#LinkedIn : Laid Off? LinkedIn Might Be Your Smartest Career Move. Make Sure you Leverage LinkedIn to Gain Career Visibility.
According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report for June 2026, more than 7 million Americans were unemployed with an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent. The unemployment rate was 3.9% among adult men, 3.7% among adult women, 3.6% among white adults, 6.6% among Black adults, 3.9% among Asian adults and 5.2% among Hispanic adults. In addition, the report notes, “The labor force participation rate decreased by 0.3 percentage point to 61.5 percent in June, and the employment-population ratio edged down by 0.2 percentage point to 59.0 percent.”
Now, more than ever, job seekers are leaning on professional networking sites like LinkedIn to help them find and secure jobs and market themselves to recruiters. What many don’t realize is LinkedIn is more than a job site; the site can provide a powerful pathway for career opportunities.
“I always tell people that your LinkedIn profile doesn’t replace your resume. It complements it,” shared talent acquisition consultant Jalonni Weaver. “As a recruiter, I use LinkedIn to learn more about candidates beyond what fits on one page. It gives me a better sense of who you are, what you’re passionate about, and how you show up professionally. A strong LinkedIn presence won’t get you hired on its own, but it can absolutely help you stand out.”
Weaver, who has utilized LinkedIn to build her personal and professional brand, has grown her LinkedIn community to more than 400,000 people. Weaver explained, “Because I invested in building my LinkedIn presence, it has opened doors to interviews, speaking opportunities, brand partnerships, and even helped me land my current role. People often think of LinkedIn as just a place to look for jobs, but I see it as a place to build relationships and create opportunities before you ever need them.”
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A record number of Black women have been pushed out of the U.S. workforce since 2025, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Many have turned to LinkedIn to help them build and establish their personal brands. “I want Black women to know that losing a job doesn’t diminish the value you bring. Your experience, your voice, and your perspective still matter.” Weaver shared and offered advice for those trying to build brands on LinkedIn. “Start sharing your journey, the lessons you’ve learned, and the impact you’ve made throughout your career. You don’t have to wait until you’ve landed your next role to build your brand. Sometimes your network becomes your biggest advocate before a recruiter ever reaches out.”
Traditionally, career gaps due to things like caregiving or a layoff have negatively impacted candidates on their job searches. Weaver explained how that is changing. “I actually think nonlinear careers make people more interesting. Every experience teaches you something. Instead of trying to make every job fit perfectly together, think about the skills that connect them. Maybe you’ve always been great at solving problems, building relationships, or leading people. That’s the story you tell. Your career is allowed to evolve because you do too.”
For those who may be scared to open up online, Weaver shared, “You don’t have to share your entire life online. Start by sharing something you learned, a career lesson, or a resource that helped you. The more you do it, the more comfortable it becomes. Remember, you’re building a professional reputation, and you have control over the story you tell.”
“We’ve made personal branding feel bigger than it needs to be,” she said. “You don’t have to become an influencer or spend hours creating content every day. Even spending a few minutes engaging with people or posting once a week can make a difference over time. Consistency will always matter more than perfection.”
For those who want to leverage LinkedIn to gain career visibility, Weaver had this to share. “First, make sure your LinkedIn profile clearly tells people who you are and what you want to be known for. Second, spend time engaging with other people’s content. Leave thoughtful comments, connect with people in your industry, and focus on building genuine relationships because networking doesn’t always have to happen in person.”
“Third,” she said, “challenge yourself to post consistently. It doesn’t have to be every day. Even once a week is a great place to start. Your story and your perspective have value, and people can’t learn from you if they don’t know you exist. This is actually why I’m creating a LinkedIn Branding Cohort that’s launching this fall. I meet so many talented professionals who have the skills and experience but don’t know how to tell their story or show up confidently on LinkedIn. I want to help people build a brand that feels authentic to them and creates opportunities they may not have had access to otherwise.”
Forbes.com | July 12, 2026 | Janice Gassam Asare, Ph.D.
