How Do I Update my LinkedIn Profile as an Executive in Career Transition and while on Hiatus?

Are you an executive (director or above, C-Suite) in career transition? Perhaps you have received a severance package that will allow you to take the next 6 months to a year or more to decide what you want to do next.

So technically, while you are "in career transition" -- you've decided to be "on hiatus" while you figure out what you want to do next.

And you need your LinkedIn to reflect you're no longer at your former employer, but you're also deciding what to do next. And you know people are looking at your profile as they hear the news about your departure. 

Sound like you? You're not alone. 

Here's the checklist I recently reviewed with a CEO during a 1-hour LinkedIn coaching session, during which we made updates to their profile to make it clear they are no longer with the former organization, but taking a pause to determine what was next. It might be finding another C-suite role, or it might be going into consulting.

IMPORTANT: NONE of these changes will be broadcast out to your network. LinkedIn used to broadcast out profile edits with every change you made. "Brenda updated her headline. Brenda updated her photo."  But LinkedIn no longer does this.

The only edits that are broadcast out are new jobs, promotions, work anniversaries, and start/completion of education -- and ONLY IF you have selected "Notify Network" at the top of the section where you added in the experience. If this isn't toggled on, not even new roles are broadcast out. 

1. Update your LinkedIn header to remove former employer branding. In this case, we changed it to a generic city skyline for their nearest large city. You can find free stock photography on sites like https://www.pexels.com/ 
   
   
2. Update your LinkedIn headline to remove your company name. It's OK to keep your job title in there (CEO, CFO, CMO etc.) because this will help you to come up in more searches by executive recruiters in the future. And you were (and are!) that job title, based on your career experiences, even if you're not doing that role right now. You may also wish to add in " | Consultant" or something additional to illustrate you're open to consulting. Or, add in a favorite quote to illustrate your leadership style / personality. 
   
   
3. Update your Contact Info and change your primary email to your home email, remove your former employer's website address, and double check that everything else is accurate. 
   
   
4. Update your ABOUT statement and remove mention of your former company's name, but do include a high-level description of your work experience as an executive. If you're considering consulting, consider adding in a 1-2 sentence description stating something like, "I'm currently taking on project work as a (Industry) Consultant at (Your Consulting Company Name) while I explore new leadership opportunities." Be truthful and positive. 
   
   
5. Optional - Create a free LinkedIn business page for your consulting business. Even if you have no desire to work for yourself as a consultant, this can fill in the gap while you're in career transition. Probably 95% of the executive / C-Suite clients I work with do this, even if their goal is to find another C-Suite role. These two blogs might help:
   
   How to Create a Company Page - FREE
   
   Marketing Basics for Start-ups / Entrepreneurs
   
   
6. If you've created a consulting business page, add it to your Experience as a new role, but don't click on "Notify Network." In the description, use something like this, "At Meller Marketing, I help executives with LinkedIn for their job search while drawing upon my 20 years experiences as a corporate marketer and executive. Learn more by connecting with me here on LinkedIn (click MORE) or email me at [email protected] 
   
   
7. Also in your Experience section, add an end date to your former employer. This will be therapeutic for you, but it might also be emotional. Your feelings are exactly what they should be and you are not alone. You may choose to omit any description in this section, or keep it as is but make it past tense. 
   
   
8. Stay active on LinkedIn. My advice to all my executive clients who are in career transition and taking a hiatus while they decide what's next is exactly the same: stay active on LinkedIn. I recommend the following:
   
   • Spend 15 minutes in the LinkedIn homepage feed every business day. When something resonates with you, give it a like or reaction. 2-3 times each week, add a thoughtful comment of 8 or more words to a post. WHY? This keeps you visible on LinkedIn, and it also helps the LinkedIn algorithm to determine whose posts to show to you, and which ones you never interact with. Plus, staying visible will come in handy once you decide what's next in your career. 
     
     
   • Post at least once a month, but ideally once a week. I encourage you to focus on posts that illustrate your leadership philosophies. This might include inspirational quotes, articles you're reading, passages from favorite books, or other items. If you're considering consulting, share tips related to your area of expertise. WHY? This also helps to keep you visible on LinkedIn, and it helps the LinkedIn algorithm to determine who to show your posts to. Plus, staying visible by posting makes it a part of your routine, which will help you to remain active professionally, even while you are on hiatus. Said another way: your former leadership team, board, and employees are going to be looking you up on LinkedIn. Make sure you show them that you're still active. Regardless of the circumstances of your departure - you are still a leader and you can illustrate this through posts on LinkedIn. 😎

I hope you found this list helpful! 


And keep me in mind if I can help to guide you through making your profile updates. I offer the following:

• 1-hour 1-to-1 LinkedIn coaching. $250
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  I'll walk you through making the above updates on your LinkedIn profile in a private Zoom session. As an experienced corporate marketer and former executive, I'll help you with the wording for your profile updates and offer my expert advice. 
  
  
  
• VIP Coaching Package. $750
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  Seeking guided instruction to learn how to optimize your presence and time using LinkedIn? This coaching session is catered to your specific needs. Includes:
  • A scan of your profile and LinkedIn activity prior to your first call
  • A 2-hour virtual session covering Profile Optimization; Invitation & Messaging Strategy; and Network Engagement / Posting Strategy as well as any of your LinkedIn questions
  • 30-minute "Accountability" call
  • Recorded Playback of both calls for your reference
  • Additional resources (blogs, videos) provided as homework based on your specific needs
  • LinkedIn Profile Resource Guide with recommendations personalized to your LinkedIn profile and activity
    
    
• Executive Profile Rewrite (Optimization). $1,800 (50% to begin, 50% invoiced upon delivery of recommendations)
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  Looking to have your LinkedIn profile optimized for you? Maybe you don't know where to start or how to improve your profile so it matches your executive experience. Maybe you don't have the time or desire to do it yourself. As an experienced marketer and a heavy LinkedIn user, I specialize in optimizing LinkedIn profiles for busy executives. All work is done by me. I do not outsource, nor do I use ChatGPT or AI. An optimized profile involves more than copywriting: it incorporates your business / career goals, your key messages, and more. Includes: 

  • Discovery call

  • Profile review and rewrite

  • Creation of LinkedIn header and any other graphics needed for your profile

  • Recommendation review call

  • Profile optimization (top to bottom) includes updates made to your LinkedIn profile

     

• Executive Package. $2,500 ($900 to begin, $900 invoiced upon delivery of recommendations, $700 prior to coaching) 
  Book Now
  
  Looking for a profile rewrite? Maybe you don't know where to start or how to improve your profile so it matches your executive experience. Maybe you don't have the time or desire to do it yourself, but you also want an experienced, trusted LinkedIn coach to work with you to help you utilize the platform more effectively -- and to answer your questions (without having to search Google or YouTube). As an experienced marketer and a heavy LinkedIn user, I specialize in optimizing LinkedIn profiles for busy executives. All work is done by me. I do not outsource, nor do I use ChatGPT or AI. An optimized profile involves more than copywriting: it incorporates your business / career goals, your key messages, and more. Includes:
  • Discovery call
  • Profile review and rewrite
  • Creation of LinkedIn header and any other graphics needed for your profile
  • Recommendation review call
  • Profile optimization (top to bottom) includes updates made to your LinkedIn profile
  • Six (6) 1-hour coaching sessions to provide you with guidance on invitation and messaging strategy, posting strategy and analysis, and network engagement