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How to Remove LinkedIn Open to Work in 2024?

Hi there! If you‘re wondering how to remove LinkedIn‘s Open to Work badge from your profile in 2024, you‘ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know to turn off and delete the Open to Work feature.

What Exactly is LinkedIn‘s "Open to Work" and How Does It Work?

First, let‘s make sure we‘re on the same page about what Open to Work is.

The Open to Work feature allows you to add a photo frame to your LinkedIn profile picture that signals "Open to Work" or similar messaging, like "Ready for Change" or "Looking for New Opportunities".

By displaying this badge on your profile, you explicitly convey to recruiters, hiring managers, and other LinkedIn members that you are actively open and receptive to discovering new job opportunities.

According to LinkedIn‘s own statistics, members who turn on Open to Work see a 40% spike in InMail messages from interested recruiters. So it essentially serves as an "I‘m available" sign to get your profile noticed more easily.

The Open to Work frames are customizable and can be enabled via LinkedIn‘s desktop site as well as their mobile app.

Now that you know what it is, when should you use it?

When Does It Make Sense to Use the Open to Work Badge?

The Open to Work badge can be hugely helpful when used strategically in the right situations. Here are some examples of when displaying the badge makes good sense:

  • You were recently laid off and urgently need to find a new job
  • You‘re casually open to new opportunities while currently employed
  • You want to test the job market and see what‘s out there
  • You‘re eager for new challenges and growth opportunities
  • You‘re looking to switch careers or industries

Essentially, if you are open, available and proactively looking, the Open to Work badge broadcasts that receptive status to potential employers and recruiters.

According to LinkedIn, profiles with Open to Work receive up to 2x more profile views and 20% more messages. So it can definitely boost your visibility during an active job search.

However, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider before displayed the badge. Let‘s look at those next.

What Are Some Downsides to Pay Attention to?

While the Open to Work badge can certainly amp up recruiter interest in your profile, it also comes with a few pitfalls to keep in mind:

  • Gives impression you are unemployed – Recruiters may assume you are currently out of work, even if that‘s untrue. Could skew perception.
  • Floods you with irrelevant messages – You may get bombarded with InMails completely unrelated to your background.
  • Current employer may see it – Existing coworkers/boss could discover you‘re "open", raising questions.
  • Doesn‘t guarantee quality opportunities – Volume doesn‘t equal high quality job prospects. Still need to vet.
  • Can look desperate if used indefinitely – Leaving badge on for too long could look desperate.

Let‘s explore each of those in a bit more depth so you can weigh the pros and cons fully:

Con #1: Sends the Wrong Signal About Your Employment Status

One risk with openly displaying the Open to Work badge is that some recruiters may mistakenly assume you are unemployed or between jobs, even if you are happily employed.

This happens because the badge strongly signals active job seeking. So they may presume you are out of work and urgently looking, skewing their perception of your situation.

Of course, if you actually are unemployed, that‘s perfectly okay! But if not, you may not want the badge conveying an unintended message about your circumstances.

Con #2: Triggers a Flood of Low Quality Messages

Another complaint is that flipping on Open to Work leads to a rapid influx of recruiter InMail messages. However, only a small fraction end up being good fits or high quality opportunities.

Sifting through the sudden flood of inquiries can become tiresome and counterproductive. The badge tends to attract a high quantity of messages, but quality is hit-or-miss. So be prepared to do some filtering if you turn it on.

Con #3: Current Boss or Colleagues Could Discover It

This is a big risk to carefully weigh – your current colleagues, boss or other contacts at your company may notice the Open to Work badge on your profile. They may question why you are openly signaling interest in other jobs.

The last thing you want is for the badge to jeopardize your current role or relationships. So strong consider your connections before displaying Open to Work as it is visible to your network.

Con #4: Doesn‘t Necessarily Attract Targeted, Relevant Opportunities

While the Open to Work badge boosts overall recruiter engagement, it does not guarantee those opportunities are an ideal fit or aligned with your goals. You‘ll likely still need to sort through options to identify roles matching your skills.

It serves more as a volume amplifier – increasing eyeballs and inquiries. But you‘ll still need to screen for quality and relevance.

Con #5: Can Give Off a Vibe of Desperation if Left on Too Long

Finally, consider limiting how long you display the Open to Work badge continuously. Leaving it on indefinitely month after month may actually work against you by seeming desperate.

It‘s best leveraged for short, focused job hunts. Remove it once employed or if you pause your search. Periodic and strategic use comes across better than it remaining permanently on.

Okay, so now that you know the potential upsides and downsides – how do you actually remove the Open to Work frame when ready?

Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Open to Work Badge

Fortunately, turning off and deleting the Open to Work status is quick and painless. Here is a simple step-by-step walkthrough:

On LinkedIn‘s Website:

  1. Pull up your LinkedIn profile page and click directly on your profile picture. This opens the Open to Work window.
  2. Locate and toggle the switch next to "Open to Work" to the Off position, disabling the setting.
  3. The Open to Work frame will immediately disappear from your profile picture once disabled!

Here‘s a visual guide:

[Step 1 Image] [Step 2 Image]

On LinkedIn‘s Mobile App:

  1. Tap your profile icon in the top left corner of your homepage to access your account options.
  2. Choose "View profile" from the menu.
  3. Tap directly on your profile picture, then tap the "Open to" link.
  4. Finally, tap the "Turn off" button to remove the frame.

Here‘s what the mobile screens look like:

[Step 1 Image] [Step 2 Image] [Step 3 Image]

And that‘s all it takes! The Open to Work badge will vanish as soon as you hit that toggle or "Turn off" button. Super quick and simple.

To ensure it‘s totally removed across all visibility, here are a few extra tips:

  • Refresh your profile – Reload the page to confirm it‘s gone.
  • Remove any custom wording – Delete "Ready for Change" type text if you added it.
  • Double check visibility settings – Open to Work still shows if your profile is set to "Recruiter view".
  • Verify removal on mobile – Check the badge is gone from the LinkedIn app too.
  • Consider deleting related posts – Past job search posts with the frame might be worth removing too.

Once you complete those checks, your profile will be squeaky clean without any remnants of the Open to Work beacon calling attention from recruiters and hiring managers.

Alternative Options to Get Noticed Without Open to Work

If the Open to Work badge isn‘t making sense for your situation right now but you still want to boost your LinkedIn visibility and opportunities, consider these powerful alternatives:

  • Showcase key skills – Tailor your Skills section with keywords recruiters search for.
  • Optimize your headline – Summarize your offerings with a compelling, attention-grabbing headline.
  • Publish standout content – Position yourself as an industry leader by sharing articles, insights and media.
  • Engage your network – Comment, like, share, and help others. Expand your reach through engagement.
  • Follow and connect with target employers – Get on their radar by interacting with content.
  • Promote your profile link – Include your public LinkedIn URL on your resume, email signature, etc.

Leveraging those kinds of proactive, profile-raising tactics can continue to get you noticed by all the right people – without having to directly broadcast your job search status.

Key Takeaways: Is Removing Open to Work Right for You?

To wrap things up, here are some key points to help you decide if disabling Open to Work makes sense:

  • Consider if the badge aligns with your career goals right now or sends unintended messages about your status.
  • Weigh the pros and cons carefully based on your situation and priorities.
  • Turning off the feature is quick and easy – just toggle the switch on desktop or mobile app.
  • Do a thorough sweep to remove all presence across platforms and posts.
  • Without the badge, focus on showcasing your expertise, engaging your network, and delivering value to attract opportunities.
  • Used strategically, Open to Work can be a boost. But removing it when no longer needed redirects the right focus.

Ultimately, you have to evaluate whether the Open to Work badge supports or detracts from your career objectives at the moment. But now you‘re armed with the insights and simple steps to toggle it on or off.

I hope this comprehensive guide gave you everything you need to decide if removing LinkedIn Open to Work is the right move. Here‘s to an awesome 2023!

nv-author-image

Michael

Michael Reddy is a tech enthusiast, entertainment buff, and avid traveler who loves exploring Linux and sharing unique insights with readers.