Quick Start: The 3 Fields That Matter Most
1. Transition Type – Be honest about what kind of change this is. “Internal promotion” needs a different tone than “leaving for competitor.” The AI adjusts your announcement’s diplomatic level based on this, so don’t sugarcoat it.
2. Tone Selection – Most people default to “humble and grateful,” but if you’re genuinely pumped about this move, choose “excited and confident.” Authenticity wins over playing it safe. Your network can tell when you’re holding back.
3. Who to Thank – Keep this genuine and specific. “My manager Sarah who believed in me when I doubted myself” beats “my amazing team.” The AI uses your actual words here, so write like you’re talking to a friend, not accepting an Oscar.
One mistake that kills these posts: Overthinking the previous employer reference. If you had a good experience, say so warmly. If it was just “fine,” go neutral. Don’t fake enthusiasm for a job you hated – people can smell that a mile away.
Fast track? Fill those three fields well and hit submit. The AI handles the rest.
Word Count: 188 words ✅
Understanding Career Announcements on LinkedIn
Career transitions are simultaneously exciting and terrifying to announce. You’re proud of the new opportunity but worried about how your previous employer will react. You want to celebrate without looking like you’re bragging. You need to thank people without forgetting someone important. It’s a social minefield disguised as a celebration.
Here’s what most people get wrong: they think career announcements are about the new job. They’re actually about maintaining relationships while moving forward. Your former colleagues need to know you valued the experience. Your new company’s employees might be reading this. Your broader network needs a reason to stay connected. The announcement that works handles all three audiences simultaneously without feeling like you’re talking to everyone and no one.
The tone matters more than you think. Too excited and you seem immature or like you hated your old job. Too humble and people wonder if you’re actually enthusiastic about the move. The sweet spot is “genuinely excited professional who remembers where they came from.” That’s harder to nail than it sounds, which is why most career announcements feel slightly off.
Why this form exists: Career transitions happen fast. You accept an offer, start in two weeks, and suddenly realize you need to tell your entire professional network. Most people draft something at 11pm the night before their first day, overthink every word, and post something that doesn’t quite capture how they actually feel. This form gets the tone right while you’re still processing the change yourself.
Field-by-Field Guide: Making Each Section Work
New Role & Previous Role Fields
Don’t just write “Senior Manager at TechCorp.” Your announcement reads better with context. Try “Senior Product Manager at TechCorp, leading the enterprise AI platform” – it tells people what you actually do.
❌ Generic: “Marketing Director at StartupX”
✅ Better: “Marketing Director at StartupX, building our brand in fintech”
Why it works: Specificity makes your move real and interesting. “AI platform” or “fintech” gives people a conversation starter.
Transition Type Selection
This field does heavy lifting behind the scenes. “Internal promotion” triggers gratitude language toward your current company. “New company – same industry” balances excitement with diplomacy. “Career pivot” adds explanation language so people understand the switch.
Example: Select “Career Pivot” and the AI knows you’ll need to address the “why are you leaving law for tech?” question before people ask it in comments.
Tone Calibration
This is where people second-guess themselves. Here’s a simple test: If you told your best friend about this job over coffee, what energy would you have? That’s your tone.
- Excited & Confident: You’re genuinely pumped and not worried about appearing too enthusiastic
- Humble & Grateful: Big milestone, but you’re focused on thanking people who helped
- Balanced & Professional: Significant move, measured emotion, letting the facts speak
- Reflective & Forward-Looking: Career pivot or major change requiring some explanation
Most people choose “Humble & Grateful” because it feels safest. But if you’re actually excited, that’s more authentic and engaging.
Gratitude Section (Optional but Recommended)
Write this like you’re sending a thank you text, not giving a speech. The AI shapes it into announcement language.
❌ Stiff: “I would like to express my gratitude to my manager, John Smith, and my colleagues for their support”
✅ Natural: “Huge thanks to my manager John who took a chance on someone with zero experience, and to the product team who taught me everything about shipping software”
Why it works: Specific gratitude feels genuine. Generic thank-yous sound obligatory.
Best Practices for Career Announcements
✅ Post timing matters – First week of new role is ideal. Too early (before you start) feels presumptuous. Too late (after a month) and people already know.
✅ Tag thoughtfully – Tag your new company. Consider tagging your previous company if you left on genuinely good terms. Skip tagging individuals unless they’re expecting it.
✅ Keep new role details professional – Share what you’re excited about, not salary, equity, or anything confidential from onboarding.
✅ Bridge preservation is everything – Even if you hated your last job, neutral language serves you better. You’ll run into those people again.
✅ Ask an engagement question – “What’s your best advice for someone starting a leadership role?” beats ending with “Excited for this journey!”
✅ Respond to comments promptly – The first few hours matter for LinkedIn’s algorithm. Thank people, answer questions, keep the conversation going.
✅ Don’t disappear after posting – If people reach out to reconnect, actually follow through. Career announcements are networking opportunities disguised as updates.
Common Mistakes That Tank Career Announcements
❌ The humble-brag hybrid – “I’m so humbled and honored to announce…” No you’re not. You’re proud. That’s okay. Just say you’re proud.
❌ The previous employer shade – Any hint of “finally leaving” or “new opportunity to actually grow” reads as bitter. Go neutral or skip mentioning them entirely.
❌ The exhaustive thank you list – Thanking 12 people by name makes everyone skim past it. Pick 2-3 people who truly made a difference and be specific about how.
❌ The vague enthusiasm – “So excited for this new chapter!” tells people nothing. What specifically excites you about the role? That’s the interesting part.
❌ The over-explanation – If you’re making a career pivot, one good paragraph of rationale is enough. Don’t write an essay defending your decision before anyone questions it.
Why these mistakes happen: Career transitions make us defensive. We either underplay the achievement (humble-bragging) or overexplain it (defending the choice). The best announcements just state the facts with appropriate emotion and let the work speak for itself.
Pro Tips for Maximum Impact
💡 Front-load the announcement – Lead with the new role, then acknowledge the past. Don’t make people wait three paragraphs to find out what you’re announcing.
💡 Use conversational transitions – “After 4 incredible years at StartupX, I’m excited to share…” flows better than formal corporate speak.
💡 For career pivots, emphasize transferable value – Don’t just explain why you’re leaving the old field. Explain what you’re bringing to the new one. “My decade in law gives me a unique perspective on regulatory challenges in tech” beats “I was burned out from law.”
💡 Create curiosity about your new company – If you’re joining a lesser-known company, one compelling sentence about what they do helps people understand why you joined.
💡 End with a specific invitation – “I’d love to hear from anyone working in FinTech – particularly around regulatory compliance” is more engaging than “Let’s stay connected!”
💡 Time it strategically – Post early morning (7-8am) on Tuesday-Thursday for maximum LinkedIn visibility. Monday is noisy, Friday sees less engagement.
Advanced move: If you’re moving to a competitor or making a controversial career change, address it directly but briefly. “I know some of you might be surprised to see me join a competitor, but the opportunity to work on X was too compelling to pass up.” Acknowledges the elephant in the room without dwelling on it.
What Your Network Actually Cares About
Your LinkedIn connections have three unspoken questions when they see your career announcement:
1. “Should I congratulate this person?” – Make it obvious this is good news you want to share, not a forced update.
2. “Does this affect our relationship?” – If you’re leaving their company or industry, subtly signal whether you want to stay connected.
3. “What does this mean for me?” – If there’s any reason your network might care (hiring, looking for partnerships, industry insights), hint at it in your closing.
The best career announcements answer all three questions without explicitly stating them. That’s what separates good announcements from great ones – they’re written for the reader, not just for the writer.
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
Should I wait until my first day to post, or announce right after accepting?
Post within your first week of starting. Announcing before you begin feels presumptuous (what if something changes?). Waiting more than a week means people already heard through the grapevine. First week hits the sweet spot of timely and established.
What if I left my previous job on bad terms – can I just skip mentioning it?
Absolutely. Go with “Skip Reference” in the previous employer dropdown. The AI writes around it naturally. Your announcement can focus 100% on the exciting new opportunity without any awkward previous job mentions.
How much detail should I share about my new role?
Share what you’re excited about and what you’ll be working on (generally). Skip anything that might be confidential, specific metrics, team size, or reporting structure. If you wouldn’t say it in a coffee shop conversation with an acquaintance, don’t put it in your LinkedIn announcement.
I’m making a huge career pivot – should I explain why I’m leaving my field?
Yes, but keep it to 2-3 sentences maximum. Focus on what attracted you to the new field, not what pushed you away from the old one. “I’ve always been fascinated by how technology solves healthcare problems, and this role finally lets me combine my clinical experience with product development” is perfect.
Should I tag my previous company in the post?
Only if you left on genuinely positive terms and want to maintain that public relationship. If there’s any doubt, skip it. You can thank the company in your text without tagging them directly.
What if I’m nervous about my new company seeing my announcement?
That’s actually a feature, not a bug. Your new colleagues will likely see your post – that’s networking gold. Make sure your announcement shows genuine excitement about joining them. They want to see you’re proud to be there.
How do I avoid sounding like I’m bragging?
Acknowledge the journey and thank people who helped. “After 6 months of searching and some amazing mentorship from colleagues, I’m thrilled to share…” feels earned, not boastful. Gratitude is the antidote to bragging.
I have three different audiences (old colleagues, new company, broader network) – how do I write for all of them?
This is exactly what the form handles. The AI crafts language that thanks your old colleagues, shows enthusiasm for your new company, and invites your broader network to stay connected – all without feeling like you’re talking to everyone and no one.
Ready to create your announcement? Fill out the form above and get a perfectly calibrated prompt that captures your unique situation. The AI handles the diplomatic complexity while keeping your authentic voice front and center.