Tag: LinkedIn

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Growing your career: permanent & freelance IT Consultants Tips for your daily life as a freelancer

Should consultants use LinkedIn’s “Open to Work” badge?

LinkedIn Open to Work consultants

In recent months, the widespread use of LinkedIn’s Open to Work badge has sparked an important question in the consulting world: Does broadcasting availability help, or does it unintentionally weaken your positioning?

Surprisingly, the answer is not as simple as “more visibility is better.” And, for consultants, the real strategic advantage often lies in controlled visibility,or what we call the power of invisibility.

Therefore, this article explores what that means, why it matters, and how consultants can leverage it to secure better, higher-value assignments.

1. The Misconception: Visibility Equals Opportunity

Firstly, the logic behind LinkedIn’s Open to Work badge is simple: “If more people know I’m available, I’ll receive more opportunities.”

But consulting isn’t a volume game, it’s a positioning game.

While in traditional employment markets, “I’m available” is a neutral signal, in consulting, it can unintentionally imply:

  • A slowdown in demand for your expertise
  • A lack of exclusivity (“If they’re free, maybe they’re not in high demand”)
  • A less strategic profile (clients want consultants who choose their missions, not chase them)

So, consultants sell value, expertise, and judgment, not availability, that’s why visibility must be curated, not broadcast.

2. The Power of Invisibility: Showing Only What Strengthens Your Position

Secondly, invisibility, in consulting, doesn’t mean hiding. Thus, it means being visible only to the right audience, for the right reasons, and LinkedIn quietly seems to supports this strategy.

So, you can activate the Open to Work signal privately, showing it only to recruiters with a LinkedIn Recruiter licence, allowing you to: Receive inbound opportunities – Stay active in the talent market – Avoid public signals that might weaken your expert positioning

This is strategic invisibility: controlling what the market sees so that your credibility remains intact.

3. What Clients Actually Look For in Consultants (and Why the Badge Doesn’t Help)

Also, clients don’t select consultants based on availability, they select them based on: Domain expertise – Results delivered – Ability to frame and solve problems – Clarity of communication – Trustworthiness – Reinforced authority in a niche.

BUT none of these elements are reflected in LinkedIn’s Open to Work banner. In fact, the badge may divert attention away from what matters most: your expertise and impact. Because, clients want the consultant who seems in demand, not the one broadcasting that they’re actively looking.

That perception, even if unfair, significantly influences decision-making.

4. What Actually Improves a Consultant’s Visibility on LinkedIn

So, here is where the conversation becomes truly useful. Because consultants do need visibility, just not the kind the badge gives.

4.1. Craft an expert-oriented profile

Firstly, your headline should articulate your value proposition, not your availability, as examples:

  • Cloud Security Consultant | Reducing cyber risk for regulated industries
  • SAP Finance Consultant | Transforming finance operations for global enterprises

So, your profile should clearly display: Your specialisation, Key client problems you solve, Quantifiable impact and Sector experience .

4.2. Publish value-driven content

Moreover, the consultants who consistently attract high-value missions are those who demonstrate their expertise publicly.

So, High-performing content includes:

  • Short case studies outlining results
  • Lessons learned from a recent mission
  • A breakdown of an emerging trend in your field
  • Frameworks or methodologies you apply

Thus, visibility anchored in expertise is the visibility that converts.

4.3. Engage strategically with decision-makers

Your comments can also be as impactful as your content: comment on posts written by: CIOs, CTOs, Heads of Data, Heads of IT, Industry influencers. Also by Other senior consultants or Recruiters specialised in your domain. Thus, thoughtful interaction increases your exposure to a targeted audience, not just your network.

4.4. Build a narrow, intentional network

Additionally, keep in mind that for consultants, a valuable network is not “big”, it’s relevant. So, this means prioritising:

  • Decision-makers in your niche
  • Former clients
  • Specialists in your vertical
  • High-level recruiters
  • Consultants with complementary expertise

A curated network significantly boosts inbound opportunities.

5. When the Open to Work Badge Can Make Sense for Consultants

In conclusion, there are cases where the badge may be appropriate:

  • Early-career consultants
  • Consultants repositioning into a new niche
  • Profiles mostly placed by recruiters rather than by clients directly
  • Highly operational consultants in commoditised markets

Even then, the badge should be paired with strong activity and clear positioning.

To sum up, the real lesson for consultants is simple: Visibility is not the goal, positioning is.

Therefore, consultants who consistently land high-quality assignments are those who:

  • 📘✨ Show expertise, not availability
  • 💡🧠 Share insight, not insecurity
  • 🏛️📈 Build authority, not noise
  • 🎯🤝 Connect strategically, not randomly
  • 🕶️🌐 Maintain controlled visibility, and use invisibility wisely

Thus, mastering this balance is what turns a consultant from “visible” to in demand.

And if you’re not sure where to start? That’s where we come in.

At Mindquest , we work with IT professionals every day to help them position themselves in the market. Whether you’re freelancing, looking for your next role, or just trying to figure out what to learn next, we’re here.

Contact our IT & Finance recruitment team
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Hiring an IT consultant IT Decision-makers Talent strategy

“OpenToWork” Profiles on LinkedIn: Why Visibility Doesn’t Always Mean Relevance

OpenToWork Profiles on LinkedIn

You need to fill a critical position, maybe a SAP expert, cloud architect, or freelance CFO.
So, your first instinct? Go to LinkedIn, type the keyword… and spot the profiles with the green “OpenToWork” banner.

Smart move?
Not necessarily.

At Mindquest, more than 80% of the talent we place never publicly show they’re available.
Why? Because what everyone sees… is rarely what matters most.

🧩 What “OpenToWork” Profiles Often Hide

Sure, OpenToWork profiles come with benefits:

  • Easy to contact
  • Responsive
  • Actively looking

But here’s what we see every week when working with major accounts and mid-sized businesses:

🔁 Over-solicited → already involved in several hiring processes
⏳ Under pressure → may accept a job by default
📉 Undifferentiated → visible to everyone = same shortlist as your competitors

🎯 Bottom line: you’re not recruiting the best candidate, just the most visible one.

🔍 What 70% of Recruiters Miss

LinkedIn data shows that 70% of professionals are open to new opportunities, but only 30% say so publicly.

Translation?
Two-thirds of the market is invisible.

And within this hidden talent pool, you’ll find:

  • Freelancers currently on assignment, but open to conversations
  • Experts in permanent roles looking for meaningful projects
  • Professionals not active on job platforms
  • Talent in sensitive environments (mergers, innovation, regulatory change)

📊 Mindquest Internal Data

In our last 50 freelance IT & Finance placements:

👉 83% of those hired had no visible signal of being “OpenToWork” on LinkedIn or other platforms.

🛠️ 3 Proven Strategies to Reach Hidden Talent

1. Anticipate strategic hiring needs

Map out the roles and skills you’ll need 6, 12, and 18 months ahead—so you’re never hiring under pressure.

2. Leverage targeted referrals

Build internal ambassador programs. Ask precisely: “Who do you know that’s outstanding in microservices architecture?”

3. Go ultra-personal in your outreach

Forget mass messages. Speak to ambition, meaning, and timing. This is how you activate rare talent.

👤 Client Case: The “Invisible” SAP Expert

A CAC40 industrial client needed a SAP FI/CO freelance expert with S/4HANA experience.
No luck on LinkedIn. No relevant OpenToWork profile.
Our team activated its private network and found a senior consultant—currently on a long-term mission, but open to discuss.
🎯 Within 3 weeks: contract signed. No post. No public availability.

🤖 And What About AI? It’s Not (Yet) Human Enough

As automation takes over recruiting, the true advantage is becoming… human.
Understanding motivations. Building trust. Reading between the lines of a career path.
That’s where your real edge lies.

🔓 The Bottom Line: What You Can’t See, Your Competitors Can’t Either

And that’s exactly where you want to recruit from.

You don’t win top talent with a LinkedIn filter.
You win it through network, strategy, and anticipation.

💬 Want to access the 70% of talent flying under the radar?
🎯 Let’s talk about your tailored talent mapping with a Mindquest expert.

Need advice on how to start or develop your freelance consulting business in tech or IT? Need to start a new permanent or freelance assignment? Join Mindquest and get support from our team of experts.

Categories
Growing your career: permanent & freelance IT Consultants

The ABC for Landing the Best IT Jobs

The ABC for Landing the Best IT Jobs
Here is a quick refresher of what you’ll need to cover to ensure you are aming for the best IT job according to your needs and aspirations.

Let’s get this out right off the bat. All jobs are fundamentally rewarding and can teach you at least one thing that you’ll be able to leverage for future assignments. But you will need a bit more focus if you want to go after the best IT jobs.

Outlining the best career path according to your needs and aspirations is an art, and; just like with every form of art; you need to start by mastering the basics. Here is a quick refresher of what you’ll need to cover to ensure you are building the career you want, one job at a time.

Need advice on how to start or develop your freelance consulting business in tech or IT? Need to start a new permanent or freelance assignment? Join Mindquest and get support from our team of experts.

Define your professional aspirations

First of all, you will have to figure out what type of assignments you want to pursue. It is at this point that the choice of company and industry becomes essential.

You should learn all you can about that sector and account for the long term. Keeping in mind where you are and where you would like to get to will allow you to develop and implement a solid career strategy that sets you on the right path. For example, if you want to be in the luxury sector, you will have to prioritise companies or industries that are at least linked to it.

Position yourself for the best IT jobs

Then you should define your set of skills and position yourself according to the type of projects you want to target.

You need to make inventory of your skills and update your CV accordingly. Making sure it is aligned with your profiles on social and professional networks like LinkedIn. Define your offering and highlight the capabilities you would like to develop through your next project. And don’t make things up. Recruiters are not stupid.

What you are offering should be in line with the strategic vision of the company or industry you are targetting. Therefore, it is important to understand the current state of the business as well as the possible needs that the company may have now and in the future.

Polish your brand and organise your activity

Finally, having a polished and coherent image is key. The image you project is vital because it reflects both your personal and professional brands. It should be aligned with your offering and the needs of the industry you are targeting to maximise your chances of attracting the attention of the right recruiters.

But your image is worth nothing if you can’t deliver on it. Most recruiters will ask for references from past companies for which you have worked.

Here self-organisation and the proper management of your time are key. There are several organisational tools out there that will make your life easier and will help you optimise your workflows.

Find your next assignment on our freelance and permanent IT recruitment platform, or join Mindquest so you don’t miss out on any job opportunity!

Need tips on how to find a job in IT? Check out our IT job hunting guide.

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Growing your career: permanent & freelance IT Consultants Job application advice

How to Optimise Your LinkedIn Profile as an IT Consultant

How to Optimise Your LinkedIn Profile as an IT Consultant
Knowing how to improve your online visibility is key to your career success. Here’s how to optimise your LinkedIn profile as a tech or IT consultant.

Knowing how to improve your online visibility is key to your career success. In terms of visibility on the web, LinkedIn is a must. Here’s how to optimise your LinkedIn profile as a tech or IT consultant and get that dream job.

IT consultants: how to highlight & optimise your LinkedIn profile

With more than 600 million users worldwide, 40% of whom are active every day, LinkedIn is a major tool for freelancers of all backgrounds. IT freelancers who manage to build a complete and optimized profile are way more likely to appear first in search results and attract the most interesting recruiters. Here are a few steps to make your LinkedIn profile shine and set yourself apart from other IT consultants.

Take care of your LinkedIn profile

The first element to take care of is your profile’s presentation. Your profile should be cared for and frequently updated, allowing you to appear in the best light possible for your future clients. This implies taking care of several elements:

A professional and impactful title

LinkedIn allows you to describe your activities in 120 characters. You need to choose an impactful title, being creative to attract the attention of recruiters while remaining professional. Note that the title is the element that appears directly in the search engine results. It is therefore important to pay particular attention to it. In addition to appearing after your name, the title will largely impact the recruiter’s first impression.

It is advisable to include in the title the mention of your consultant status as well as your area of expertise. The title should include the main search keywords related to your profile.

A professional photo that represents you

A profile with a photo is always more likely to stand out. The photo must be taken from the front, always clear and of good quality. Preferably, you should be smiling –, without exaggeration of course.

A concise summary of your profile and the opportunities you seek

In this rather summary, list your skills and detail your professional experience. So, if you are hyper-specialized in a particular sector, do not hesitate to include that in your summary: this may interest recruiters looking for very technical skills. It is also an opportunity to add your diplomas, your most significant professional successes and everything that makes a company more likely to choose you than another consultant. Try to demonstrate as much as possible that you know how to anticipate the needs of a business.

Also do not forget that your LinkedIn profile allows you to give information on what you are looking for: types of job, location, aspirations in terms of projects and professional development … With this simple step, you will avoid being contacted by recruiters who would approach you with ill-suited assignments or positions.

A more detailed summary of your past experiences to optimise your LinkedIn profile

Your LinkedIn profile is the ideal support for detailing your experience and the various positions you have held — just as you would do on your CV. You can provide background information, technical stacks, and tasks associated with these projects. Focus on your accomplishments by highlighting concrete results.

Share relevant content about IT consulting on LinkedIn

To improve your visibility on LinkedIn as an IT freelancer, it is strongly advised to share content frequently. You can share all kinds of content, including:

  • Links to articles related to your area of ​​expertise and your favourite subjects
  • Infographics or videos to spread a message visually and thus make it more impactful
  • Posts in text form, to share news about your professional life for example.
  • Articles that you have written on the platform, to highlight your knowledge of specific subject. This requires a certain investment in terms of time but can really help you enhance your profile.

It is better to share content regularly, without necessarily looking for the quantity. Unlike other platforms where the organic reach of posts requires sharing content on a daily basis, LinkedIn works differently. Also, remember that LinkedIn now accepts user tags and hashtags, which improves thematic search.

Last tip: don’t hesitate to share and comment on the posts of other people in your network. Taking part in conversations about your areas of expertise will allow you to position yourself as an expert and to be identified by recruiters for the best missions.

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Growing your career: permanent & freelance IT Consultants

6 Simple Steps to Improve Online Visibility as an IT Professional

6 Simple Steps to Improve your Online Visibility as an IT Professional
Just as with face-to-face interactions, first impressions are crucial in the online job-hunting world. Here are the key steps to improve online visibility; that every technology professional should take to project a solid online image.

Just as with face-to-face interactions, first impressions are crucial in the online job-hunting world. Here are the key steps to improve online visibility; that every technology professional should take to project a solid online image.   

6 steps to improve online visibility

Google yourself 

Among steps to improve online visibility, this one might seem rather obvious… But you would be surprised of how many applicants forget this vital step. Remember that Fotolog or Myspace profile you made in middle school? Well, Google does. Chances are your adolescent self does not quite reflect the person you have grown to be. Or perhaps you would simply prefer keeping your personal life to yourself.  

Conduct an in-depth search to unearth all the information a stranger would find should they looked you up online. Then review all that info and ask yourself whether or not you should delete certain things or update your account’s privacy settings.  

Polish your LinkedIn profile 

LinkedIn has become an absolute necessity for any professional looking for a job or wanting to stay active in the talent market. Your LinkedIn page is like your business passport, if you will. Start by polishing your profile.  

Make sure your photograph is updated, professional and in HD. Follow the platform’s simple guide to complete your profile – add a good intro and about section describing your background and aspirations. Include all relevant skills in the dedicated section. Don’t just add job titles and companies in the timeline detailing your work experience. Provide a brief description of what you did while working for that company or what the project was about.  

Be active where it matters 

Would you trust a social media expert that wasn’t active on any social media platform? Probably not. Even if you secretly are an expert on something, it really pays off if you show it. At least you should be visible in the circles that matter the most to you and your area of expertise. 

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Create a robust profile on all relevant job boards and professional networks – from generalist sites like Indeed, to more specialised ones like GitHub or AngelList. Get involved in discussion groups and forums. Write an article or post with tips or insights you’d like to share. Here are a few examples of content you could be writing yourself:   

If you want to go the extra mile, sign up to the portals of companies exclusively dedicated to IT and tech recruiting. That will put you in the radar of the top recruiters for your specialty. You can sign up to ours here. 

Consistency across platforms 

Once that’s covered, make sure that you are presenting a cohesive profile across all platforms and services. Is the image you are projecting on LinkedIn consistent with your Twitter profile? Are your past job titles the same on the different job boards? Do the start and end dates of previous projects match?  

Maintaining consistency is important. It shows that you take yourself seriously and conveys a unified and robust message regarding who you are and what you aspire to. 

Know your keywords 

You know how search engines work. Check that you are including in your online profiles all the relevant keywords to secure a top spot on the search results page. Pay special attention to synonyms, and make sure to include the most common descriptive variants of an activity or skill.   

Look at your peers 

Something that can help you in your keyword search is looking at the profiles of other people. Look for experts in the field you are applying to, see what keywords they are using. Pay special attention to how they structure their personal and professional details, learn as much as you can. The more senior or trusted this subject matter expert is, the better.  

Need tips on how to find a job in IT? Check out our IT job hunting guide.