Your search status tells hiring teams how keen you are to move. It decides whether recruiters can find you at all, and where you appear when they browse profiles. You can change it at any time, as often as you like.
Where to set it
- Open the menu under your avatar and choose Settings, or click Edit Profile on your dashboard.
- Go to Profile.
- Scroll to Search Preference and pick one of the five options.
- Click Update at the bottom of that section.
Your new status shows straight away as a coloured chip on your dashboard, on your profile and on the profile cards recruiters see in search.
The five options
| Status | Who can find you | Where you sit in recruiter search |
|---|---|---|
| Available now | Recruiters | Ranked with other active statuses |
| Actively looking | Recruiters | Ranked with other active statuses |
| Open to opportunities | Recruiters | Ranked with other active statuses |
| Not looking | Recruiters | Shown after everyone who is looking |
| Invisible | Only you | Not shown at all |
Available now
Pick this when you could start right away. Your chip is green and pulses, so it stands out on your profile and in search results. You can also set an Available from date under Work preferences so teams know exactly when you are free.
Actively looking
This is the default for new profiles. It tells teams you are job hunting and want to hear from them. Your chip is green.
Open to opportunities
You are not hunting, but you would listen to the right offer. Companies can still find you in search and message you. Your chip is blue.
Not looking
Recruiters can still find you and reach out, but you appear after everyone who has one of the three statuses above. When a recruiter starts a message to you, Katara reminds them that you are not looking right now and asks them to reach out only if the role is a strong match. Your chip is yellow.
Invisible
Your profile is hidden and only you can see it. You drop out of recruiter search and recruiters can no longer open your profile. Applications you have already made stay with the teams you sent them to. See What happens when you go invisible for the full detail.
How search ordering works
When a recruiter browses profiles without choosing a sort order, Katara lists profiles in this order:
- Everyone except Not looking profiles comes first.
- Profiles that have been inactive for over a year move further down.
- Within those groups, stronger and more complete profiles rank higher.
Recruiters can also filter by status, for example to see only people who are actively looking or open to offers. A complete profile with skills, experience and links helps you rank well whichever status you choose.
Hiding from one company only
If you want to stay visible to most teams but not to your current employer, you do not need to go invisible. Use Hidden companies in Settings instead. Recruiters from the companies you add can't find your profile, see it in search, or message you.