The LinkedIn Green Dot — A Job Seeker’s New Best Friend

By now, you’ve probably noticed the LinkedIn green dot on some of your connections’ LinkedIn profiles (see below). You might even have asked yourself, “What does that green dot mean on LinkedIn?”

In a nutshell, the LinkedIn green dot is the easiest way you have to signal recruiters that you’re active on LinkedIn right now. That matters because recruiters are much more likely to message you if they think you will see their outreach.

How to Manage Active Status on LinkedIn

Thus, if you’re a job seeker on LinkedIn, it benefits you to turn on your “Active” status.

To do this:

1. Click your mini “Me” photo on the top, horizontal rail of your profile.
2. Choose “Settings & Privacy.”
3. Scroll down to “Manage active status” and click.
4. Choose “All LinkedIn members.”

Within a few minutes, that turns on your active status and your green dot.

As a bonus, it also lets you see other members’ active status (per their “all members” or “connections” selections). Thus, if you want to send someone a LinkedIn message, you will now have more information about whether or not they’re currently active on the site.

Keep a LinkedIn Window Open on Your Computer

If you aren’t currently active on LinkedIn (logged in with a LinkedIn window open), your green dot won’t display. So, if you’re open to recruiters’ messages, always keep a LinkedIn window open on your computer.

The Green & White Dot — Your Second Best Friend

Continuing from above, I know you can’t always keep a LinkedIn window open on your computer.

However, you can activate a push notification on your smartphone that pings you whenever you get a LinkedIn message.

When you do that, and you’re not active on LinkedIn, your profile will display a green and white dot instead of a green dot (see below). It lets recruiters know that you will get a notification that you received a message. Thus, it’s also a good idea to have that push notification enabled.

Enabling LinkedIn Push Notifications

To turn your push notification on for messages, grab your phone and:

1. Install the LinkedIn app if you haven’t already.
2. Go to your profile on your phone.
3. Tap the Settings gear in the upper-right corner of your screen.
4. Choose “Communications” in the top, horizontal rail.
5. Click “Push.”
6. Click “Conversations.”
7. Turn on “Messages you have received.”

What’s Your LinkedIn Green Dot Preference?

Would you rather say, “Nobody’s home,” with no green dot:

Or let recruiters know that their messages will reach you with a solid green dot or a green and white dot? I know what I advise my clients to do.

Another Way to Help Recruiters Contact You

BTW, not all recruiters like to message potential candidates via the LinkedIn site. Because of that, it’s also a good idea to make it easy for them to find your email address on your profile.

Let’s Connect on LinkedIn

Please don’t hesitate to invite me to connect on LinkedIn. The more I know about my readers, the more relevant I can make my blog.

Updated July 2020

© 2019 – 2020, Donna Svei. All rights reserved.

Donna Svei

Donna Svei, an executive resume writer and former C-level executive, retained search consultant, and CPA, authors all of AvidCareerist’s posts. She has written for and been quoted by 100+ business, general, and career media outlets, including Forbes, Mashable, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, the New York Times, USA Today, Time, CBS, the BBC, Lifehacker, Social Media Today, IT World, SmartBrief, Payscale, Business News Daily, and the Muse.

Let her expertise inform your job search strategy and decision making.

Contact Donna here to learn more about her resume and LinkedIn profile services and fee structure.