A graphic designer’s “Open to Work” banner on LinkedIn is going viral

The idiotic reference to the LinkedIn banner was her way of making a statement: No one should be embarrassed to get fired and let others know they’re willing to work.

And he struck a chord.

Myers’ post has garnered 274,000 likes and more than 6,800 comments in the week since she posted it. Those numbers shocked Myers, who said she typically interacts with about 200 connections.

“I was just being honest and that’s why I didn’t feel uncomfortable posting it,” Myers told Business Insider. It was refreshing to be “authentic on a platform where people are so often peacocking — they’re just showing off for no reason,” she said.

A controversial banner was born

LinkedIn launched its “Open to Work” banner in 2020.

The small visual appears above a user’s profile picture. It was designed to help recruiters more easily find job seekers and signal others in your network to refer opportunities. A LinkedIn spokesperson told BI that 40 million people globally have added the “Open for Work” frame to their photos.

A LinkedIn spokesperson said the banner is “not a sign of weakness,” but a way to increase your profile’s visibility. He added that users can choose to make the status visible only to recruiters.

However, it has also become the subject of heated debate on the internet over the past few years. Some see the banner as an emergency signal for job seekers, while others see it as the ultimate symbol of desperation and an instant turn-off for potential employers.

Showing frustration

Myers didn’t want to reignite the debate with her post.

She was laid off from her job as a graphic designer at a tech startup in December and has been job hunting for about nine months.

Myers was living in London for work, but has since had to move back into her parent’s house after 10 years of living alone. She is now based in Southampton, a suburban town an hour and a half from London, but wants to become independent again.

“Financially, I want to move out. I want to pay the rent, which is a crazy thing to say,” she said.

Myers said he has applied to more than 700 jobs since December and has heard back from less than 10 percent of those employers. Those who get in touch often ask for time-consuming mock projects, she said.

They often end up with ghosting or rejections weeks later, she said.

“I’m extremely frustrated with the situation because I have good experience and a good portfolio,” Myers said. She added that she has been a designer for six years and has worked on projects for Disney, Universal and Warner Bros.

The idea for the banner came to Myers over the weekend, and he initially intended to quietly update his profile picture with the new banner.

“I sent it to my friends in a group chat and they thought it was really funny. So I posted it without thinking anything would happen,” she said.

Range of reactions

The post has received a number of reactions since it went viral. Also reposted on LinkedIn and X.

Myers even saw a post linking her employment situation to the US economy and US politics.

“Someone in America, who assumed I was American, blamed Kamala Harris and her mismanagement of the United States,” she laughed.

Other reactions came from people who were frustrated after being laid off and were inspired to be more vulnerable about unemployment.

She’s also gotten comments from people in talent acquisition saying they like the green banner and how it signals candidates eager to work. Others seemed to play “devil’s advocate” and warn her about the signals the “desperate” banner sends and how it can put off potential employers.

Interview offers

But the debate also created opportunities.

Along with her “desperate” banner, Myers posted a short note on LinkedIn describing her work experience.

Myers said she received 10,000 login requests, including some from recruiters who set up interviews with her and companies offering her freelancing opportunities.

“My inbox became total chaos,” she said. “I’ve been up until 3 to 4 in the morning the last few nights just trying to get my inbox.”

While the overwhelming response was a reminder of the power of the internet, Myers doesn’t see himself turning into a LinkedIn influencer.

“I hate it to be honest,” she said. “It’s not a platform I enjoy using. It’s more of a necessity.”

As for the graphic that started it all, Myers uploaded it to LinkedIn so others could use it, and she said she’s already seen other users update their profile photos with the pink banner.