New LinkedIn Feature: Open Candidate
Sometimes subtle messages are more effective. LinkedIn has launched a new feature, Open Candidates. It enables you to privately signal recruiters that you are “open” to receiving messages about potential career opportunities. Open Candidates is currently available in the U.S, U.K., Canada, and Australia. This tool increases your chances with connecting with recruiters who are actively using LinkedIn to find candidates like you.
How It Works:
You can access Open Candidates from the “Preferences” tab on the LinkedIn Jobs home page. To activate the Open Candidates feature, click “On” and complete the fields asking for the types of employers and roles that you are targeting. You can hide the Open Candidates signal from recruiters at your company or affiliated company recruiters.
Why Open Candidates Is Effective:
Some candidates, particularly unemployed candidates, will write a headline to indicate they are seeking a job. This type of overt message is not usually effective because it takes space in the headline or summary that could be used for valuable keywords. Secondly, it is not targeted and has a sense of desperation. The stealthy Open Candidates feature allows you to be discreet. It signals that you are open to a message, but not desperately seeking a job.
Other Valuable Features:
You may be proactively and fervently searching for a job. Alternatively, you may be persuaded to make a move if the right opportunity arises. In either scenario, there are two more functions worth exploring on LinkedIn.
Search LinkedIn’s millions of job postings.
Learn about a company by accessing “Career Pages” and “Meet the Team.”
Through LinkedIn you can be found by using the Open Candidates tool. You can find leads by searching postings and researching employers on LinkedIn. However the best way to connect with a target is by writing a compelling profile, rich with keywords and accomplishments relevant to your target career. If you have questions about your LinkedIn profile, write me. I would be happy to answer your questions.
