LinkedIn Open to Work: Complete Guide to Enable, Remove & Settings
Learn how to enable or remove Open to Work on LinkedIn. Step-by-step guide covering visibility settings, green badge, and best practices for job seekers.
LinkedIn's Open to Work feature signals to recruiters and your network that you're actively seeking new opportunities. According to CNBC, over 220 million people currently have Open to Work enabled—a 35% increase from the previous year. Here's everything you need to know about enabling, managing, and removing this feature.
Key Takeaways
- Open to Work doubles recruiter messages according to LinkedIn's internal data
- Two visibility options: Recruiters Only (private) or All LinkedIn Members (public green badge)
- The green badge increases InMails by 40% but may signal desperation to some hiring managers
- Easy to remove: Takes less than 2 minutes through your profile settings
What is Open to Work on LinkedIn?
Open to Work is a LinkedIn feature launched in 2020 that lets you indicate you're actively seeking new job opportunities. When enabled, it helps recruiters find you more easily through LinkedIn's search filters.
The feature has two components:
- Job preferences: Your desired job titles, locations, start date, and employment types
- Visual indicator: Either a private signal to recruiters or a public green "#OpenToWork" photo frame
According to LinkedIn, members who enable Open to Work are:
- 2x more likely to receive recruiter InMails
- 86% more likely to apply to jobs they view
How to Enable Open to Work on LinkedIn (Desktop)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Go to your LinkedIn profile by clicking your profile photo in the top navigation
- Click "Open to" button below your headline (in your intro section)
- Select "Finding a new job" from the dropdown options
- Fill in your job preferences:
- Add up to 5 job titles you're interested in
- Select your preferred locations (can include "Remote")
- Choose start date (Immediately, In 1 month, In 3 months, etc.)
- Select employment types (Full-time, Part-time, Contract, etc.)
- Choose your visibility setting:
- Recruiters only: Private signal visible only to recruiters using LinkedIn Recruiter
- All LinkedIn members: Public green badge visible to everyone
- Click "Add to profile" to save
Alternative Method via Jobs Tab
- Click "Jobs" in the top navigation bar
- Select "Preferences" from the left sidebar
- Click "Open to Work"
- Complete your preferences and click "Save"
How to Enable Open to Work on LinkedIn (Mobile App)
On iOS or Android:
- Open the LinkedIn app and tap your profile photo (top-left)
- Tap "View Profile"
- Scroll to find "Open to" section or tap the "+" button
- Select "Finding a new job"
- Complete your job preferences
- Choose visibility (Recruiters only or All members)
- Tap "Save" to confirm
How to Remove Open to Work on LinkedIn
Desktop Steps
- Navigate to your LinkedIn profile
- Find the "Open to work" section on your profile (below your intro)
- Click the pencil icon (edit button) in that section
- Scroll down in the editing window
- Click "Delete from profile" at the bottom
- Confirm deletion when prompted
- Refresh your profile to verify removal
Mobile App Steps
- Open the LinkedIn app
- Go to your profile
- Find "Open to work" section
- Tap the pencil icon to edit
- Scroll to bottom and tap "Delete from profile"
- Confirm deletion
Remove Just the Green Photo Badge
If you want to keep signaling to recruiters but remove the public green badge:
- Go to your profile and click on your profile photo
- Click "Frames" (desktop) or "Edit Frame" (mobile)
- Select your original photo without the Open to Work frame
- Save changes
Alternatively, edit your Open to Work preferences and switch visibility from "All LinkedIn members" to "Recruiters only."
Visibility Settings: Recruiters Only vs. All Members
| Setting | Who Sees It | Visual Indicator | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recruiters Only | Only recruiters with LinkedIn Recruiter license | None (private signal) | Currently employed, confidential searches |
| All LinkedIn Members | Everyone on LinkedIn | Green #OpenToWork photo frame | Actively unemployed, networking openly |
Recruiters Only (Private)
According to Coursera, choosing "Recruiters only":
- Makes your status visible only to people using LinkedIn Recruiter (premium accounts)
- LinkedIn attempts to hide your status from recruiters at your current company
- No visual indicator appears on your profile
- Ideal for discreet job searching while employed
Important caveat: According to Job Stars, LinkedIn's current-company blocking isn't 100% accurate. Company mappings can be imperfect, and recruiters change organizations.
All LinkedIn Members (Public)
Choosing this option:
- Displays the green "#OpenToWork" photo frame on your profile picture
- Visible to everyone including colleagues and your current employer
- According to LinkedIn data, increases InMails by 40%
- Best for those openly job searching or recently laid off
Pros and Cons of Open to Work
Advantages
According to Huntr's research:
- 2x more recruiter messages: LinkedIn confirms this statistic
- 40% more InMails with public badge: The green frame increases visibility
- Easier discovery: Recruiters can filter specifically for Open to Work candidates
- Network support: Research shows 85% of job seekers who post about their search receive network support
Disadvantages
Some hiring professionals express concerns:
- Perception of desperation: According to CNBC, former Google recruiter Nolan Church calls the green badge "the biggest red flag on LinkedIn"
- Current employer discovery: Even with "Recruiters only," there's no guarantee your company won't find out
- Auto-deactivation: LinkedIn may automatically turn off Open to Work if you're inactive or don't respond to recruiters
Best Practices for Open to Work
Optimize Your Job Preferences
According to The Interview Guys:
- Use specific job titles: "Digital Marketing Manager" beats generic "Manager"
- Add 3-5 related titles: Don't limit yourself to one perfect role
- Include realistic locations: Add "Remote" if you're flexible
- Update regularly: Keep preferences current to avoid auto-deactivation
When to Use the Public Badge
The green badge works best when:
- You're openly unemployed and networking
- You're a recent graduate entering the job market
- You've been publicly laid off
- You're in an industry where job searching is normalized
When to Stay Private
Choose "Recruiters only" when:
- You're currently employed and searching discreetly
- Your company culture penalizes job searching
- You want to test the waters before committing
- You're in a senior role where discretion matters
Open to Work Statistics
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| People with Open to Work enabled | 220 million+ | CNBC |
| Increase in recruiter messages | 2x | |
| InMail increase with public badge | 40% | |
| Recruiters using LinkedIn for hiring | 72% | FinancesOnline |
| Jobs applied per minute on LinkedIn | 9,000+ | Cognism |
| People hired per minute on LinkedIn | 7 | Cognism |
The Inbound Alternative: Attracting Opportunities Without the Badge
While Open to Work is useful for active job seekers, there's a more strategic approach: building authority that makes opportunities come to you.
When you build your LinkedIn presence through:
...recruiters and hiring managers reach out because of your demonstrated expertise, not just because you flagged availability.
How ConnectSafely.ai Supports Career Growth
ConnectSafely.ai helps professionals build the kind of LinkedIn presence that attracts opportunities naturally:
- Strategic engagement puts you in front of decision-makers
- Authority building makes your profile stand out to recruiters
- Consistent visibility keeps you top-of-mind without desperation signals
- Inbound approach attracts higher-quality opportunities
Rather than signaling you need a job, you become someone companies want to pursue.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I remove Open to Work on LinkedIn?
Go to your LinkedIn profile, find the "Open to work" section, click the pencil icon to edit, scroll to the bottom, and click "Delete from profile." Confirm the deletion when prompted. The process takes less than 2 minutes.
Can my current employer see my Open to Work status?
If you select "Recruiters only," LinkedIn attempts to hide your status from recruiters at your current company. However, this protection isn't 100% guaranteed due to imperfect company mappings and recruiter movement between organizations.
What's the difference between the green badge and Recruiters Only?
The green #OpenToWork photo frame (All LinkedIn Members) is visible to everyone on LinkedIn. "Recruiters only" is a private signal that only appears to people using LinkedIn Recruiter's premium tools—no visual indicator shows on your profile.
Does Open to Work really help find jobs?
Yes, according to LinkedIn data. Members with Open to Work enabled receive 2x more recruiter messages. Those with the public green badge receive 40% more InMails. However, some recruiters view the public badge negatively.
Will LinkedIn automatically turn off my Open to Work?
Yes, LinkedIn may automatically deactivate Open to Work if you appear inactive—such as not responding to recruiter InMails for several months or being generally inactive on the platform. Check your settings periodically to ensure it's still enabled.
Should I use Open to Work if I'm currently employed?
If you're employed and searching, use the "Recruiters only" option for privacy. While not foolproof, it significantly reduces the chance of your current employer discovering your job search.
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