Absolutely, the "Open to Work" feature on LinkedIn is one of the best tools you can use to increase your visibility to recruiters—but only if you use it the right way.
Turning it on boosts your ranking in LinkedIn Recruiter searches, meaning you show up higher when headhunters are looking for candidates like you. But here’s where people go wrong: using the green banner. That’s a mistake. The “for recruiters only” setting is far superior, and here’s why:
1. Phishing & Hiring Scams Are Everywhere
That public green banner is like a neon sign for scammers. Fake recruiters, shady job offers, and phishing attempts skyrocket when people see you’re actively looking. LinkedIn is full of bad actors who prey on job seekers, and the banner makes you an easy target.
2. Unemployment Bias is Real
Like it or not, there’s still a stigma around active job searching—especially at the executive level. Some recruiters (and employers) will assume that if you’re publicly looking, something went wrong in your last role. When you keep it private, you get the ranking boost without the risk of bias.
3. You'll Get Stalked by Resume Writers & "Career Coaches"
The moment you slap on that green banner, you’re not just getting recruiter attention—you’re inviting an army of resume writers, career coaches, and self-proclaimed "experts" to flood your inbox with offers. You’ll spend more time dodging sales pitches than engaging with real opportunities.
The Smarter Move? Turn on “Open to Work” for Recruiters Only
You get all the algorithmic benefits, higher ranking in searches, and actual recruiter outreach—without broadcasting your job search to the entire world.
So if you’re serious about landing your next opportunity, ditch the green banner. Visibility to the right people matters far more than visibility to everyone.
Absolutely, the "Open to Work" feature on LinkedIn is one of the best tools you can use to increase your visibility to recruiters—but only if you use it the right way.
Turning it on boosts your ranking in LinkedIn Recruiter searches, meaning you show up higher when headhunters are looking for candidates like you. But here’s where people go wrong: using the green banner. That’s a mistake. The “for recruiters only” setting is far superior, and here’s why:
1. Phishing & Hiring Scams Are Everywhere
That public green banner is like a neon sign for scammers. Fake recruiters, shady job offers, and phishing attempts skyrocket when people see you’re actively looking. LinkedIn is full of bad actors who prey on job seekers, and the banner makes you an easy target.
2. Unemployment Bias is Real
Like it or not, there’s still a stigma around active job searching—especially at the executive level. Some recruiters (and employers) will assume that if you’re publicly looking, something went wrong in your last role. When you keep it private, you get the ranking boost without the risk of bias.
3. You'll Get Stalked by Resume Writers & "Career Coaches"
The moment you slap on that green banner, you’re not just getting recruiter attention—you’re inviting an army of resume writers, career coaches, and self-proclaimed "experts" to flood your inbox with offers. You’ll spend more time dodging sales pitches than engaging with real opportunities.
The Smarter Move? Turn on “Open to Work” for Recruiters Only
You get all the algorithmic benefits, higher ranking in searches, and actual recruiter outreach—without broadcasting your job search to the entire world.
So if you’re serious about landing your next opportunity, ditch the green banner. Visibility to the right people matters far more than visibility to everyone.