Can You Block Companies on LinkedIn? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, you can block companies on LinkedIn, though the functionality might not be exactly as you expect. Blocking a company doesn’t prevent their job postings from appearing in your feed entirely. Instead, it primarily prevents you from seeing their posts and updates in your LinkedIn feed and stops them from seeing your public profile. Let’s delve into the nuances and explore how this feature works in detail.

Understanding LinkedIn Blocking: It’s Not Always What You Think

LinkedIn, a platform built for professional networking, handles blocking differently than, say, social media giants focused on personal connections. While you can block individual members to completely sever ties, blocking a company has more subtle effects. Think of it as a “soft block” compared to a full firewall.

The Limitations of Blocking Companies

It’s crucial to understand what blocking a company doesn’t do. Most importantly, it doesn’t prevent job postings from that company appearing in your job search results. If you’re actively looking for a new role, you might still encounter opportunities from companies you’ve blocked. LinkedIn’s job search algorithm operates independently from the feed-blocking mechanism. Also, it does not stop company representatives from contacting you directly via InMail if they have a Recruiter Lite or Recruiter account.

What Does Blocking a Company Achieve?

So, what are the benefits of blocking a company? The primary advantages include:

• Hiding Company Updates: You will no longer see updates, articles, or posts shared by the company in your LinkedIn feed. This can be useful for decluttering your feed and focusing on content from companies you’re genuinely interested in.
• Preventing Company Profile Views: The company will no longer be able to see that you’ve viewed their LinkedIn company page. This can be helpful if you want to research a company discreetly without them knowing.
• Reduced Interaction: You won’t be able to follow the company, nor will they be able to see your public profile.

How to Block a Company on LinkedIn: A Step-by-Step Guide

Blocking a company on LinkedIn is a straightforward process:

1. Navigate to the Company Page: Search for the company you want to block in the LinkedIn search bar. Click on their name to access their company page.
2. Find the “More” Button: Look for the “More” button (usually represented by three dots “…”) located near the top right corner of the company page.
3. Select “Block”: Click on the “More” button, and a dropdown menu will appear. Select the “Block” option.
4. Confirm Your Decision: A confirmation window will pop up. Read the information carefully and click “Block” to confirm your decision.

That’s it! You’ve successfully blocked the company on LinkedIn. You can unblock them at any time by following the same steps.

Alternatives to Blocking

Before resorting to blocking, consider whether there are less drastic measures you could take.

• Unfollowing: If you’re simply not interested in their content, you can unfollow the company page. This will remove their updates from your feed without blocking them entirely.
• Adjusting Your Feed Preferences: LinkedIn allows you to customize your feed to prioritize content from certain sources. You can downrank content from companies you’re less interested in.
• Ignoring: Sometimes, the simplest solution is just to ignore the content. If a company’s posts aren’t relevant to you, simply scroll past them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Blocking Companies on LinkedIn

1. Will blocking a company prevent them from seeing my profile?

Blocking a company does prevent them from seeing your public profile. However, it does not prevent individual members of that company from finding and viewing your profile if they are already in your network or if you have a shared connection. If they have Recruiter Lite or Recruiter they can still send you InMail.

2. If I block a company, will their job postings disappear from my job search?

No. Blocking a company on LinkedIn primarily affects your feed and profile visibility. Job postings from the company may still appear in your job search results.

3. Can a company tell if I’ve blocked them?

No, LinkedIn does not notify companies when they’ve been blocked. It’s a discreet action.

4. How do I unblock a company on LinkedIn?

Navigate to the company page, click the “More” button, and select “Unblock.”

5. Does blocking a company prevent their employees from contacting me?

No, not necessarily. Blocking prevents the company from seeing your profile and updates. Individual employees can still find and connect with you, especially if you have a shared connection or if your profile is set to “public.”

6. If I worked at a company in the past and block them, what happens to my profile?

Your profile will still list your previous employment at that company. Blocking the company will only affect your ability to see their updates and their ability to see your public profile.

7. Can I block a company that I am currently employed by?

Yes, you can block your current employer’s company page. However, this might seem a bit odd to your colleagues if they notice. Consider the implications before doing so.

8. Is there a limit to the number of companies I can block on LinkedIn?

No, there is no known limit to the number of companies you can block on LinkedIn.

9. If I block a company, can they still endorse my skills?

No, they won’t be able to endorse your skills or give you recommendations once you’ve blocked them.

10. Will blocking a company affect my LinkedIn connections who work there?

No, blocking a company will not affect your connections who work there. You will still be connected to them and can interact with them as usual.

11. If I block a company, will I stop receiving email updates from them?

Blocking a company on LinkedIn does not automatically unsubscribe you from their email list. You’ll need to unsubscribe separately from any email updates you receive from them.

12. What’s the difference between blocking a company and simply unfollowing them?

Unfollowing a company simply removes their posts from your LinkedIn feed. You can still view their company page, and they can still see your public profile. Blocking a company goes a step further by preventing them from seeing your public profile and preventing you from seeing their updates. Blocking is a more drastic measure.