Hospitality and Leisure, Luxury Retail, Retail Operations...
Open to Work Profile?
At C2 Recruitment, we speak with candidates every day who want to explore new opportunities but worry about their current employer finding out.
LinkedIn’s "Open to Work" feature is a great tool for job seekers, but if used incorrectly, it can create unnecessary risks. Knowing how to use it effectively can help you attract the right opportunities without drawing unwanted attention.
Who Can See Your "Open to Work" Status?
LinkedIn gives two visibility options:
Recruiters only – This setting restricts visibility to those using LinkedIn Recruiter, including agency and some in-house recruitment teams. LinkedIn tries to prevent your company from seeing it, but there’s no guarantee.
All LinkedIn members – This places a green "Open to Work" banner on your profile picture, signalling to everyone that you’re job hunting.
For candidates in active employment, we always recommend the "Recruiters only" setting. It allows you to be discreet while still making your profile visible to hiring professionals.
How to Attract Recruiters Without the Green Banner
If you prefer a more strategic approach, there are other ways to make sure the right people find you:
Optimise your profile – Ensure your headline, about section, and experience highlight your key skills and achievements. Recruiters search by keywords, so make sure your profile reflects your expertise.
Engage with industry content – Liking, commenting, and sharing relevant posts increase your visibility. It’s a simple way to get noticed without explicitly stating you’re looking for a new role.
Connect with recruiters directly – Many of the best opportunities come from proactive networking. If you have a target industry or company in mind, reaching out to a specialist recruiter can open doors.
Keep your activity private – If you update your profile, turn off notifications so your connections (including your employer) aren’t alerted to changes.
Final Thoughts
A well-structured profile, smart networking, and direct outreach are far more effective than relying on the "Open to Work" banner. If you’re exploring new opportunities but want to keep it confidential, we can help.
Looking for advice on your job search? Our team is here to support professionals across retail, hospitality, and the charity sector. Get in touch or visit c2recruitment.com/users/register/new/registration to register with us.