Your LinkedIn profile is often the first thing recruiters and hiring managers see. After a layoff, updating it strategically can make the difference between getting interviews or getting overlooked.

Should You Announce Your Layoff?

This is a personal choice, but publicly sharing often works in your favor:

Pros of Announcing:

• Activates your network
• Generates referrals and leads
• Shows transparency and confidence
• Can go viral and reach recruiters

Cons of Announcing:

• Some may perceive it as weakness (rarely)
• Privacy concerns
• May feel uncomfortable

How to Update Your Profile

Headline

Don't write "Looking for opportunities" - it's passive. Instead, lead with your value:

• "Senior Product Manager | Building 0-to-1 Products | Open to New Opportunities"
• "Full Stack Engineer | React & Node Expert | Available for New Challenges"

Current Position

You have a few options:

1. Add end date to your last role - Simple and clear
2. Create a "Career Transition" entry - Shows you're actively developing
3. Use "Seeking New Role at [Target Company Type]" - More proactive

About Section

Update to reflect your job search. Start with your value proposition, not your unemployment status:

"Product manager with 8 years of experience launching B2B SaaS products. Most recently led the [Product] team at [Company], growing ARR by 40% in 18 months. Currently exploring senior PM roles in the fintech or healthtech space. Open to remote or NYC-based opportunities."

Open to Work Feature

Turn on "Open to Work" in your settings. You can choose:

• Visible to all (green banner on photo)
• Visible only to recruiters (more private)

The Announcement Post

If you decide to post about your layoff, here's a template:

Earlier this week, I was part of the layoff at [Company]. After [X years] there, I'm incredibly proud of what we built together.

Now I'm excited to find my next challenge. I'm looking for [specific role type] roles where I can [specific value you bring].

If you know of anything or just want to connect, I'd love to hear from you. And to my fellow colleagues affected - my inbox is open.

#OpenToWork #[YourField]

Networking After Posting

After your announcement:

• Respond to every comment and message
• Connect with recruiters who engage
• Thank people publicly for sharing
• Follow up privately with warm leads