theForum » Looking for employment » Seeking work » LinkedIn with an S.O?

RE: LinkedIn with an S.O?

Mr W — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:10:07 GMT

[quote]

[b]elpres - 12 Oct 25 10:58 AM[/b]

Bit late to this but I have a horror story to add.

SO here with 10 year SHPO, less than 2 years left. Changed name.
I need LinkedIn for work so am on there but was very careful and restrictive about profile visibility. At some point, I must have clicked something to enhance my profile as work is scarce and even though it was still following rules on keeping my profile details (including surname) private, it started showing my work history. Someone joined the dots and sent an anonymous proton email to current employer and two previous ones (only one of whom knew already about the offence). So tomorrow I will need to talk to my employer.

As others have said, any SO is effectively a life sentence. Do NOT publish any info even if you are destitute, it's just not worth it.

[/quote]

With a new name too, that's harsh, sorry to hear it. You didn't deserve that. Hope that talk went okay.
The horse has bolted, but some ideas might be to make your profile slightly more vague?
I have a cartoon-style AI photo of me, so it's not an actual photo of my face, but it still looks quite professional. It might depend what type of industry you're in.
With work history, if employers don't do in-depth checks you could maybe change the company on older jobs, supermarkets for example, say ASDA instead of Tesco. These are just ideas.
Of course, we have to be as honest we can be with CVs etc, but we live in a world where our situation means some "rules" go out of the window and we have to look after ourselves, so that situations like this don't happen again.

LinkedIn with an S.O?

Catz — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:10:07 GMT

Is it a good idea to use LinkedIn with an S.O? Not Googleable (S.O. for images). I wanted to improve online employment chances - freelance/marketing etc. Thanks.

RE: LinkedIn with an S.O?

punter99 — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 10:32:07 GMT

[quote]

[b]elpres - 12 Oct 25 10:58 AM[/b]

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Must have taken a lot of work for them to join the dots, if the name on Linkedin does not match any media articles about you?

RE: LinkedIn with an S.O?

elpres — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 10:58:20 GMT

RE: LinkedIn with an S.O?

JASB — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 17:43:50 GMT

[quote]

[b]Catz - 3 Jan 23 4:58 PM[/b]

Thanks for all the info guys. I might think twice about it.

[/quote]

Hi
As I and I beleive others have indicated; do think of the possible consequences and if the positives outbalance the negatives, it then just depends on how "risk adverse you are?"
Good luck

RE: LinkedIn with an S.O?

Catz — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 16:58:17 GMT

Thanks for all the info guys. I might think twice about it.

Richie — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 23:20:29 GMT

[quote]

[b]Catz - 31 Dec 22 7:03 PM[/b]

Is it a good idea to use LinkedIn with an S.O? Not Googleable (S.O. for images). I wanted to improve online employment chances - freelance/marketing etc. Thanks.

[/quote]

Prior to being arrested for my offence I had a senior job with a retailer.

On my release from prison one of the first things I did was delete my LinkedIn account. My offence (as far as I have searched) is not online anywhere but it is highly likely that a number of people I used to work with would know what happened. If I started to be active on LinkedIn again it is possible that someone may post a comment about my past.

I have no social media presence at all since my offence. In my opinion it is best to keep a low profile as at some point it is likely someone will say something.

There are no rules though stopping you being on LinkedIn as long as you use your actual name.

RE: LinkedIn with an S.O?

Mr W — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 16:15:06 GMT

This is an issue that's quite common with people in our position but usually because of the Google effect.
If that's not an issue for you then that does make things easier but you may not be totally out of the woods. If someone were to out you online eg on social media, there's little you can do about it and that could be a pain if you've built up a reputation with your work.
Obviously, that's unlikely to happen if you only work with people you never meet as opposed to working with people local to those who are aware of your past.
I am Googlable, so I do use a different name online (registered of course) and on LinkedIn for my freelance work and nobody (as yet) has even chased official references.
If I were able to keep my name from being online at all, I personally would still use a different name anyway because you're starting from scratch, especially if the work you're looking to do won't be too dependent on references. Eg if you're a freelance digital artist, clients won't care you used to work in a bar. I hope that makes sense.

RE: LinkedIn with an S.O?

JASB — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 14:20:55 GMT

[quote]

[b]Catz - 31 Dec 22 7:03 PM[/b]

Is it a good idea to use LinkedIn with an S.O? Not Googleable (S.O. for images). I wanted to improve online employment chances - freelance/marketing etc. Thanks.

[/quote]

Hi
I hope you find this method successful but one point, which I do not want to sound as a negative or my trying to persuade you off from following this path.
Ask your self the simple question:
[quote]Does anyone who you have been employed by or worked with use it?[/quote]

I am not sure if you have changed your name but obviously the employment details you include offer any perspective employer the opportunity to contact a past employer for a ref.
The above means that even if you have changed your name your CV details can be used negatively.

I fell foul of this and hence canceled my account.
Have confidence in whatever decision you make and I wish you all the positivity possible in your search.

RE: LinkedIn with an S.O?

Catz — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 23:54:05 GMT

[quote]

[b]punter99 - 1 Jan 23 3:44 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Catz - 31 Dec 22 7:03 PM[/b]

Is it a good idea to use LinkedIn with an S.O? Not Googleable (S.O. for images). I wanted to improve online employment chances - freelance/marketing etc. Thanks.

[/quote]

By not Googleable I'm assuming you mean there is no trace of your offence online? If there was no media coverage at all and noboby you have worked with in the past, knows about your conviction, then I don't see a problem.

[/quote]

Thanks.

RE: LinkedIn with an S.O?

punter99 — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 15:44:44 GMT

[quote]

[b]Catz - 31 Dec 22 7:03 PM[/b]

Is it a good idea to use LinkedIn with an S.O? Not Googleable (S.O. for images). I wanted to improve online employment chances - freelance/marketing etc. Thanks.

[/quote]