Do You Really Need to Be in a Job to Get Another One? (Part 1)
There is a quiet habit we are seeing more often among senior finance leaders. They leave their previous role open on LinkedIn, even after they have stepped away from the business.
And it often comes down to one assumption: You need to be in a job to get another job.
One of the more interesting shifts in the senior finance market we are seeing now is not about hiring demand or salaries. It is about how people choose to present themselves when between roles.
In recent months, we have spoken to a growing number of Finance Directors, Senior finance professionals, and Transformation Leaders whose LinkedIn profiles suggest they are still in post. When the conversation starts, however, they explain that they left, sometimes recently and sometimes a number of months back.
This is not unusual. In fact, it is becoming increasingly common. And most importantly, it is entirely understandable.
Careers in at this level are often built over many years with a strong sense of progression and stability. Roles are held for a long time. Transitions are usually considered and deliberate. When that continuity changes, whether through redundancy, restructure or a personal decision to move on, it can feel more visible than it really is.
There can be an instinct to manage that visibility by leaving the role open a little longer, taking some time before you update your profile and to avoid creating a moment that feels more significant than it needs to be.
Often, beneath that decision sits a quieter concern. How will this be perceived?
It is a fair question. Particularly at a senior level, where experience, track record and credibility are closely tied to reputation. But the reality of the current market tells a slightly different story.
Recent data from the Office for National Statistics shows that unemployment in the UK has risen to around 5.2 percent, the highest since the COVID 19 pandemic. Around 145,000 redundancies were recorded in the final quarter of 2025 alone, with early indicators suggesting further increases into 2026. (ONS: Employment in the UK - Feb 2026).
These stats point to something important. Being between roles is no longer an outlier event. It is part of the normal rhythm of the market. That does not make the experience any less personal. But it does change how it should be interpreted.
What we are seeing is not a reflection of individual capability. It reflects organisations adapting, restructuring, and making decisions in response to a changing environment. And yet, the idea that you need to be in a role to secure the next one still carries weight.
We would be interested to hear whether this is something others have noticed in the market?
In Part 2, we will explore that assumption in more detail.
In particular, how senior finance hiring really works in practice, and why many of the most experienced professionals are having conversations about their next move long before they formally leave a role.
If this is something you are navigating yourself or simply want a confidential view on how the market is moving at senior level, we are always happy to have a conversation. Feel free to message directly or get in touch via email contact@eutopia-search.co.uk
