Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile: A Guide to Attracting Opportunities

An optimized LinkedIn profile can bring numerous opportunities directly to you. After implementing invaluable optimizations to my own profile, I now receive a steady flow of enticing prospects in my inbox.

In this article, I'll share the insights I've gained to help you optimize your profile so that you can achieve similar success.

Hello, my name is Kayes. Like many others, I am a headhunter on a journey using LinkedIn.

Why should you optimize your LinkedIn profile?

Having a LinkedIn profile in today's industry is arguably just as important as having a resume/CV. By optimizing your LinkedIn profile, you will not only stand out from the crowd as a professional but also attract recruiters, hiring managers, and additional opportunities directly to you. 💸

How you should treat LinkedIn

Unlike other platforms, LinkedIn is a professional work-related platform, and it should be treated as such. Refrain from posting personal social content, your opinions on controversial subjects, and anything else that may hinder your reputation.

You have a right to voice your opinions, but you should consider posting them on other social media platforms. It is not in your best interest for potential hiring managers to dismiss you from employment opportunities simply by judging you based on your posted content. 😬

💡 Tip: Did you know many recruiters are not programmers? Keep this in mind to better optimize your LinkedIn profile.

How to Optimize your LinkedIn Profile Picture and Banner

In this section, you'll learn how to optimize your profile picture and banner on LinkedIn to make your profile look more professional.

How to Optimize your Profile Picture

Your profile picture is easy, so we'll start with that. Since the absence of a picture or an avatar in its place may be perceived as a red flag to hiring managers, use a real picture of yourself (don't be shy). 😏

Use a close-up picture of yourself in professional clothing, as you would in an interview, from the shoulder area up, and a professional-looking or blank background.

How to Optimize your Banner Image

For your banner, your goal is to convey a clear picture of your desired job role.

When creating a custom banner, here are things to consider:

• The banner image should reflect your desired job role, not contradict it.
• Other people viewing your profile may not be programmers.
• Everyone will not recognize tech icons without the corresponding names.
• Add contact information as an alternative method to be reached.
• Incorporate a hobby to spark conversation.

Adding contact information

Another thing I learned while having my profile reviewed is that recruiters have a limited number of monthly LinkedIn InMail credits available to reach out to potential candidates. So, adding your contact information to your banner, such as your website, email, and phone number, creates an alternative means of reaching you without having to utilize their InMail credits.

💡 Tip: Recruiters have a limited number of InMail credits, which they use to reach out to potential candidates. Providing your contact information in your LinkedIn banner provides an alternative method for others to get in touch with you.

Open to Work Banner

If you are feeling brave, you can display an "OPEN TO WORK" banner that proudly displays your availability to everyone.

However, since this is a delicate topic, and everyone's situation varies, there is an option that allows you to maintain the privacy of your open-to-work status. There will not be a displayed banner, but recruiters will know you are available to work. 🤫

To set the "Open to Work" banner on LinkedIn, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your LinkedIn account and navigate to "Edit job preferences."
2. Fill in the fields, such as job titles, location types, start date, and employment types.
3. Now, for visibility, choose whether to share your open-to-work status with all LinkedIn members or only with recruiters. Selecting the first option will display the "Open to Work" banner on your profile picture, while the second option keeps it private.
4. Click "Save" to apply the changes.

Note: Please proceed with caution when selecting your open-to-work status, regardless of whether you choose to display the banner or not, as LinkedIn has a disclaimer stating they cannot guarantee complete privacy. Use this feature at your own risk.

Location Setting

To optimize your LinkedIn location setting most effectively, select the broadest range that encompasses the specific location where you live or desire to work.

How to change the location setting on LinkedIn:

1. Click on your profile picture or the "Me" icon at the top of the LinkedIn homepage.
2. Click "View Profile" to access your profile page.
3. In the "Intro" section, click the pencil icon to edit your information.
4. In the "Location" field, enter the desired location or select from the suggested options.
5. Click "Save" to apply the changes.

💡 Tip: Optimize your LinkedIn location setting by choosing an area that covers a broad radius, ensuring your profile appears in more job searches.

Featured Section

The Featured section is the place to proudly display your achievements, awards, best original projects (not direct copies of tutorial projects), and similar content to showcase yourself in the spotlight. This section is arranged horizontally, scrolls like a carousel, and enables you to rearrange and pin your most recent content to the beginning/top.

Examples of content to feature include:

• Testimonials received
• Awards or recognitions received
• Published articles or blog posts
• Appearances (such as Livestream events)
• Presentations or conference talks

You can optimize your Featured section by including all relevant materials that demonstrate your skills and experience. Additionally, include content that you believe will effectively grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.

💡 Tip: Showcase your best content in the Featured section to capture the attention of recruiters and hiring managers, and remember to update it frequently.

Activity Section

It's vital for you to keep your LinkedIn profile active because a profile without activity will display a "hasn't posted lately" message in the Activity section. Recruiters and hiring managers are hesitant to reach out to profiles without activity because they are uncertain whether their attempts to make contact will be successful.

You can keep your profile active by:

• Creating posts: Share updates, articles, or insights to showcase your expertise and engage with your network.
• Leaving comments on posts: Interact with others by providing valuable feedback, asking questions, or sharing your thoughts on their content.
• Sharing posts: Amplify the reach of interesting content with your network, helping spread valuable insights and knowledge.
• Attending LinkedIn Livestream events: Participate in live video events hosted by industry experts, companies, or influencers to learn, network, and engage with others.
• Publishing articles: Write long-form content on LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge, share your experience, and establish yourself as a thought leader in your field.

Having an active profile will increase your visibility to recruiters and hiring managers, and since they know you frequently use the platform, they will not be hesitant to reach out to make contact with you.

💡 Tip: Keep your profile active to avoid the "hasn't posted lately" message in the Activity section, which may discourage recruiters and hiring managers from attempting to contact you.

Summary (About) Section

Everyone seems to have various opinions about what to put in your About section. From what I gathered through my profile reviews and research of LinkedIn documentation, the overall idea is to craft it like an elevator pitch.

So, what is an elevator pitch? An elevator pitch is a short speech briefly describing your background, skills, goals, and unique value, typically around 30 seconds to 1 minute (the length of time spent in an elevator with someone).

Here is advises providing five paragraphs that contain the following:

1. A hook: A captivating opening statement that grabs the reader's attention.
2. Your past: A brief overview of your previous experiences and accomplishments.
3. Your present: A description of your current role, responsibilities, and ongoing projects.
4. Your future: A statement outlining your career goals and aspirations.
5. Your skills: A list of your relevant technical and soft skills showcasing your expertise.

To further optimize your About section and make it more visible in search results of potential employers, be sure to incorporate plenty of relevant keywords, as this section is also keyword-searchable. 

💡 Tip: Include keywords relevant to your industry and desired job role in your About section to increase search results visibility.

Experience Section

To best optimize the Experience section of your LinkedIn profile, list your experiences relevant to the job roles you are currently seeking (not all of your unrelated tech roles). For each experience listed, be sure to include details for each, including company name, duration, and a brief description of your responsibilities and achievements.

Education Section

In the Education section, list the degrees and diplomas you have earned, along with the schools, colleges, or universities you have attended. You also have the opportunity to include any additional relevant information, such as participation in activities, societies, or honors you have received.

To best optimize the Education section, emphasize relevant coursework, highlight achievements, and explain the impact of education on your career trajectory as it relates to computer programming.

💡 Tip: If you have a time gap between jobs due to a career transition or break, you can create a positive spin on it by adding supplemental work experience such as completing Bootcamps, earning certificates, studying, and freelancing.

Skills and Endorsements Section

Be sure to add skills that are most relevant to the job roles you are seeking, and prioritize obtaining endorsements for them. The more endorsements you accumulate, the more credible you and your profile appear to potential employers.

Recommendations Section

Be sure to utilize the Recommendations section of your profile by asking others you have worked with to provide them. Just like receiving endorsements for your skills, having recommendations will also help increase your credibility and will make your profile more appealing to recruiters and hiring managers.

You can also write and provide recommendations for fellow LinkedIn members in your network.

Creator Mode

If you are a content creator, turning on LinkedIn Creator mode provides additional tools such as a "Follow" button, analytics, profile topics, and a set of creator tools that you can use to optimize your LinkedIn profile further.

Follow button

The Follow button provides LinkedIn members with an alternative option to connect with you. Once you surpass five hundred connections, a "500+ connections" displays, whereas there is no limit to the number of displayed followers.

Analytics

Analytics includes your post impressions, profile views, followers, and your search appearances. You will gain insights into your content's performance by selecting date ranges from a week to a year and choosing from a list of demographics. This information will help you clearly understand who is engaging with your content, allowing you to make informed decisions about your content strategy.

Profile topics

Creator mode allows you to showcase five "Profile Topics" that highlight your expertise, making it simpler for audiences to understand your focus, enhancing credibility, and attracting a targeted audience.

Creator tools include:

• Collaborative articles: Jointly written articles by multiple authors on LinkedIn.
• LinkedIn Live: Real-time video streaming feature on LinkedIn for engaging audiences.
• Audio Event: Virtual audio-based discussions or presentations on LinkedIn.
• Newsletters: Periodic publications sent to subscribers, sharing updates and insights.
• Follow link: Button on LinkedIn profiles for users to follow and receive content updates.

Additional tips

In this section, I included a few additional LinkedIn tips I have learned that are worth sharing with you.

They include:

Post external links in the comments

When sharing content that is located on other platforms using links, do not put the link directly in your LinkedIn post. Instead, add external links in the comments of your LinkedIn post. This tip came from a LinkedIn employee who explained that doing this significantly improves your post's reach/performance on the platform.

Change the default profile URL to your name

For a more professional URL, you have the option to change the default one created to your name.

Here are the steps to changing your profile URL:

• Click on your profile picture or the "Me" icon at the top of the LinkedIn homepage.
• Click "View Profile" to access your profile page.
• In the "Intro" section, click the pencil icon to edit your information.
• Scroll down to "Edit public profile & URL" on the top right and click it.
• On the new page, under "Edit your custom URL," click the pencil icon next to your current URL.
• Enter your desired custom URL and click "Save" to apply the changes.

Separate Profile for separate languages

If you speak more than one language, you may be filling out your profile multilingually. Doing so will quickly deplete your allotted character limit for each section and may cause confusion for others viewing your profile.

As an alternative, you can create separate profiles for each language. Maintaining a profile for each language provides the advantage of personalizing them to attract diverse job opportunities in their respective languages.

Here are steps to add a profile in another language (desktop/laptop version only):

• On the top right, click on "ME."
• Then click on "View Profile."
• Finally, on the right, click on "Add profile in another language."

LinkedIn Learning

With a premium membership, you can access LinkedIn Learning, an online educational platform offering a wide range of courses. Upon completing these courses, you will receive LinkedIn Learning certificates, which optimize your LinkedIn profile by displaying your skills and professional development to prospective employers and connections.

LinkedIn Skill Assessments

Skill Assessments are FREE tests offered by LinkedIn to evaluate your proficiency in various skills. A corresponding badge will be added on your profile when you pass a Skill Assessment test. If you fail the test, no worries! You are allowed to retake them after three months.

Conclusion

As a headhunter, having a LinkedIn profile is equally important as having a resume. Creating and optimizing a LinkedIn profile will help you stand out from the competition, draw the attention of recruiters and hiring managers, and attract a wealth of opportunities directly to you.

Once you have created and optimized your LinkedIn profile, you must stay active on the platform, as inactivity can be seen as a red flag for recruiters and hiring managers. You can stay active by interacting with posts through creation, commenting, and sharing them. You can also attend and participate in LinkedIn Livestream events to keep your account active.

Remember, LinkedIn is a professional platform and should be treated accordingly. Refrain from posting, commenting, or engaging in any form of communication that could potentially damage your reputation.

You can further enhance your LinkedIn profile by increasing your credibility. Make sure to include your honors and awards, consider taking LinkedIn Skill Assessments and courses, and ask for endorsements and recommendations from your network. Also, be on the lookout for new features you can take part in to boost your credibility, such as collaboration articles that award exclusive badges.

Most importantly, don't just take my word for it: regularly update your profile, discover what works best for you, and also observe how others have effectively optimized their LinkedIn profiles. If you or someone else has further optimization tips that I haven't covered, please share them so that we can all have the best-optimized profiles, leading to daily opportunities coming directly to each of us.