Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Frustration among Generation Z job seekers has sparked a new trend on LinkedIn, where the hashtag “#Desperate” has gained popularity as a replacement for the standard “Open to Work” banner. This movement, born from personal struggles in job hunting, is now being adopted by other job seekers facing similar challenges.
The bright purple #Desperate frame on LinkedIn was introduced by Courtney Summer Myers, a 28-year-old graphic designer and Plymouth University alum. “LinkedIn is a platform meant for networking and connecting with others. We’re doing this because it helps in some way,” Myers told, as stated from Fortune Friday October 4.
Myers started the trend out of frustration after being laid off for the second time in six years. Despite applying for around 30 jobs a day over 10 months, she had yet to secure employment.
LinkedIn offers users the option to add status labels or frames to their profile photos, such as “Open to Work” for job seekers and “Hiring” for recruiters. Myers’ “#Desperate” frame, however, stood out and quickly gained attention. Her post introducing the frame received over 400,000 likes and more than 7,000 comments, drawing a wide range of reactions from the LinkedIn community.
The #Desperate frame resonated with others LinkedIn users in similar situations, including Hanna McFadyen, a 22-year-old illustrator and designer from Scotland. After leaving a remote position in April 2024, McFadyen began applying to around 20 job postings per day but was met with little response. Even when recruiters acknowledged her work, she was never offered a position, often losing out to more experienced candidates.
“We’re confident enough to tell recruiters, ‘Look, we know we’re desperate, but we won’t be taken advantage of because of that label,’” McFadyen said.
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Employment experts warn that the #Desperate trend on LinkedIn could serve as a red flag to potential employers, who might exploit the situation by offering lower wages. Desperate job seekers may also be tempted to apply for positions simply to earn money, rather than finding roles that truly align with their skills and interests.
Myers disagrees with these criticisms, arguing that the #Desperate label is merely a way to let companies know that someone is available for new opportunities, freelance work, or other roles. “If I sit there and pretend everything is fine, how will people know I need a job or freelance work? People aren’t mind readers,” Myers emphasized.
(Raidi/Agung)
