of your availability and skills, seen by millions of users. Yet, as with any public declaration, there are benefits to managing this feature wisely.
1. Ensuring Privacy and Confidentiality
Your job search journey is personal and at times, requires discretion. You might not want your current employer or colleagues to know you’re seeking new opportunities. With the Open to Work feature, you can choose who sees your job-seeking status. Being able to control this visibility ensures that your privacy remains intact while still making meaningful connections.
2. Avoiding Unintended Consequences
Imagine being flooded with irrelevant job offers or getting inquiries from industries you’re not interested in. This could be the result if your Open to Work status is active indefinitely or set too broadly. By managing it meticulously, you can prevent such unintended consequences and focus on offers that genuinely align with your career goals.
3. Maintaining a Professional Image
Just because you’re open to work doesn’t mean you’re desperate for work. An always-on job-seeking status might give an impression of instability or inconsistency to some potential employers. Thus, turning off the Open to Work feature when you’ve found a position or are no longer actively seeking helps maintain a professional image.
By giving due thought to how and when you use the Open to Work feature, you become the master of your LinkedIn presence rather than letting it master you!
Conclusion
LinkedIn’s Open to Work feature: a double-edged sword. Sure, it announces your availability to the professional world but it also leaves you exposed, a beacon in the crowded job market. With privacy and professionalism at stake, managing this feature becomes indispensable.
Remember, the key isn’t to hide your status but to wield it with discretion.
Choosing when and how you display your Open to Work badge puts you in control. Keep that power! You’re not just an open book for recruiters; you’re a professional with standards and boundaries.
Your LinkedIn profile is more than a resume or a calling card. It’s an extension of who you are as a professional. Guard it, manage it and let it reflect the best of you.
FAQs
Q: How do I remove the “Open to Work” feature on LinkedIn?
A: To remove the “Open to Work” feature on LinkedIn, follow these steps:
- Log in to your LinkedIn account.
- Click on your profile picture in the top right corner to access your profile.
- Under your profile picture, click on the “Open to” tab.
- In the drop-down menu, select “Not looking for a job” to remove the “Open to Work” feature.
- Click “Save” to apply the changes.
Q: Will removing the “Open to Work” feature delete my job preferences?
A: No, removing the “Open to Work” feature will not delete your job preferences on LinkedIn. Your saved job preferences will remain intact, and you can still receive relevant job recommendations based on those preferences.
Q: Can I temporarily hide the “Open to Work” feature without removing it entirely?
A: Yes, you can temporarily hide the “Open to Work” feature on LinkedIn without removing it entirely. To do this, follow these steps:
- Log in to your LinkedIn account.
- Click on your profile picture in the top right corner to access your profile.
- Under your profile picture, click on the “Open to” tab.
- In the drop-down menu, select “Let recruiters know you’re open” to hide the feature temporarily.
- Click “Save” to apply the changes.
Q: Will recruiters still be able to see my job preferences if I remove the “Open to Work” feature?
A: If you remove the “Open to Work” feature, recruiters will not be able to see your job preferences directly. However, they may still reach out to you based on your profile information and experience. It’s important to keep your profile updated and showcase your skills and expertise to attract relevant opportunities.
Q: Can I customize the message displayed when using the ” Open to Work” feature?
A: Yes, you can customize the message that is displayed when using the “Open to Work” feature on LinkedIn. To customize the message, follow these steps:
- Log in to your LinkedIn account.
- Click on your profile picture in the top right corner to access your profile.
- Under your profile picture, click on the “Open to” tab.
- In the drop-down menu, select “Choose who can see you’re open” and click on “Edit”.
- In the “Message to recruiters” field, write a personalized message to let recruiters know your preferences or any specific details.
- Click “Save” to apply the changes.
About The Author

Williams Alfred Onen
Williams Alfred Onen is a degree-holding computer science software engineer with a passion for technology and extensive knowledge in the tech field. With a history of providing innovative solutions to complex tech problems, Williams stays ahead of the curve by continuously seeking new knowledge and skills. He shares his insights on technology through his blog and is dedicated to helping others bring their tech visions to life.