A Wall Street Journal article describes increasing popularity of the LinkedIn banner, “Desperate.” Students might discuss the value of vulnerability and whether they would use the banner given the tough job market for recent grads.

A few months ago, I wrote about the “Open to Work” banner, but the urgency to find a job has escalated for some seekers. The pink is glaring, and the message is clear, but as we might expect, the results are less clear, according to the WSJ report:

The #Desperate banner draws even more attention to someone’s need for a job. Recruiters say the tag could help people get noticed and hired. It also could backfire, because some hiring managers might see it as a signal that someone caused problems in their previous workplace.

Brené Brown has made vulnerability a household word, and we know the value. Allowing ourselves to risk emotional exposure inspires connection, and that may be true for job seekers. Those with the banner report receiving good support from others, if not full-time offers. One poster said, “I don’t think the desperate banner takes away my confidence or bravery,” while another said, “Frankly, as a victim of redundancy, I am desperate, and I don’t think that’s anything to be ashamed of.” 

My guess is that the banner will be short lived. The bold color and novelty draw attention that might fizzle the more we see it. I also hope the job market for this cohort improves, which would reduce the desperation and the need.

Image source.