What is the best practice when it comes to LinkedIn profiles for your current situation?

Jessie D'Amato Ford

February 21,2023 at 2:23PM UTC

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What is the best practice when it comes to LinkedIn profiles for your current situation? If you're no longer with a company, can you leave your profile as is until you find a role? Should you update as soon as you're no longer with the company? I don't want to update my company until I've got a new role for various reasons. Thank you!

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AnonymousFebruary 21,2023 at 3:06PM UTC
First question: What does your resume say if you are not changing your profile?
I would ensure that the resume reflects your current working/non-working status unless you have left in the last week or so.
Second question: Why are you no longer with the company? Being terminated for cause would be the only reason I could see NOT to include it on either the resume or the profile.
I would be cautious about leaving something up there for very long, especially if you have the "looking for work" banner turned on. That is because where I live, it is an environment and culture where "everybody knows somebody" who you either know or work with. Being let go, unless it was for something illegal, is generally explainable, especially if you have references to back you up. Companies are laying off. People get let go daily because they are not a good fit for the job or are burned out. An explanation of I am looking for something that is a better fit for my career goals of ... is generally all that is needed.
Kathryn MontbriandFebruary 21,2023 at 3:23PM UTC
Hi Jessie, if you haven't already done so, you might want to track both resume and linkedin experience by years (vs. year plus month). That doesn't necessarily answer the question about should you show your former employer as 'present' but might help a bit as you build your story.
AnonymousFebruary 21,2023 at 5:26PM UTC
I update my LI profile because I include a link to it on my resume. Before I started including it I was not as diligent, unless I was looking for a job.
AnonymousFebruary 22,2023 at 2:58PM UTC
The advice I've always received is to leave your last role as active OR to create an interim role (e.g. self employed, volunteer work, etc.)
AnonymousFebruary 22,2023 at 5:44PM UTC
As long as your current employer is okay with it and does not flag you leave it as is. Good luck in your search.
AnonymousFebruary 22,2023 at 9:57PM UTC
Jessie, this is from LinkedIn itself: I found it very useful. https://bit.ly/3Irdu3a Good luck to you.