How to Keep your Job Search Secret on LinkedIn

How to Keep your Job Search Secret on LinkedIn How to Keep your Job Search Secret on LinkedIn One of the biggest fears people have about creating or updating their LinkedIn profile is that their employer will see the changes. After all, you dont want your boss to know youre looking for another job until youve found one.The good news is that its perfectly possible to create a strong LinkedIn profile one that attracts recruiter attention without alerting your current employer. Heres how.Change your settingsNavigate to Settings and look for the option Turn on/off your activity broadcasts. Uncheck the box, hit Save changes and youre ready to start editing your profile without anyone knowing.Note that you should change this back once youre done, as these updates are a key way of keeping your name in front of your contacts (which might be important if one of them is looking to hire someone like you in the future).Write a smart headlineLinked In allows you to write a headline that appears right under your name. When a recruiter is searching for candidates, they see this headline first and it determines whether they choose to read the rest of your profile. So of course, you want it to be compelling. But make it too self-promotional, and your boss, should she stumble upon your profile might wonder why you are advertising your qualifications quite so prominently.For example this Highly effective marketing manager with 10 years of experience. Expertise in social media and web marketing definitely sounds like youre looking for a new job.Instead, start with your current title and then add information that would be important for recruiters to know, but in the context of your current work. For example Manager of Digital Marketing for XYZ Corp Oversee social media, web advertising, email campaigns and SEO/SEM across 8 countries.Now your headline reads like a networking headline rather than a self-promotional one. And yet, it will be just as attractive to recruiters or mayb e more so, because they prefer candidates who are currently employed.Keep the hype out of your summary sectionExactly the same principle applies when it comes to writing your summary. You want it to convey that you are successful and content in your current role, so that no one at your current employer gets suspicious and so that recruiters see you as a desirable candidate.Remember, if you changed your settings before you started to write the profile no one will have been alerted about the changes. But that doesnt mean they wont see your profile some time in the future and its better safe than sorry.Start your summary by stating your current situation, for exampleI am the manager of digital marketing for XYZ CorpBe sure to express enjoyment of your workIve been in this job for 3 years and what I most enjoy is Weave in your experience and qualifications as parte of the narrative, rather than as hype.When I was offered the job 3 years ago, it was a natural extension of what I had been doing for the prior few years. While I started my career in traditional marketing (in both companies and agencies) I had begin to develop expertise in the realm of digital marketing. I loved the combination of creativity and technology, and especially I loved the ability to measure and analyze every campaign in a way that just wasnt possible online.Keep this approach in mind throughout the whole summary, writing to describe yourself and provide information rather than to self-promote (all the while, self-promoting like mad of course)Close with something that explains your presence on LinkedInId love to reconnect with old colleagues and Im always open to new connections, so please feel free to send me an invite.Thats itFollow these 3 steps and youll have a profile that attracts recruiters and potential employers without ever letting your current company about your search.If youd like a complete template for writing your LinkedIn profile, download my Blue Sky Guide to LinkedIn. Youll get step-by-step instructions with screenshots for every aspect of the site. Follow the guidelines and you will get headhunted. Thats a promiseartwork by conveniencestoregourmet via Flickr