LinkedIn Profile Optimization: Complement Your Resume

Why LinkedIn Matters

LinkedIn is more than a job board - it's your professional reputation online:

• 95% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates
• Hiring managers check profiles before interviews
• Your profile appears in Google searches of your name
• It's a platform for networking and industry visibility

Profile Photo Best Practices

What Works

• Professional headshot (face takes up 60% of frame)
• Neutral or simple background
• Good lighting (natural light is best)
• Appropriate attire for your industry
• Friendly, approachable expression

What to Avoid

• Selfies or casual photos
• Group photos (cropped or not)
• Photos from 10+ years ago
• Distracting backgrounds
• Sunglasses or heavy filters

Crafting Your Headline

Your headline is prime real estate - 120 characters that appear everywhere. Don't waste it on just your job title.

Formula

[Role] | [Value Proposition] | [Keywords]

Examples

• Basic: "Marketing Manager at ABC Corp"
• Better: "Marketing Manager | Driving Growth Through Data-Driven Digital Campaigns | B2B SaaS"
• For job seekers: "Senior Software Engineer | Full-Stack Development | React, Node.js, AWS | Open to Opportunities"

Writing Your About Section

Structure

1. Hook: Open with what makes you unique
2. Experience summary: Your career highlights
3. What you do: Your expertise and approach
4. Achievements: Key accomplishments with metrics
5. Call to action: What you want to happen next

Tips

• Write in first person ("I" not "he/she")
• Include relevant keywords naturally
• Keep it scannable with short paragraphs
• Show personality while staying professional
• Include contact info if you want to be reached

LinkedIn vs Resume Differences

What's Different on LinkedIn

• More space: You can expand on your resume content
• First person: Use "I" instead of resume's third person
• Personality: Show more of who you are
• Media: Add presentations, articles, projects
• Social proof: Recommendations and endorsements

What Should Match

• Job titles and companies
• Employment dates
• Education credentials
• Key achievements

Optimizing Your Experience Section

For Each Role Include

• Clear description of scope and responsibilities
• Key achievements with metrics
• Skills and tools used
• Media samples if relevant

Use Keywords Strategically

LinkedIn search works like a search engine. Include:

• Job titles (current and target)
• Industry terms
• Skills that recruiters search for
• Tool and technology names

Skills and Endorsements

How to Optimize

• List up to 50 skills (use them all)
• Pin your top 3 most important skills
• Include mix of hard and soft skills
• Match skills to your target roles

Getting Endorsements

• Endorse others first (many will reciprocate)
• Ask colleagues to endorse specific skills
• Quality matters - endorsements from credible people

Recommendations

Why They Matter

Recommendations provide social proof and third-party validation. They're like references built into your profile.

How to Get Good Ones

• Ask people who know your work well
• Request from supervisors, clients, or colleagues
• Provide guidance on what to mention
• Offer to write one for them first

What to Ask For

When requesting, say: "Would you be willing to write a recommendation highlighting our work on [specific project] and my skills in [specific area]?"

Activity and Engagement

Why Activity Matters

• Increases visibility in search results
• Shows you're current in your field
• Builds your professional brand
• Expands your network

Easy Ways to Stay Active

• Share industry articles with brief commentary
• Comment thoughtfully on others' posts
• Congratulate connections on achievements
• Post occasional updates about your work
• Publish articles on topics you know well

Settings for Job Seekers

Open to Work Feature

• Signal recruiters you're available
• Choose to show to recruiters only (not your employer)
• Specify job titles, locations, and work types

Privacy Settings

• Control who sees your connections
• Manage activity visibility
• Choose whether your profile views are visible to others

LinkedIn Profile Checklist

• [ ] Professional photo
• [ ] Compelling headline with keywords
• [ ] Complete About section
• [ ] All relevant experience listed
• [ ] Education completed
• [ ] Skills section filled (50 skills)
• [ ] At least 3 recommendations
• [ ] Custom URL (linkedin.com/in/yourname)
• [ ] Contact info visible
• [ ] Open to Work enabled (if applicable)