How to promote you're looking for a new job without losing your current one?

37 Comments

1. Tomilyn RichardsFebruary 1,2022 at 1:57PM UTC

   Definitely a tough one. I personally wouldn't advertise it but would keep to the route you are on... networking, messaging, applying and working with Recruiters that can keep things confidential.

2. AnonymousFebruary 1,2022 at 9:57PM UTC

   Tomilyn and Anonymous, Thank you and that's my plan but it's yielded little-no success.
   I recognize that my LinkedIn profile doesn't match my applications. I have the required experience but LinkedIn is structured to reflect my current position.

   I make connections and then after they review my LinkedIn profile, I don't hear anything back. It's an issue but I don't know how to fix. I'm contacted by recruiters for advancement in my current field. I don't want to stay in this industry even if there was advancement opportunities.

   I've updated my open to work section and tried tailoring my LinkedIn as much as possible without raising any flags. I think the only way recruiters or hiring managers would take my applications seriously is if I restructured my profile to highlight for the position I want rather than what I have. I know that would cause problems so I'm reluctant but almost ready to make those changes.

3. Tomilyn RichardsFebruary 2,2022 at 12:15PM UTC

   I have coached many in this category... make sure your resume and profile not only reflect what you HAVE done but draws lines to what you WANT to do. I think you can do that without raising flags. Feel free to review my LinkedIn profile. In the summary/about field you can tell a little bit of a story. Focus on the work you love doing, highlight the skills and abilities in your work history that would draw a line to the NEW work you are seeking... does that make sense?

4. AnonymousFebruary 2,2022 at 8:03PM UTC

   Thank you and I'll check out your LinkedIn profile. I appreciate your advice as I might be focusing too much on what I've done rather than want to achieve.

5. Sabrina CortesFebruary 3,2022 at 3:55PM UTC

   Yes, your profile should tell a story of your expertise and snippets of your life. It is social media. :))

   You can also turn off your visibility so that your network isn't notified of any updates you make to your profile. You'll want to goto your privacy settings --

   ~~ You might want to change who can see your connections, especially since you're connecting with other recruiters and hiring managers.

   ~~ Then, under Visibility of Your LinkedIn Activity you'll scroll down and see "Share Profile Updates with Your Network". Make sure this is turned off.

   I tried to take screenshots and paste them here, but it wouldn't let me.

   Feel free to take a look at my LinkedIn. It's

   https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinacortes-writewithsabrina/.

6. Stacey McMathFebruary 4,2022 at 1:57PM UTC

   I am doing the same - it has taken me six months of refining, conversations, and advice from friends but I feel that my LinkedIn now aligns with what I want to do next. I agree that it is all about storytelling.

7. Jennifer TaylorFebruary 4,2022 at 2:29PM UTC

   You can manually change your LI profile to add in the positions you are wanting to be considered for. Take a look at my LI profile. I'm currently a contractor as a Communications Specialist, but my LI header reads, " Communications Professional | Communications Manager | Internal Communications | Content Creation | Marketing | Writer | Storyteller" Google how to change your profile on LI to maximize your job search and you'll find all sorts of helpful tips.

8. AnonymousFebruary 4,2022 at 7:41PM UTC

   Thank you, Jennifer. Great tips!

9. AndreaFebruary 4,2022 at 4:10PM UTC

   Hola! Let us know what industry and what kind or roles you're looking for. Maybe someone who can help is reading your post now... have you tried removing your current role/title in LinkedIn? I believe you can. Good luck on your search, keep a positive mindset, think in what you want instead of what you don't want... It has worked for me, maybe it'll work for you.

10. AnonymousFebruary 4,2022 at 7:46PM UTC

    Thank you, Andrea.
    My goal is to move into a Director or VP of Marketing position. I've been promoted twice since joining the company but I'm looing outside its industry. I don't want to remove it but at the same time, I want to focus on my overall background. Love the positivity and appreciated your advice!

11. AnonymousFebruary 1,2022 at 6:45PM UTC

    I would update subtly update your LinkedIn profile to include what you're interested in, and then make sure you Open to Work is turned on (which should exclude your current company's recruiters). The daily job alerts are super helpful as a lot of them indicate location and hiring manager. Good luck!

12. AnonymousFebruary 4,2022 at 1:40PM UTC

    Have you considered joining your school’s LinkedIn groups for alumni?

    Many of them are private and monitored by the alumni relations or career services teams, and often they ask people to keep conversations confidential. Good luck with your search! You are blazing a trail for job searchers in similar situations. You got this!!

13. AnonymousFebruary 4,2022 at 7:48PM UTC

    Great idea, Anonymous! I didn't consider alumni relations. Appreciate your best wishes and I'm feeling motivated to work on my connections and LinkedIn this evening.

14. Rachel (Cinnamon) McGarryFebruary 4,2022 at 9:03PM UTC

    I am so happy that was helpful! I try to stay involved with my alumni communities, and they are always so helpful. At the least, they remind me about my capabilities and energize me to keep going. You are going to do so great!!

15. Jennifer ZiolkowskiFebruary 4,2022 at 1:41PM UTC

    I would look outside of LinkedIn. As frustrating as it is, I've had a lot of luck in professional groups on Facebook.

    Yes, there is the possibility that your current HR may be there too, but I always kept my personal Facebook private and as separate from work as I could (including using an abbreviated last name), so hopefully that wouldn't draw as much attention.

    Depending on the industry you're currently in and the one you might transition to, this may not be as helpful, but at least then any new LinkedIn network connections wouldn't be as obvious to your current company's HR.

    And also, would it be so bad if your HR were to discover that you're simply "open to any and all new opportunities that may or may not present itself?"

16. AnonymousFebruary 4,2022 at 7:56PM UTC

    If they know you're looking things get heated at my company. Depending on the department, it can either be a wishing you well or just leave now if you're not happy. I want to avoid the latter.

    I haven't used professional groups on Facebook. I'll look into that avenue. We're required to use our social media accounts at work so I'll need to be careful but it's definitely an opportunity!

17. Jennifer ZiolkowskiFebruary 5,2022 at 8:52PM UTC

    If social media privacy really a concern, some networking groups actually refuse to admit HR people to prevent exactly that (they tend to be very locked down, must be recommended by a current member, and require some proof that you are who you say you are). They are out there and they are wonderfully helpful and supportive....if you can find them.

    (If you're looking in advertising, particularly in the Midwest, feel free to PM me and I can help you find some of said groups)

18. AnonymousFebruary 6,2022 at 6:56PM UTC

    Thank you, Jennifer. If you have any suggestions regarding Chicago, I would appreciate it. I would like to find a role in Chicago, NYC or San Francisco.

19. Amelia JFebruary 4,2022 at 3:06PM UTC

    Set your Linkedin settings where you're open to hiring opportunities. Always be closing !

20. AnonymousFebruary 4,2022 at 10:23PM UTC

    Amelia, I don't have that on my profile page but I have checked off open to hiring opportunities, type of roles and locations.

21. AnonymousFebruary 4,2022 at 3:15PM UTC

    My linkedin summary says something to the effect, "Open to opportunities in the field of ______" and I've been with my current employer 3 years. Including part of a Beta group to test their LinkedIn messaging hahaha!

22. Aurora MeyerFebruary 4,2022 at 3:31PM UTC

    Have you revisited your summary? Alerted your contact that you're looking? You can use the templates here if you're stuck: https://aurorameyer.com/2021/05/26/how-to-ask-your-network-for-help-templates-included/

23. AnonymousFebruary 4,2022 at 10:25PM UTC

    Thank you, Aurora. Great reference site!

24. Sarah LarsonFebruary 4,2022 at 4:01PM UTC

    Is it possible to position your current work closer to what you’re looking for? Your positions and position descriptions come up in recruiter searches. As does your headline.

    if you edit those a bit it should help.

    Likewise, are you posting on LinkedIn and connecting with people in your target field?

    The more connections, the bigger the network, the higher the chance of someone finding you for a role or you finding a posting that tickles your fancy.

    mall the information in these comments are valuable, take what works for you and good luck!

25. AnonymousFebruary 4,2022 at 10:36PM UTC

    Sarah, That's part of my problem. I don't think I'm showing up in the right searches. I have almost 1K connections and keeping adding to them to grow my network. In addition, I'm trying to add people in my desired industry and hashtags from my desired sector.

    My current field couldn't be more different than my previous and desired industry. While my role in the company is a creative position it's overshadowed by my company. I can imagine what recruiters or hiring managers think when they review the last few years.

    Wrong industry and location so why would I be the right fit? I'll work on the summary but I can't change the positions? I don't know how to overcome that obstacle to be show up in relevant searches.

26. AnonymousFebruary 4,2022 at 4:07PM UTC

    Great comments from everyone. I'm curious about everyones thoughts on the location setting on LinkedIn on your profile? Should you place remote? That leaves it open perhaps to other locations of interest?

27. AnonymousFebruary 4,2022 at 4:09PM UTC

    There is a book called Switchers by Dawn Graham which details ways to switch careers, updating profiles, along with ways of communicating with your network. I found it a great resource when I went through a similar change a year ago.

    https://www.google.com/books/edition/Switchers/eA9fDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0

28. AnonymousFebruary 4,2022 at 5:57PM UTC

    That is a great book! I highly recommend it, also.

29. AnonymousFebruary 4,2022 at 10:38PM UTC

    Thank you, Anonymous! I'll check out Graham's book.

30. Joanna PoeFebruary 4,2022 at 4:53PM UTC

    I'm not sure that you need to worry about people in your current company knowing that you're looking for a change, especially since you're looking for totally different locations and industries. It's not like you're trying to leave for a competitor.

    A company culture that values loyalty is one thing, but keeping people who literally want to move to a different location from being able to seek it openly is just toxic.

    Honestly, if you change your status on LinkedIn, what are they going to do? Fire you?

31. AnonymousFebruary 4,2022 at 10:42PM UTC

    Joanna,

    It's been a problem for past employees. That's why I'm trying to be careful. I'm connected to a lot of colleagues and the wrong comment to our senior team would be problematic. It's one thing if I already secured a new position but not when I'm starting the process. They can't fire you for looking but can make it a toxic workplace.

32. Joanna PoeFebruary 7,2022 at 10:02PM UTC

    That's unfortunate; I'm sorry you're facing that situation, and frankly, any office that's not open to employees growing by leaving isn't one you should stay in anyhow, and -to my mind- already qualifies as a toxic workplace.

    If LinkedIn is really that challenging, I'd switch to Indeed. It's actually where I got 3 of my last 4 positions. It doesn't have that networking aspect, which can be a letdown, but it is easier to stay under the radar.

33. AnonymousFebruary 7,2022 at 11:02PM UTC

    Thank you, Joanna. I haven't used Indeed in a long time. That might be the best option as I don't have to worry about HR. Sadly, it is a problem that I face so I need to cognizant of that department.

    That being said, I'm excited to explore Indeed again. I appreciate your help!

34. Vanda LeeFebruary 4,2022 at 6:54PM UTC

    I wouldn't worry too much about HR scrolling on LI and seeing your activity... everyone has the right to look at opportunities and many do all the time ... even when they are not actively looking for a change. It's also a professional connection arena as well. If by chance you are asked or questioned, I would just say something like " I , like many others like to stay connected and see what's out there". Just leave it at that and don't worry about "what they might think" ... it's actually not their business. If they were good HR folks and they thought you were looking to leave, they would be working on retention.

35. AnonymousFebruary 4,2022 at 10:44PM UTC

    Thank you Vanda. I appreciate your advice. From everyone's comments, I need to do what's best for me and not worry about my employer. In terms of HR, part of the problem is that we have a small department and I've reach the highest level I can achieve in my division. I'm ready for a new role and would relocate for the opportunity.

36. AnonymousFebruary 4,2022 at 10:21PM UTC

    Maryann, I reach out to my new connections and when I provide that pitch, I don't hear back from them. It sounds like I need to change my profile. I'll do so over the weekend when there's less work attention.

    When I joined the company, HR connected with my account. That's why I'm more cognizant of my updates and profile.

    Switching out the language is definitely something I can update and I'll start devising new verbiage. My confusion is how much to include under each position. Some people suggest a short summary while others, bullet points. I appreciated your advice!

37. Rosa GoesFebruary 10,2022 at 4:14AM UTC

    LinkedIn is a networking community. Like others have said, you will be fine connecting with other people. It's none of your employer's business what you do unless you are posting and misrepresenting the company in any way. I recommend sticking with a recruiter, especially if your open to relocating. They are invaluable when it comes to those types of situations. Good luck to you!