![Be Careful With LinkedIn In A Confidential Job Search](https://www.workitdaily.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=19295346&width=980&quality=85)
I recently got this e-mail from a contact not wanting to alert her current employer to her job search. It is very wise that she thought of this before connecting with me. Here’s the message:
Hi Kristin, Some employees of my company are on my LinkedIn including the owner and the controller. How do I connect with you without the announcement going out that I am now connected to career coaching? Thanks, JaneIf you are conducting a confidential search, you probably don’t want your employer to know you are looking elsewhere yet. Making new connections, when you haven’t been previously, could alert your employer to your impending departure before you’re ready. Especially if that connection is a career coach or resume writer. How to prevent this? 10 easy steps. Follow these instructions to adjust your settings:
- Click on your name in the upper right-hand corner of the screen next to the search box.
- Pull down to "Settings.”
- Enter your password.
- Look in the middle of the screen, under "Privacy Controls."
- Click on "Turn on/off your activity broadcasts."
- Un-check the box that says "Let people know when you change your profile, make recommendations, or follow companies." Save changes.
- Click on "Select Who Can See Your Activity Feed."
- Find "Your activity feed displays actions you've performed on LinkedIn.”
- Select who can see your activity feed. Set to "Only You."
- Save changes.
- Don’t post that you are in a job search in your status updates or on your profile.
- Don’t check the box that you are open to career opportunities.
- Don’t post in Groups or Answers that you are looking for a new job.
- Make sure your profile is complete, well-branded, and appealing to employers you’d like to target for future career opportunities.
- Post content that is relevant to your field, your company, or that you’ve contributed to in order to showcase your expertise.
- Contribute to Groups and Answers, generously giving knowledge back to your LinkedIn community.