Why “Open to Work” Posts on LinkedIn Are Ineffective and What to Do Instead
Recently I spoke with CNBC about a LinkedIn trend that is happening more these days.
A reporter reached out to me because he wanted to understand the effectiveness of "Open to Work" posts that he was seeing more job seekers post lately. Most of which are identical.
You know the type of post where people say something to the effect of:
"I'm now open to work and looking for Ops, Project Manager, or Customer Success roles. If you know of anything please let me know."
They are often longer than that but this is the essential message.
I wanted to address it here in case it's helpful for you. The short answer is these are not effective for the majority of job seekers on LinkedIn.
Here's why...
Your “Open to Work” Posts on LinkedIn Are Not as Effective as You Think
LinkedIn is a powerhouse platform for job seekers, no doubt about it.
But this rising trend of people posting public “I’m open to work” messages, asking their connections to send leads or opportunities their way, is doing the opposite of what everyone thinks.
Here’s the truth: these posts are only useful if you already have a strong, engaged LinkedIn network.
If you are an influencer, then cool go for it. A post like that will likely be helpful as you job search.
But most of us are not influencers, in fact, most people only log into LinkedIn when it comes time to job search.
If you are guilty of this just know that your network is more passive, and an “open to work” post may not generate the response you expect. It can even backfire.
Why? These posts unintentionally give off a sense of desperation.
Projecting desperation is not the vibe you want to give off while job searching.
You want to aim for a signal of scarcity and that you won't be on the market very long.
People are naturally drawn to confidence and scarcity, not abundance and need.
When you signal that you're in high demand and valuable, people are more interested in helping or hiring you.
It's similar to the human psychology effect of people wanting things they can't have.
If you're not as available or won't be available for long, people are attracted to that.
Many job seekers think "it can't hurt" to make a post like that...but it can, unfortunately.
It can hurt your brand more than it helps.
_______
Pro Tip: Build your network and brand on LinkedIn before you need it.
_______
What Works Better: Direct, Targeted Outreach
Instead of broadcasting your job search to your entire LinkedIn network, take a more personal, targeted approach.
It's helpful to let people know you are job searching so they can refer you to opportunities, but tell them in their DMs.
This is the approach I teach my clients and for most of them, it speeds up their job search results by 8x or more.
Here are other effective actions you can take on LinkedIn:
DM Over Posts: Instead of making a public plea, send direct messages to specific people who can help. A thoughtful, well-crafted message asking for an introduction will almost always yield better results than a generic post. Personalized outreach feels intentional and genuine and will likely make people take action.
Engage Consistently: Engage more on the platform and ideally build a personal brand. Comment on posts, share insights and engage with your network often so that you’re already top of mind when opportunities arise. Networking is a long game, and building relationships is the key to landing opportunities.
Be Specific in Your Ask: When you do reach out to people, be clear and specific about what you’re looking for. Are you seeking introductions to people at a certain company? Are you open to contract work or full-time positions? The more tailored your message, the more likely someone will know how to help.
TL;DR
Job searching is about relationships, not broadcasting your availability to the world.
It’s not bad to let people know you’re looking for your next opportunity— the more people who know, the better. But your approach matters.
________
Side note: The green banner is also not helping, I would suggest only turning on the open to work tab for recruiters to see on the backend.
________
Remember, LinkedIn is a powerful tool when used intentionally.
Focus on fostering relationships, building your brand for visibility, and being strategic about your outreach. That’s how you unlock the full potential of the platform.
Whenever you're ready, here are more ways to connect:
Learn all the job search strategies I teach clients in this workbook.
Apply for 1:1 coaching to see if there's a fit for us to work together.
