How To Get a Direct, Secret Line to Executive Recruiters on LinkedIn

LinkedIn’s Open Candidates feature allows you to share the specifics of your career goals – types of companies, roles you’re seeking, etc. – with executive recruiters who may be able to help you meet those goals.

LinkedIn explains Open Candidates in the Help pages:

“Once you opt to share your career goals with recruiters, users of LinkedIn’s Recruiter product will be able to find you based on your shared career interests when they are searching for profiles.”

Sounds like a great way to put yourself front and center with recruiters in your niche.

But wait . . .

Once you open the Open Candidates page on your profile, LinkedIn says:

“We take steps to not show your current company that you’re open, but can’t guarantee that we can identify every recruiter affiliated with your company.”

Sounds like this feature is not a wise choice for those job-hunting undercover. If you can’t risk anyone finding out that you’re job hunting, maybe you should steer clear of this one.

But, if you’re among the minority of executive job seekers who can be wide open about your search, Open Candidates may make sense . . . and may boost your chances of connecting with the right recruiters.

In a Mashable article, Dan Shapero, director of product management for LinkedIn Careers, says early testing has shown that:

“So-called ‘open candidates’ are more likely to be contacted by recruiters and recruiters are more likely to hear back from them.”

With LinkedIn’s new 2016/2017 User Interface, access Open Candidates by clicking on “Jobs” in the menu at the top of your profile. Look for the “Update preferences” link.

Executive Job Search and Personal Branding Help

Need help with personal branding, your LinkedIn profile, resume and biography, and getting your executive job search on track . . . to land a great-fit new gig?

Take a look at the services I offer, how my process works and what differentiates my value-offer . . . then get in touch with me and we’ll get the ball rolling.