Episode Notes

On the eighty-sixth entry of the newly-rebranded TAP In with Tristan, our incredible host Tristan Layfield discusses the LinkedIn #OpenToWork profile picture emblem. For those of you who've been with us for a while, you know Tristan provides Tips and Advice for Professionals, so make sure to TAP In with him every week to get your dose of timely career advice!

We all know the interview process can be fraught and full of bias. We’ve teamed up with SurveyMonkey to learn more about your experiences interviewing so we can make the entire process for BIPOC candidates. Share your thoughts: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HLV9V5W And watch this space for the results!

Struggling with your Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) work? Kanarys—a Black-founded company—has your back. Regardless of where you are on your DEI journey, we arm you with the insights you need now to take action now. From audits to assessments to data-informed strategy, we'd love to be the partner you have been looking for. Email [email protected] or learn more at https://www.kanarys.com/employer.

Check out Tristan's website to learn more about him or to book a free consultation. http://bit.ly/31HFzND

Connect with Tristan on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

TRANSCRIPT Tristan: What's going on, Living Corporate? It's Tristan back again but with a new podcast name The TAP In with Tristan. For those of you who've been with me for a while, you know I provide Tips and Advice for Professionals, so make sure to tap in with me each week to get your dose of timely career advice. Today, let's talk about the LinkedIn #OpenToWork profile picture emblem.

Lately, I've been getting quite a few questions about my thoughts on the LinkedIn #OpenToWork emblem, so I figured I would share them here. For those of you that don't know, LinkedIn now allows job seekers to put a green emblem on their profile picture that notifies everyone on the platform that they are looking for a job.

Before I get into my thoughts, let's talk about the logic behind why people use the emblem. Right now, we are in unprecedented times. Many people have lost their jobs and are trying whatever method they can to get employed again. Job seekers who utilize the emblem do so in hopes that others will connect them to opportunities.

Personally, I'm not a fan of it at all, and after talking to a few recruiters and hiring managers, I'd suggest you not utilize the emblem. Here's why:

It comes off as desperate and gives no one wants to hire me vibes. Studies tell us that companies prefer what are called passive candidates, meaning people who are already employed. The banner calls attention to the fact that you aren't currently employed and can easily backfire based on that same research. There are more tactful and strategic ways to express that you are seeking employment that will yield much better results than putting a banner on your LinkedIn profile photo or even putting it in your headline.

Now, I'm not saying that you can't find a role using the feature, but the question is if you will land the role you want at the companies you want to work for. If you're adamant about using the feature, I suggest choosing the option that only allows those who have recruiter profiles on LinkedIn to see you are looking and not the whole platform.

Thanks for tapping in with me this week. Talk to you next week, same time, same place.

This tip was brought to you by Tristan of Layfield Resume Consulting. Check us out on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @LayfieldResume or connect with me, Tristan Layfield, on LinkedIn.

Find out more at https://living-corporate.pinecast.co