25 Tips for a LinkedIn Profile That Stands Out

This article was originally published on CareerAddict.

As of 2023, there are 950 million LinkedIn users in more than 200 countries around the world. Of the millions of profiles on there, 61 million are company profiles that regularly advertise their open roles, hoping to attract the very best candidates. Indeed, 72% of recruiters out there use LinkedIn when looking for candidates, according to British social media marketing agency The Social Shepherd.

On one hand, this means that jobseekers on LinkedIn can browse through a plethora of job advertisements relevant to them on any given day. On the other, given the staggering number of users, it means they’ll have some serious competition when they do apply.

In this article, we’ll discuss what you can do to stand out on the platform and attract recruiters so you can land your dream role faster. Here are 25 actionable tips on building a professional LinkedIn profile!

The importance of an effective LinkedIn profile

As mentioned earlier, an estimated three quarters of all recruiters use the social networking site to source talent, so not being on there could put you at a disadvantage. But you shouldn’t just create a profile and then leave it there to gather metaphorical dust. You need to stay on top of it, make it eye-catching and keep it up to date. Why?

According to statistics shared by LinkedIn, 61 million users search for jobs on LinkedIn each week; 117 job applications are submitted every second and 8 people are hired through the platform every minute. This puts into perspective just how competitive job searching on the networking site can get — and why it’s so important for users to stand out from the crowd.

Dedicating enough time and thought to filling out all vital sections will also lead to a much higher number of recruiters viewing your profile, compared to users whose profiles are less than 90% complete. This means that, even when you’re not actively searching for work, your profile will still be doing some of the work for you, attracting hirers and potentially leading to great opportunities.

How to make your profile stand out

We’ve seen how beneficial it is to have a great presence on LinkedIn and be active on the platform when looking for new job opportunities. Now let’s discuss some tips on how to make your LinkedIn profile look enticing in the eyes of recruiting professionals.

1. Craft a great headline

Much like your résumé, your LinkedIn profile needs a clear, concise headline. It’s one of the first things people will see when they visit your profile, and it will also appear below your name in searches, messages you send, comments you leave on people’s posts, and posts you share yourself.

Your headline could be plain and simple, like “Talent Acquisition Manager”. Or it could be a little longer, such as “Talent Acquisition Manager with 10+ Years’ Experience in Building Great Employer Brands”.

You could also write something humorous or creative, such as “Your Friendly Neighborhood Recruiter”. LinkedIn is a social networking site, after all, so adding a casual element to your profile won’t do any harm — so long as it’s used appropriately and in good taste.

2. Spend time on your summary

No LinkedIn profile is complete without a filled-out “About” section, also known as a LinkedIn bio or summary. Although this section can be several paragraphs long, no more than three lines you write will be visible to visitors, unless they select “See more”.

Our recommendation is to keep your writing in this section succinct. Three paragraphs, or 300 words approximately, is a good limit to aim for. Keywords like “management” and “analysis” should be included here, as they can boost how high you rank in searches.

Besides highlighting your expertise and achievements, use this section to get your personality to shine through. After all, hiring managers won’t just take into account your experience, but also your outlook and attitude to make sure you’re a good fit for the team.

3. Use a professional profile picture

What makes a good profile picture on social networking sites? The lighting, the cropping, the background and, of course, the subject — in this case: you!

Starting with the basics, it’s good to smile in your profile picture (even a subtle smile can help establish trust) and pick an outfit that’s relevant to your role. A cooking apron might raise eyebrows if you’re a banker, for example, but if you’re a baker, then it will present you in a professional light.

Stick with solid or blurred backgrounds so your face doesn’t get lost in the “noise”. And, finally, crop your image in a way that lets a bit of your shoulders into the shot so that you’re not just a magnified, bodiless head in your image.

4. Choose a relevant cover photo

Also referred to as a LinkedIn background image or a banner, a cover photo can convey additional information about you.

If you’re a creative, you can pick one of your photographs, designs or artworks to display across the top of your profile. If, on the other hand, you work in a more corporate setting, then an image of your workspace or office can work. Much like your profile photo, pay attention to the quality of the image as well as the cropping and lighting here.

Finally, a more generic picture can also communicate the cause you’re working in: a windmill against a backdrop of grassy fields if you work in the energy sector, for example.

5. Share your contact information

Your email address, contact number and general location should be included in your LinkedIn profile. It’s a good idea to create a professional email address if you haven’t already (time to retire “jenn_654” from your high school era) and to consider using Google Voice if you don’t have a separate phone number for work-related matters. You can choose who views your email address from your privacy settings: your 1st degree connections, 1st and 2nd degree connections, or anyone on LinkedIn.

Also, if you’ve got professional Facebook or Twitter accounts (no, we’re not ready to start calling it “X” yet), share them too.

6. Share external links

If you have a website, a blog or an online portfolio, you’ll want to add a link to it from your profile. Directing visitors to a place where they can find out more about you and what you do, and see real-life examples or applications of your work, is a perfect way to showcase your talent and know-how further.

As mentioned previously, direct users to any other professional social media accounts you have. Just make sure there’s nothing incriminating or too personal on there and that it’s all recruiter-friendly!

7. Describe your work history

Adding your work experience to your profile demonstrates your expertise. Though you’ll want to be thorough, it’s generally advised not to go back more than 10–15 years when listing your work history, whether that’s on LinkedIn or your résumé.

If you’re a recent graduate with no experience, focus on carefully filling out the rest of the sections on your profile, such as your skills, education and interests. Also, don’t be afraid to openly state you’re looking for work experience! Use the “Open to Work” feature and your headline to your advantage — for example, “Graduated with Honors in Business Management” is a good way to show what stage you’re at in your career and what you’ve achieved so far.

8. Mention your education

Although your education might not be as relevant when you’ve been working for several years, it’s still good to include your higher education details on your LinkedIn profile. If you’re a recent school leaver or college graduate, however, you might want to mention your upper secondary education, too (particularly if you were a high achiever), as your profile might end up looking empty otherwise.

9. Add your skills

LinkedIn has a “Skills” section that all jobseekers should make use of. It lets you select up to 50 from a large list of skills and display them on your profile. These range from technical skills, such as cloud computing, to soft skills, like time management.

According to LinkedIn’s 2023 Most In-Demand Skills list, some of the top skills an employee can have are management, communication, leadership and research.

10. List your qualifications

Pursuing additional training and qualifications can demonstrate a commitment to and passion for what you do. So, if you’ve received any, you’ll want to list them on your profile right away.

Lifelong learning also conveys to prospective employers your ability to take initiative and motivate yourself, which is desirable regardless of industry.

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