When Should You Update Your LinkedIn Profile with a New Job?

Job transitions can be tricky and exciting. Living in these digital times, our reaction to getting a new job is to get excited and instantly give the update to everyone on all our social media handles and especially our LinkedIn.

Last update:
01/01/2024
When Should You Update Your LinkedIn Profile with a New Job?

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We understand this isn't the easiest as your LinkedIn profile is essentially your digital resume and that you need to keep it updated to stay relevant in the job market.

However, it is recommended to show restraint and update your LinkedIn profile the right way and at the right time. In this day and age, LinkedIn is not just a professional networking platform, it is a reflection of your professional identity and personal brand. It is important to always conduct yourself with absolute professionalism and class. Hence, it is important to make a nuanced job transition update on your LinkedIn profile. Keeping all this in mind, let's determine the correct time to update your LinkedIn and share the good news with your entire professional network.

We understand that getting a job offer and the prospect of new opportunities is thrilling, and we relate to the feeling of wanting to update your LinkedIn network immediately. However, we recommend waiting a minimum of two weeks before you update your LinkedIn profile. A lot can change from the first moment of the initial excitement to when you actually start your new job with a new job title. The first few weeks is when you will get a clear understanding of your new position, job duties and responsibilities. Let's take a look at some of the reasons that warrant the wait to update your LinkedIn profile.

when to update linkedin with new job

Why Wait to Update Your LinkedIn Profile?

You might be wondering what is the harm in notifying your network about your new job right away. But, there are multiple factors to take into consideration before you decide to immediately update your LinkedIn profile. Go through these factors and then take a well-informed decision to arrive at your own timeline of updating your LinkedIn profile.

You are Unsure of Your Role in The New Company

To authentically be able to update your Linkedin profile, you will need complete comprehension of what your new job entails. It takes time to settle into your new role, and the initial period goes in getting all your queries answered so that you can effectively start working. So it is advisable to take it all in and once you have a proper understanding of your new position, you can proceed with updating your LinkedIn profile.

There's a Chance Your New Job Won't Work Out

It is important to acknowledge that there could be any number of reasons where your new job doesn't pan out. Your current employer could retract the offer or you could be on a probationary period. Probation period allows the company to monitor and review your performance for the first few weeks/months to determine if you are a good fit for the job. If they consider you the wrong fit, they can terminate your employment at their discretion. So, your new job update can wait till you have settled into a more permanent role with the new company.

You May Not Like the New Company Culture

In your probationary period, you are also expected to evaluate your new company and see if they are the right fit for you. You might decide to quit after the initial few weeks realising you don't align with company culture. You could come to the conclusion that this new role isn't for you and in that case you will be happy you waited to update your Linkedin network.

Out of Consideration for Your Previous Employer

Say you like the company and it is an ideal new role for you and everything is going well. It is still good to not flaunt your new role without having acknowledged your former job. As and when you decide to update your profile, ensure that you thank your former employer and start the new chapter on a positive note.

when to update linkedin with new job

How to Announce Your New Job on LinkedIn

Once the waiting period is done, all you need to do is work towards the perfect way to break the good news to your entire LinkedIn network. These are the steps you will need to take before you make your new job official on LinkedIn.

Checking with Your New Company

In this digital age, every company has a strict social media and confidentiality policy. It is wise to be informed about the company's policies and only go forward with updating LinkedIn if you have a clear go ahead from your new employer.

Updating Your Profile

Once you have the go ahead from your new employers you can start by updating your "experience" section by adding your new job.You will be prompted to fill in the following details-

Job title- Add your appropriate title here.

Employment Type- Choose the correct option from full-time, part-time, freelance or internship.

Company Name- Link your company's LinkedIn page to your profile.

Location (Optional)- If you like you can mention whether you work on-site or remote.

Start date and end date- Add the month and year you started your new job and leave the end date for when you transition into the next job.

Industry- Choose the correct industry or sector to accurately reflect your current position.

Job description-Provide a detailed job description and all the responsibilities of your new position. Be as specific as possible and mention any measurable accomplishments you have achieved in this position. Use bullet points for this section.

LinkedIn Headline- Update your LinkedIn headline to include your new position and company name. This will ensure that when recruiters or people in your network search for you they get your updated professional and relevant information.

Skills- You can mention newly acquired hard or soft skills in your current role.

Media (If applicable)- If your current work can be linked to a website or blog or any online platform, then you can add it here.

Making a Post About Your New Job

Make a separate announcement post on your LinkedIn profile and include your new job title, your enthusiasm for the new position, and your gratitude for the part your current or former employer played in your career. You can even use hashtags to widen the reach of your post. Here are a couple of examples of a sample post for your reference.

when to update linkedin with new job

Examples

"Hello LinkedIn community! I am delighted to share some exciting news with you. S&T Tech has hired me as their Marketing Head. I am thrilled to be part of a team driving innovation in the technology sector. I could not have accomplished this without the support of my colleagues at BUI Tech. Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me through the course of my entire career. #NewJob #CareerGoals"

"Hello LinkedIn family! I am honored to announce my new role as a Creative Producer at YS Films. I am excited to embrace new challenges and look forward to contributing to the growth of this amazing organisation. Gratitude to everyone who has been a part of my journey so far. #NewHorizons #Newopportunity"

Things to keep in mind when adding a new job on LinkedIn

Now that you have learnt the nuanced art of updating your new job on your LinkedIn profile, let us take a look at the key points to always remember while announcing your new job on LinkedIn.

  • Wait at least a couple of weeks before you update your LinkedIn
  • Get comfortable with your new job and role before you update your LinkedIn profile
  • Check with your new employers before making any social media announcements
  • Don't forget to update your LinkedIn profile after you have settled in your new job
  • Make a separate and well-thought out post to announce your new job on LinkedIn

Job transitions need to be carefully maneuvered. If you are looking to update your resume for your next job search then check out our vast collections of resume examples and templates and start a new professional chapter in your life.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When to Update LinkedIn with New job?

It is highly recommended to at least wait the first couple of weeks to update your LinkedIn network about your new job.

How to announce your new job on LinkedIn?

It is advisable to check with your new company and get acquainted with their policies before making an announcement on LinkedIn. Once you have their go ahead, you can either silently update your LinkedIn profile or make a post announcing your new role to your entire professional network.

Is it important to keep your LinkedIn profile up to date?

It is extremely important to keep your LinkedIn profile up to date to stay relevant in the job market. You never know when you are on your next job hunt and having an updated LinkedIn profile will make it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you.

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