When to Use LinkedIn’s “I’m Interested” Feature, According to a Recruiter
Most LinkedIn users are probably familiar with the site’s long-standing offerings, including job postings, a news feed, and congratulating people you once met at a conference on their work anniversary. But unless you spend a lot of time on a professional networking site, you may not be aware of some of its latest additions, like the “I’m Interested” button that some companies have on their profiles.
How does the “I’m Interested” button work on LinkedIn?
In short, the “I’m Interested” feature allows users to privately express interest in working for a specific company without having to apply for a specific position. Think of it as the digital equivalent of sending your resume to a company with a note asking the hiring team to keep it on file and consider you for future openings as they arise.
The “I’m interested” button is located on the “About the company” or “Life” tabs of the company profile or in the “About the company” section of individual vacancies. If you can’t find it, the company either doesn’t have active LinkedIn career pages or contracts with recruiters, or they’ve disabled the feature.
Once you have found and clicked the button, you become part of the company’s “Talent Interest Channel”. This means that the next time their recruiters need to fill a vacancy, they will have the opportunity to look for qualified candidates who have already indicated that they want to work for the organization. Recruiters can view your profile and share it with other members of the hiring team, but that’s about it. When you express interest in a company, it does not appear on your public profile, LinkedIn news feed, or other companies or recruiters.
If your situation changes, you can withdraw your interest in the company at any time by returning to the “I’m Interested” button location and clicking “Cancel”; otherwise, you will remain part of their talent pipeline for one year.
When to use the “I’m interested” feature
By giving users more control over who can see them looking for new opportunities, the “I’m Interested” feature is a lower-stakes alternative to adding an “Open for Work” badge to your public profile or even limiting its visibility to recruiters. But according to Matthew Warzel, president of MJW Careers , it’s how and when you use it that matters.
LinkedIn offers this tool to recruiters as a way to easily identify candidates who are not only interested in working for their company, but also share the same values. So before you click on anything or express interest in anything, Warzel, who has more than 15 years of experience in recruiting, placement and career coaching, recommends researching a company to make sure its values align with yours and that she fits well. for your career goals and skills.
This also matters because LinkedIn users can express interest in up to 50 companies. “It is very important to reserve this function for organizations that have the highest priority,” says Warzel. “Job seekers should focus on companies where they can truly see themselves thriving and progressing in their careers.”
Here are some more tips for using this feature, courtesy of Warzel:
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BE SURE to click the “I’m Interested” button before formally applying for a position with the company. “This allows job seekers to stand out from the competition and potentially be noticed by recruiters earlier in the hiring process,” he says.
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DO NOT wait for a job opening to signal interest in the company. “You may be a good fit for a future unadvertised role that the company may create,” says Warzel. “By expressing interest, you enter a pool of potential offers.”
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DO take the time to make sure your profile is current and aligned with the company’s values and needs.
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BE SURE to use this feature to improve your overall experience. “LinkedIn’s algorithm takes into account the companies you’ve shown interest in, suggesting connections and job opportunities,” he says. Signaling interest in unrelated or less desirable companies can also skew these recommendations.
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Do not overdo it. According to Warzel, overusing the “I’m interested” feature—especially without dedicated follow-up or research—can leave recruiters or hiring managers feeling desperate.
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BE SURE to click “I’m Interested” after you have contacted someone from the company. “This strengthens your connections, shows that you are serious about exploring opportunities, and allows you to take a more targeted approach when approaching recruiters directly at the company,” says Warzel.
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Companies SHOULD set strategic priorities. “In highly competitive industries or job markets, job seekers may choose to save their ‘I’m interested’ positions for companies where they have a better chance of standing out or getting an interview,” he says.
Ultimately, if you don’t put the necessary time and effort into your job search, clicking the “I’m interested” button 50 times won’t magically materialize offers. But when you’re trying to stand out among a crowd of qualified candidates and get your resume in front of the right person, you can also take advantage of the tools at your disposal. “Remember: the button is just a piece of the puzzle,” says Warzel. “Following a company, engaging with its content, and reaching out to recruiters directly all work together to create a more complete experience.”