How to Let Recruiters Know you're Open on Linkedin

Updated on:

May 4, 2026

By:

Use this interactive demo to learn how to signal job-seeking status to recruiters on LinkedIn.

Quick summary

The LinkedIn Open to Work feature lets job seekers privately signal their availability to recruiters without broadcasting it to their entire network. Activating it takes under two minutes and can significantly increase the number of recruiter outreach messages you receive.

Steps

Navigate to your LinkedIn profile page.
Click the 'Open to' button located below your profile name and photo.
Select the 'Finding a New Job' option from the menu.
Complete all required details and set the visibility to 'Recruiters only'.
Click the 'Save' button to apply your preferences.
Confirm your post is now visible to recruiters on your profile.
Optimize your headline with relevant keywords and skills so recruiters can find you through search.

📌 Why this matters

Enabling the LinkedIn Open to Work setting is one of the fastest ways for job seekers to get discovered by recruiters without publicly announcing a job search. LinkedIn's recruiter tools filter candidates by availability status, meaning profiles with 'Open to Work' activated appear more frequently in talent searches. Pairing the setting with a keyword-optimized headline further boosts discoverability, since recruiters search by skills and job titles rather than names. This step-by-step approach helps candidates control their visibility and attract relevant opportunities faster.

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