The Benefits of a Quiet Job Search on LinkedIn
Should you share every step of your job search on LinkedIn? We’d argue that you shouldn’t.
By all means, let people know that you’re Open to Work. Share your skills and achievements and tell your connections what kind of job you’re looking for. But beware of TMI. It can be very tempting to share every step of your job search on LinkedIn–and that can harm your reputation and reduce your chances of getting hired.
LinkedIn job search TMI can look like this:
Talking about the company that let you do in not very nice terms
Discussing interviews you might get (or worse, ones you’ve been on)
Name-checking companies that didn’t extend an offer or that ghosted you
Gossiping about recruiters, hiring managers, and other employees
Posting about pursuits that are unrelated to your professional career
Asking for donations for rent and bills
Listen, we get it: job searching is lonely and it’s easy to fall into the trap of oversharing. It may even feel normalized. If everyone else is doing it, why shouldn’t you?
But there just aren't many benefits to sharing every detail of your job search on LinkedIn. Instead, quietly searching for a new position can be more effective.
Why a Quiet Job Search Is Best
Most employers aren't fans of employees who speak out too loudly, even when they're right. The first question they may have when they read your posts is whether you are going to trash them in public if hiring you doesn't work out. Negativity, even when it's justified, is a red flag for prospective employers.
Nobody likes to look desperate, even when they are. The more you post about how challenging it is, the more desperate you'll appear. Continually writing about your difficult circumstances can also lead prospective employers to wonder how much time you'll have to focus on work when your personal life is so distressed.
You may get lots of likes and comments on your posts, but that doesn't necessarily translate into getting hired. In fact, it can have the opposite effect.
The late Ed Han, a recruiter who was beloved in the job search community and is greatly missed, wrote on Quora, "If you are talking about making posts about being unemployed, and does that help you get a job, the answer is an unequivocal no. All it does is make not having a job part of your professional brand. This is a bad look." He went on to say that Facebook is a better alternative for sharing your job search journey.
The other thing is that it's a distraction. The more you post about how hard it is (and we know it can be awfully challenging to get hired in this tough job market), the more you'll get hit up by spammers and scammers. Weeding through junk messages and comments leaves you less time for job hunting.
The question is whether it's worth it. Are you better served by utilizing the time and energy you're expanding in other ways? You're the only one who can decide what makes sense for you, but a quieter job search may move you forward faster.
How To Conduct a Quiet Job Search
Here are some ways you can quietly job search and get exposure for your candidacy.
Mention You're Open for Work: Adding an Open to Work frame to your profile and writing an Open to Work post can show your connections and prospective employers that you're in the job market. Emphasize your experience and qualifications for your next role.
Be Tactful When You Talk About Being Unemployed (or Keep It to Yourself): There are several options for mentioning your employment status on your LinkedIn profile—and they don't all require you to announce to the world that you're unemployed.
Share Your Expertise: Promoting your expertise on LinkedIn by posting advice and industry news, commenting, sharing posts, messaging, and building your network can help you get noticed in a more positive light.
Tap Your Network: Talk to your connections and let them know you're exploring opportunities for your next role. If you're a college student or grad, check with career services to see if they have a network you can use to connect with alums in fields of interest.
Use Niche Job Sites: Use some of the time you've saved to search on niche job boards that match the roles and industries you're targeting. The Job Search Database includes links to 700+ niche career sites organized by category. It's one of the best resources for finding job listings.
Focus Your Job Search: You don't need to use every job search board, tool, or app. Instead, focus your efforts on the channels that make the most sense for your needs. Spending time searching and applying for jobs that are a good fit will give you more irons in the fire than posting your complaints.
Be Kind: Alison's mom always said that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. That's good advice. There's nothing to gain by trashing past or prospective employers on social media or anywhere else. Try to keep it as positive as possible.
Talk About It: Job searching quietly doesn't mean you don't have to talk about it. It just means doing less of it in public. We all need to vent, and we all need support. If you have family and friends who can listen and support you, talk to them about it. You may be able to find a job search club full of people in the same situation you can discuss it with. A career counselor or coach may be able to help you shift your focus when it's tough to do it on your own.
Chat With Us: We're available via Substack Chat to listen and share advice if we can be helpful. Please don't hesitate to contact us.
News & Noteworthy
Check Your LinkedIn Profile: Does your LinkedIn profile have all the information you need to help you get hired? LinkedIn expert and personal branding coach Gregg Burkhalter has compiled a list of all the sections on a LinkedIn profile, plus how to add what you’re missing.
Recover From a Layoff: Have you lost your job? CareerOneStop has a step-by-step guide to help you recover from a layoff and get your career back on track. Also, review advice on applying for unemployment benefits so you can be sure you're collecting all the benefits you're entitled to.
Who Gets To Work From Home: The more you earn, the better your chances of being able to work remotely. Inc. reports that your salary could be a factor in whether you can work from home: “... work-from-home days since the pandemic have dropped 16 percent for workers making between $10,000 to $100,000 a year and only 5 percent for workers making $200,000 or more.”
Our Favorite Tips and Tools
Free Online Career Quizzes: When you’re unsure what you want to do for your next job, or you’re thinking about a career change, a career quiz can help you find options to explore. These free career tests are a terrific way to learn about jobs you may have yet to consider.
Google Interview Warmup: Use Google’s Interview Warmup tool to prepare for your next interview. Practice key questions, get insights about your answers, and get more comfortable interviewing.
Upgrade Your Skills: Whether you're looking to switch careers, get promoted, or learn something new, you can use CareerOneStop's Local Training Finder to search for training, from six-week certificates to two-year, four-year, and graduate programs, in any career or industry in any local U.S. area. If you need help paying for training, the Scholarship Finder can help you with funding.
Our Partners
Jobsearchdb: When you're looking for a job in a specific industry or career field, using job sites that focus on the types of jobs you're interested in can be a time-saver. The Job Search Database includes links to hundreds of niche career sites organized by category.
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