#OpenToWork: Let's Get Real
Melanie Mitchell Wexler
Career Coach - Empowering Mid to Executive-Level Professionals to Achieve Purpose-Driven Career Transitions | Resume, LinkedIn™, Job Search & Interview Specialist | Former Recruiter
Yes, this topic has once again reared its ugly head and we are continuing to debate about LinkedIn's green #OpenToWork banner. Now, it has gone even further—people are creating "#Desperate" banners in an attempt to get noticed faster. A former client reached out to me last night to ask my thoughts, and I want to share those here.
First, let me say: I understand what it feels like to be desperate. I've been there. Back in 2017 and 2018, I faced some of the toughest years of my career. I was desperate, and I know I didn’t show up as my best self in interviews. I spent 20 years recruiting and couldn't possibly tell you the number of interviews I have conducted, but I have sat across from candidates and felt their desperation too.
But here's the thing: Feeling desperate and amplifying that feeling doesn’t help anyone.
Branding yourself as desperate isn't a solution—it's a reaction.
The green banner is simply a banner. Somewhere along the way, people attached an emotional stigma to it, making job seekers feel "less than." But the truth is, there is evidence that it works.
It helps increase visibility to recruiters and signals your openness to opportunities.
These points suggest that using the #OpenToWork banner can make a difference in terms of recruiter and network engagement.
Whether or not you use it should be your decision—there is no universal answer, no one-size-fits-all.
What bothers me the most is the way we’ve moved from providing practical support to job seekers to making them feel ashamed for using tools that could help. In today's job market, we have to use all the tools we have available to us.
Instead of focusing on facts and actionable advice, we’re telling people that using the green banner means they’ve hit rock bottom. Trust me, they already feel that way. They don’t need more reminders.
The fact is, many job seekers using the green banner are actively posting, engaging, building their networks, and optimizing their profiles. They’re doing everything they can to land a job. The banner doesn't mean they're not capable, it means they're taking action.
To use the #OpenToWork banner or not is a personal choice. What I hope is that we can all move away from attaching shame to this decision and, instead, support each other with real, practical advice. Let’s focus on what matters—helping people find their next opportunity, not judging them for how they go about it.
What are your thoughts? Have you used the #OpenToWork banner? Has it helped, or do you feel there’s stigma attached?
Let’s discuss and support each other in the right way.
❤️ Melanie
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Salesforce Administrator-Customer Service-Call Center Management-Customer Experience Development
2moI've found that using the banner has given me support from my colleagues and overall a very positive experience! When they see the banner they proactively reach out to say hi and keep spirits high.
Billing & Accounts Receivable Specialist | Problem Solver | DEIB Advocate
2moGreat post Melanie. I myself was confused - to use or not to use the green banner. But I finally decided to use it, coz it sends the message across to the recruiters that I am actively looking for suitable opportunities. And that is the truth. So why shouldn't I use it? Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. I fully agree with you that the shame and stigma associated with it should be removed.
Medicaid Reporting & Data Analyst, Medicaid Business Intelligence (remote)
2moI've seen a person this week with the #Desperate pink scarf. She posted about it with a graphic design background and it went viral. I posed that #EagerToWork may have put a more positive spin on it, but I gave her kudos for going viral in a way that showed off her graphic design skills. I agree that the #OpenToWork green scarf shouldn't be taken as a negative. I've discussed why many times. Long story short, I agree with you about it.
Empowering Transformative Healthcare Solutions for Underserved Populations Through Strategy, Planning, & Policy Leadership | Population Health Transfofrmation | Health Equity | Ability Empowerment
2moWell stated, Melanie. We need to be positive and stay strong during the good and not-so-good times in our careers. The reality is that everyone can be #OpenToWork at any given point in their career journey. I have had a very exciting career, yet not without its challenges. We all have to keep moving, #KeepingAnOpenMind to any and all possibilities.