How to Update Your LinkedIn Without Sounding Desperate
Job search is brutal. Signal Strength, Not Uncertainty.
One of the hardest moments after an executive exit is figuring out what to say on LinkedIn. You are no longer in the role that once defined your headline, but you are not ready to announce your next move either.
Do you keep the old title? Say “in transition” or ‘freelance’ or pretend to run a startup in a stealth mode? Leave it blank?
LinkedIn is not a typical social media platform. It functions more like a talent marketplace and a professional signal system. What you write, how you appear in search, and what you engage with shapes how recruiters and algorithms interpret your intent and credibility which is why given an extra consideration to this change is very important.
This post is for senior professionals who want to stay visible without sounding uncertain. Most departures involve a mix of timing, strategy, and internal dynamics. You do not need to overexplain or apologize. You need to come across as clear, credible, and moving forward. Not needy.
Here is how to do it.
Start with your headline, not your job history
Your headline is what shows up when you comment, connect, or appear in search results. If it still says “CTO at [Company]” weeks after you have stepped down, it creates confusion. If it says “Former CTO” or “Seeking Opportunities,” it can weaken your positioning.
Instead, shift the headline to something that reflects your expertise and future direction, not your employment status. A few examples:
CRO B2B SaaS | GTM Strategy | Board Member
Chief Product Officer, B2C| Driving Product-Market Fit and Scale
VP, Global Supply Chain | Tech-Enabled Transformation | Board Advisor
These signal energy and clarity. They tell others what you do, not what you lost.
This is not just a social headline. It is a signal to a talent marketplace.
Update your current role with intention
You have two choices when updating the “Experience” section. If the departure is recent and public, it is better to close out the role with an end date. If not, you can give yourself a few weeks to finalize the message.
Once you are ready, add a final line to the description:
Stepped down as CEO in June 2025 following a successful growth phase and strategic shift. Now advising boards and exploring new leadership opportunities.
or
Stepped down after the acquisition of [Company] by [Company XXX]
If you are doing interim consulting or advisory work, consider creating a new role:
Title: Advisor and Consultant
Company: Self-Employed or [Your LLC]
Dates: July 2025 – Present
Description: Supporting private equity firms and growth-stage companies on M&A integration, pricing strategy, and commercial due diligence. Open to full-time leadership opportunities in SaaS and B2B services.
This positions you as active, not idle.
LinkedIn is used in two ways. It is a social media platform for communications, status updates and a dialogue. But first and the most it continue to be what it was originally created for: a place for recruiters to find you. Retained recruiters usually use special tools for their searches. They are unlikely to search for ‘evangelist’ or ‘growth guru’ or ‘visionary’. They search for a standard title (VP of Engineering, Director of Accounting, Chief Executive Officer, VP of Manufacturing), region (meaning your actual location rather than a global span), industry (retail, SaaS, financial services rather than ‘technologically advanced’ or ‘back-office’) and company size. Since your current task is to appear in searches as much as you can to be included in job slates, make their job easier.
Write your summary in a way that can be copied by a screener in a list of possible names suggested to a senior recruiter. Most of screeners never worked in your industry so do not expect them to read between the lines or understand abbreviations, know your company slang or titles. If your company called you ‘Chief Growth Officer’ you may want to explain at least in brackets that your ran sales or marketing or both.
An option to consider: a pinned post to your activity feed
LinkedIn allows you to pin a post at the top of your activity. If you do not have much going for a while consider using it to control your narrative. Write a short, gracious update that focuses on your past contributions and excitement for what is next.
Example:
After several fulfilling years leading [Company] through a major digital transformation, I have stepped down and am now exploring new leadership opportunities. Grateful for the journey and proud of what we built.
If you are working on something interesting in SaaS, supply chain, or data strategy, I’d love to connect.
Avoid passive language like “seeking new opportunities” or “currently unemployed.” Speak as someone in motion.
Stay engaged without looking like you are trying too hard
Many executives fear posting too often or commenting on the wrong things. But disappearing is worse. You do not need to post weekly, but you should stay active every couple of weeks. LinkedIn algorithm prioritizes people who are relatively active on the platform.
What to post:
Share a short insight from an article you read and tag the author
React to an industry shift or leadership move with a thoughtful comment
Congratulate a former team member on a new role or promotion
Your tone should be engaged, not eager. Present, not pressing.
Final thought: treat LinkedIn like a landing zone, not a confession booth
LinkedIn is not the place to work through disappointment. It is the place to signal that you are grounded, reflective, and moving forward. You are not begging for attention. You are creating surface area for opportunity to find you.
Content creators aim to grow likes and followers. It may be tempting to get too personal, or worse, vent your disappointments about a recruiter ghosting you (yes, it will happen more than you think) or exaggerate your enthusiasm. It may get your likes but may also impact your image.
You do not need to fake momentum. You just need to avoid broadcasting uncertainty.
Keep it steady. Keep it clear. Keep it open.