LinkedIn is a priceless tool for professionals to use for networking, job finding, and creating personal brands. However, there are times when you want to go through profiles or discreetly study someone.
LinkedIn’s Private Mode can help with that. You may surf LinkedIn privately in Private Mode, keeping your activities hidden from other users. Although visibility is the foundation of the platform, there are tactical justifications for utilizing this capability.
This post will define Private Mode, go over how to use it, why it’s helpful, what its restrictions are, and offer advice on making the most of it.
What Is LinkedIn Private Mode?
- You may browse other people’s profiles on LinkedIn in private mode without alerting them to your visit. LinkedIn usually alerts the person when you visit their profile by displaying your name, headline, and occasionally your relationship with them. On the other hand, you may see profiles completely anonymously in Private Mode.
- Why Would You Use Private Mode?
- Anonymity: You may occasionally need to look at someone else’s LinkedIn page without their knowledge. For instance, you could wish to investigate possible clients or go through the profile of a rival company without disclosing your interest.
- Discretion: Private Mode makes your behavior more covert, particularly when you’re looking at job openings while holding down a job or skimming applicant profiles without letting them know.
- Control: You have complete authority over who may view your activities. You may steer clear of creating
How It Works
When you turn on Private Mode, your name and profile details will no longer be visible when you visit other profiles. Instead, LinkedIn users will see that someone in Private Mode viewed their profile but won’t know who it was. LinkedIn gives three visibility options:
- Public Mode: Your full profile, including name and headline, is visible to others when you view their profiles.
- Semi-Private Mode: Displays vague information such as your company or industry but not your name.
- Private Mode: Complete anonymity. Your visit shows up as a “LinkedIn Member,” and no information is provided.
How to Turn on LinkedIn Private Mode
Turning on Private Mode is straightforward. Here’s how to do it step-by-step:
- Log in to LinkedIn: Start by logging into your LinkedIn account.
- Go to Your Profile Picture: In the top right corner of the screen, click on your profile picture to open a drop-down menu.
- Select ‘Settings & Privacy’: From the drop-down menu, click on Settings & Privacy.
- Go to Visibility: In the settings menu, you’ll see several tabs. Click on the Visibility tab, which controls how others see your profile and network.
- Select Profile Viewing Options: Under the Visibility tab, you will see an option called Profile viewing options. Click on this to see your visibility choices.
- Choose Private Mode: From the available options, select Private Mode. This will immediately hide your identity when you view other profiles.
Benefits of Using LinkedIn Private Mode
There are several benefits to using Private Mode, depending on your goals on LinkedIn:
Private Investigations
It’s preferable to remain covert when gathering data on rivals or investigating influential people in your field. You may examine rivals’ profiles in Private Mode without drawing attention to yourself. This is helpful when you want to investigate what others are doing without alerting them to your curiosity. For instance, you may like to anonymously compare your competitors’ abilities, contacts, and career paths if you’re comparing yourself to them.
Looking for Work
Employers can utilize Private Mode to investigate job openings without disclosing their activities. Private Mode allows you to read a recruiter’s or company’s profile without disclosing that you’re looking for a new job if that’s what you’re interested in. This is especially helpful when you
Recruitment Purposes
Private Mode lets you review candidate profiles anonymously if you’re a recruiter or hiring manager. This helps keep your recruitment strategy confidential and avoids tipping off candidates who might interpret your interest too early. You can check out potential hires without alerting them, giving you time to evaluate candidates before reaching out.
Staying Low Profile
Not everyone likes to advertise their online activity. Some professionals prefer to research others before engaging or connecting with them. By staying in Private Mode, you can view profiles and gather information without making it evident that you’re active on the platform.
Limitations of LinkedIn Private Mode
While Private Mode has some great benefits, there are also a few downsides you need to consider:
No Access to Data on Profile Views
LinkedIn makes it impossible to see who has seen your profile if you use Private Mode. This trade-off is significant since many LinkedIn users find it helpful to know who is viewing their profile, particularly when establishing new connections. Therefore, you can no longer use this function if you enjoy tracking profile views.
Few Possibilities for Networking
You can’t initiate discussions based on profile views when in Private Mode. When someone notices that you looked at their profile, it’s frequently a chance for interaction. For instance, a prospective business partner may get in touch with you if they notice that you looked at their profile. In Private Mode, this opportunity is lost.
Visibility Trade-Off
LinkedIn is a platform built around visibility. By staying in Private Mode, you reduce your chances of being discovered by others. When you’re active and visible, people with similar interests, industries, or goals are more likely to connect with you. However, in Private Mode, your profile is hidden from these opportunities, limiting potential business relationships or networking chances.
When to Use LinkedIn Private Mode
There are several scenarios where using Private Mode is a smart move:
Competitor Research
If you’re in a competitive industry and want to see how others are positioning themselves, Private Mode helps you conduct research discreetly. By viewing your competitors’ profiles in Private Mode, you can avoid notifying them of your interest. This is particularly useful for benchmarking your skills or researching trends in your industry.
Confidential Job Search
Private Mode is a must for job seekers who want to keep their job search under wraps. If you’re browsing the profiles of recruiters, hiring managers, or companies, doing so in Private Mode ensures that they don’t know you’re actively looking for a new position. This is essential if you’re employed and don’t want your employer to know you’re exploring other opportunities.
Recruiting Without Alerting Candidates
Recruiters often want to check out candidates before contacting them. In Private Mode, recruiters can view candidates’ profiles without the candidate knowing. This is useful for gathering information about potential hires while keeping recruitment strategies confidential.
Researching Clients or Leads
In sales or business development, researching prospects is key. You might want to gather information about potential clients or leads before reaching out to them. Private Mode lets you do this without notifying them, allowing you to craft more personalized and informed outreach strategies.
Networking Preparation
Before reaching out to someone, it’s useful to know more about their professional background. Using Private Mode to research their profile allows you to gain insights without them knowing. Then, once you’re ready to engage, you can switch back to Public Mode for the actual interaction.
When Not to Use LinkedIn Private Mode
Private Mode is not always the best option. Here are a few times when you might want to avoid it:
Building Your Network
If you’re looking to expand your connections, being visible is key. When you view someone’s profile in Public Mode, it’s a way to signal that you’re interested in them professionally. This can often lead to connection requests and networking opportunities that you miss out on by being anonymous.
Job Applications
When you’re applying for a job, it’s often a good idea to let recruiters know you’ve viewed their profile. Many recruiters appreciate candidates who show an interest in their work or company. This visibility can sometimes increase your chances of being noticed among other applicants.
Personal Branding
If you’re trying to establish yourself as an expert in your field, visibility is crucial. In Private Mode, you can’t promote your personal brand effectively, as your activity is hidden. To maintain an active, engaging LinkedIn presence, it’s better to stay in Public Mode so that people can see your professional background and accomplishments.
Engaging with Prospects
If you’re working in sales or business development, being visible is a part of the process. Letting potential clients or partners see who you are, especially after you’ve viewed their profile, can open the door for meaningful conversations. Staying in Private Mode might signal a lack of transparency, which could hurt your credibility.
Tips for Using LinkedIn Private Mode Effectively
Switching Between Modes
To maximize the benefits of both Private and Public Mode, it’s best to switch between them strategically. For instance, use Private Mode when doing competitor research or checking out potential job opportunities discreetly. Then, when you’re ready to engage, switch back to Public Mode to maintain visibility and promote your professional brand.
Use Private Mode Selectively
Private Mode is a useful tool, but overusing it can limit your opportunities. Use it when necessary, but for most day-to-day activities like networking, it’s better to stay visible. This ensures that you’re open to connecting with others and building your professional relationships.
Optimizing Privacy Settings
LinkedIn offers a range of privacy settings beyond Private Mode. Adjust other privacy options like who can see your connections or your activity feed to maintain a balance between privacy and visibility. This way, you can control what information is shared with others while staying engaged with the platform.
Engagement After Private Browsing
If you use Private Mode to research someone and later decide to engage, consider switching to Public Mode and interacting with their content. Liking or commenting on their posts is a good way to warm up the connection before sending a request to connect.
Conclusion
LinkedIn For professionals looking to quietly peruse profiles or carry out research, Private Mode is a very useful option. Private Mode lets you investigate job openings, research rivals, or evaluate applicants without anybody knowing what you’re doing.
But it’s crucial to find a balance between visibility and privacy. While there are times when Private Mode is helpful, maintaining visibility is essential for expanding your network and improving your profession.
You may maximize LinkedIn while safeguarding your privacy when needed by utilizing Private Mode wisely.
FAQs
Can people still see my profile if I’m in Private Mode?
No, when you use Private Mode, people cannot see your name, headline, or any identifying information when you view their profile.
Does LinkedIn notify me if someone views my profile in Private Mode?
No, if someone views your profile in Private Mode, LinkedIn will not notify you of their visit.
Can recruiters find me if I use Private Mode?
Yes, recruiters can still find you through LinkedIn searches, but they won’t know if you’ve viewed their profile while you’re in Private Mode.
How often can I switch between Private Mode and Public Mode?
You can switch between Private and Public Mode as often as you like. There’s no limit, so feel free to toggle based on your current activity.
