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Explore the #Desperate LinkedIn trend as job seekers adopt transparent profile banners. Discover how this bold approach is challenging traditional job search strategies and sparking debate in professional circles.
A new trend is emerging on LinkedIn as job seekers embrace transparency about their employment status, adopting profile banners with the stark label "#Desperate" to signal their immediate availability for work.
The movement began when Courtney Summer Myers, a 28-year-old graphic designer who lost her job in November, created the distinctive banner. "LinkedIn is a platform that is made for networking and connecting with people, and we do that because it is going to help us out in some way," Myers told Fortune. "So if you are in need, why would you not ask for help?"
Myers reports applying to approximately 30 jobs daily without success, which prompted her to design the bold banner. The initiative has resonated with other job seekers, as evidenced by her post launching the banner, garnering more than 400,000 reactions on LinkedIn.
Among those joining the movement is Hanna McFadyn, a 22-year-old illustrator and designer from Glasgow, Scotland. "I am jumping on the desperate bandwagon," McFadyn announced on LinkedIn, updating her profile with the distinctive banner. Since leaving her remote position in April, McFadyn has submitted roughly 20 job applications daily.
McFadyn describes a frustrating job search process where employers often fail to respond or offer positions despite complimenting her work. "A lot of companies do not even state the salary on the job applications," she told Fortune. "I live at home with my parents, but I could very well have a flat and rent to pay. I have got cell bills to cover, so I could be in a situation where I really need to know the salary — the fact that they do not state it leaves you in the dark."
The trend has sparked debate within professional circles. While many LinkedIn users express sympathy for job seekers using the banner, others caution that such overt displays of eagerness might deter potential employers. This perspective aligns with previous warnings from recruitment professionals about appearing too desperate during job searches.
Elena Carballo, 29, who recently became unemployed and adopted the banner, points out an inherent contradiction in professional networking. "LinkedIn was created for people to ... find work. But it does not make sense that recruiters and headhunters do not talk to you if you put an [#OpenToWork] banner up," she told Fortune. "It is paradoxical."
Myers maintains that the banner is a direct communication tool for job seekers. "If I sit there and pretend that everything is fine, how is anyone going to know that I need a job or some freelance work? How would they know I need help in general, even just a chat? People are not psychic," she explained.
The #Desperate movement represents a shift away from traditional job-seeking approaches, challenging the stigma often associated with unemployment. "Why be ashamed of a situation that you have been forced into?" Myers asked, emphasizing the banner's role in facilitating connections with potential employers, freelance opportunities, and professional networking.
