How to Build a Positive Linkedin Profile

I’ve reviewed 1,000+ LinkedIn profiles over the past 5 years. Here are 8 tips to turn your LinkedIn profile into a job-generating machine: 1. Upgrade Your Profile Picture Like it or not, your profile picture is your first impression. Make it a good one: - Upload your PP to Photofeeler .com - Analyze the feedback - Reshoot/edit your picture based on the data Repeat until your scores are good! 2. Leverage Keywords The right keywords help you show up in more searches. Here's how to find them: - Find 5+ job descriptions for target roles - Paste them all into ResyMatch.io's JD scanner - Save the top 15 skills Weave them into the rest of your profile! 3. Write A Killer Headline I like to use this headline formula: [Keywords] | [Skills] | [Results-Focused Value Proposition] Example for a data scientist: Data Scientist | Python, R, Tableau | I Help Hospitals Use Big Data To Reduce Readmission Rates By 37% 4. Write A Killer About A great About section has 3 parts: - A short paragraph that speaks to your job, years of experience, and value prop. - Five "case study" bullets that showcase specific results. - Your email w/ a CTA for people to connect with you. Include keywords! 5. Leverage Your Featured Section It’s hard to convey your value on a resume or in an About section. This is your chance to show people what you’ve done on your terms. Include things like: - Case studies of your work - Content you’ve created - Posts you’ve written 6. Skills Matter LinkedIn uses profile Skills sections to rank candidates. Here’s how to boost your rank: - Add every keyword from your ResyMatch scan - Choose the top 5 most relevant skills - Ask colleagues, friends, family, & classmates for endorsements (aim for 5) 7. Engage & Support Others Comments can generate tons of profile views! Here’s how: - Find 10+ thought leaders in your target space - Bookmark their post feed - Check their feeds daily - Leave a supportive, valuable comment on each new post Repeat for a minimum of 30 days 8. Create Content! Content is networking at scale. One post can reach more people than your entire connection base. It also allows you to showcase value in your own words, on your own terms. It can feel scary, but only 1% of people do it—and the returns are huge.

I constantly get recruiter reachouts from big tech companies and top AI startups- even when I’m not actively job hunting or listed as “Open to Work.” That’s because over the years, I’ve consciously put in the effort to build a clear and consistent presence on LinkedIn- one that reflects what I do, what I care about, and the kind of work I want to be known for. And the best part? It’s something anyone can do- with the right strategy and a bit of consistency. If you’re tired of applying to dozens of jobs with no reply, here are 5 powerful LinkedIn upgrades that will make recruiters come to you: 1. Quietly activate “Open to Work” Even if you’re not searching, turning this on boosts your visibility in recruiter filters. → Turn it on under your profile → “Open to” → “Finding a new job” → Choose “Recruiters only” visibility → Specify target titles and locations clearly (e.g., “Machine Learning Engineer – Computer Vision, Remote”) Why it works: Recruiters rely on this filter to find passive yet qualified candidates. 2. Treat your headline like SEO + your elevator pitch Your headline is key real estate- use it to clearly communicate role, expertise, and value. Weak example: “Software Developer at XYZ Company” → Generic and not searchable. Strong example: “ML Engineer | Computer Vision for Autonomous Systems | PyTorch, TensorRT Specialist” → Role: ML Engineer → Niche: computer vision in autonomous systems → Tools: PyTorch, TensorRT This structure reflects best practices from experts who recommend combining role, specialization, technical skills, and context to stand out. 3. Upgrade your visuals to build trust → Use a crisp headshot: natural light, simple background, friendly expression → Add a banner that reinforces your brand: you working, speaking, or a tagline with tools/logos Why it works: Clean visuals increase profile views and instantly project credibility. 4. Rewrite your “About” section as a human story Skip the bullet list, tell a narrative in three parts: → Intro: “I’m an ML engineer specializing in computer vision models for autonomous systems.” → Expertise: “I build end‑to‑end pipelines using PyTorch and TensorRT, optimizing real‑time inference for edge deployment.” → Motivation: “I’m passionate about enabling safer autonomy through efficient vision AI, let’s connect if you’re building in that space.” Why it works: Authentic storytelling creates memorability and emotional resonance . 5. Be the advocate for your work Make your profile act like a portfolio, not just a resume. → Under each role, add 2–4 bullet points with measurable outcomes and tools (e.g., “Reduced inference latency by 35% using INT8 quantization in TensorRT”) → In the Featured section, highlight demos, whitepapers, GitHub repos, or tech talks Give yourself five intentional profile upgrades this week. Then sit back and watch recruiters start reaching you, even in today’s competitive market.

Your LinkedIn profile is a 24/7 inbound job magnet if you set it up right! It's an opportunity to have the hottest companies and hiring managers chasing you rather than you running after them. Impossible? Hell no. It’s how I got my senior product position at Affirm and the same story for VP of product at Apollo. Here’s the complete guide to converting your LinkedIn profile into a job-attracting asset: — 𝟭. 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 Don't use generic headline templates mentioning your job title and company name. ↳ Highlight your expertise or niche. ↳ Mention companies for credibility. ↳ Add a secondary offer; are you a coach, speaker, or consultant? ↳ Example: "Senior Product Manager @ TechCo | Driving B2B SaaS Growth 🚀 | Ex-Google, Ex-Amazon | Product Leadership Coach" — 𝟮. 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗠𝗘 Think of your "About" section as your personal story. ↳ Experience summary showcasing your value. ↳ Use storytelling to highlight your key achievements (don’t forget to mention numbers/results) with a personal touch. ↳ Wrap up by stating what kind of roles or challenges you’re interested in next. — 𝟯. 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗘 How people perceive you depends a lot on how you visually present yourself. Here’s how to do it right: ↳ High-quality and professional headshot. Use AI if you don’t have a good photo. ↳ Don’t use cover photos for vague quotes; use it to highlight your achievements, awards, reviews, your products, etc. — 𝟰. 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 Your experience section is where the real depth comes in. ↳ Go beyond job duties and focus on the specific results and outcomes you achieved. ↳ Use the Situation, Action, Result (SAR) framework to highlight what you did and how it made an impact. (e.g., “Increased customer retention by 25% in 6 months”). ↳ Use industry-specific keywords so recruiters can easily find you in searches. — 𝟱. 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 ↳ Simplify your LinkedIn URL (e.g., linkedin.com/in/YourName) with a custom URL. ↳ Make sure to add a link to your portfolio, website, or a side project directly in your profile. ↳ Regularly review your contact info and make it easy for recruiters to reach out to you. — 𝟲. 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 Think of recommendations as built-in references that add credibility to your profile. ↳ Reach out to people who can specifically highlight your key skills and achievements. ↳ Aim for a variety of recommendations—managers, colleagues, and clients. ↳ Pin your top 2-3 recommendations. — 𝟳. 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗦 The "Skills" section helps you appear in searches and validates your expertise: ↳ Choose skills that define your professional strengths, and pin your top 3. ↳ Take LinkedIn skill assessments to add credibility with “verified” badges. — If you want to dive deeper into how to do it all with real-time examples and breakdowns, check out the guide below in comments.

As an executive recruiter, I have reviewed countless LinkedIn profiles, and after all this time... There were seven key elements that always stood out in the best ones 📇 These are the things that can make the difference between being noticed and being overlooked in a crowded job market: 1. A high-quality professional photo 📷 This is your first impression—make it count. A professional-looking photo (even if it’s just a well-lit, friendly shot) helps recruiters feel like they’re getting to know the real you before they even read a word of your profile. 2. An engaging, value-driven headline 📇 Your headline shouldn’t just be your job title. Use it as an opportunity to showcase your expertise. Think of it as your 120-character elevator pitch—make it about what you can offer and what makes you stand out. 3. A thoughtful summary 📑 Your summary should tell your career story in a way that draws recruiters in. Share your background, your passions, and what you bring to the table. It’s your chance to give a glimpse into your personality and career goals, so make it concise but impactful. 4. Up-to-date and relevant skills ✅ Employers and recruiters are searching for candidates with specific skills. Ensure your skills section is current, relevant to the positions you're targeting, and reflects the keywords hiring managers are looking for. 5. A well-built network 📲 Building a strong, relevant network is crucial. It not only helps you stay connected to industry professionals but also demonstrates your credibility. A broad network signals to recruiters that you are well-connected in your industry. 6. Recommendations and endorsements 🗣️ Having others vouch for your work and character adds powerful social proof. Seek recommendations from colleagues, managers, or clients, and don’t hesitate to endorse others too. 7. Concrete achievements and results 🎖️ In your experience section, focus on the impact you’ve made. Don’t just list job duties—show measurable results, key achievements, and how you’ve contributed to the success of your team or company. If your profile is missing any of these elements, it’s time to make some updates 👀 A complete, engaging LinkedIn profile doesn’t just get noticed—it helps you stand out from the crowd and attract the right opportunities. Want more tips on how to optimize your LinkedIn profile for success? Let’s connect and make sure your profile is putting your best foot forward. For more insights, check out my newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju #executiverecruiter #eliterecruiter #jobmarket2025 #profoliosai #resume #jobstrategy

When my husband launched his job search last year, the very first thing we did was update his LinkedIn profile. Within 24 hours, he had his first recruiter reach out to schedule an interview, his profile views shot up 8,500%, and we quadrupled his network. He was starting from ground zero. Here's exactly what I did to get him started: 1. We took a professional headshot, added his profile picture with a custom brand color background, and gave him a LinkedIn banner. 2. I updated his headline to reflect his current goals for his next career move using my favorite headline formula: Target job title | 3 high-priority keywords | Personal branding statement. 3. I updated his About section and added his work experience, ensuring that at least two positions were completely filled out. Not just job title and place of employment, but we added relevant accomplishments and keywords. 4. I added relevant skills related to the roles he's targeting. Altogether there are 50. 5. We included his certifications and credentials. 6. We uploaded his email contacts, synced them with LinkedIn, and sent requests to everyone he was connected with via email that was on LinkedIn. 7. We specifically searched for connections at his #1 target company and sent them personalized connection requests. He received 5 accepts, including the CEO of his target company and the HR director. If you're job searching have you completed all of the above? If not, take some time today to make the changes and see what improvements happen for you! I also created this 5-day video series showing exactly what I did to update his profile. If you're trying to make the most of LinkedIn, start here: https://lnkd.in/e5E7DaHq #LinkedInTopVoices #LinkedIn #JobSearch #Careers #Networking

35+ Recruiters looked at my LinkedIn profile ...but didn't call me in for an interview. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was making 5 huge mistakes. Here are the changes I made that started landing me interviews: 1️⃣ HEADLINE Your headline is your first impression. Before a recruiter even clicks on your profile, they read your headline. 👉 There's a simple format to write a good one: Target title | Skill #1 | Skill #2 | Skill #3 | Achievement Example 👉 Content Marketing Manager | GTM Strategy | B2B | SEO | Increased marketing-influenced pipeline by 135% in 6 months. 2️⃣ ABOUT & EXPERIENCE This is your chance to tell your story. Your resume should be short (350-550 words) but your LinkedIn should be longer. 💡 Use the "Core 4" About framework: ↳ I am a {title} who... (3 skills) ↳ I launched my career at...(early career story) ↳ I then moved to...(2 mid-career achievements) ↳ Currently I am... (your most recent role) 3️⃣ ACTIVITY Posting on LinkedIn is scary, but it matters now more than ever. That's because LinkedIn shows "active" profiles higher in search results. 💡 To be considered "active" you just have to comment 3x/week (you can start by commenting on this post 😉 ) 4️⃣ KEYWORDS Add keywords throughout your Job Titles AND your skills section. Recruiters don't search for "Chief Happiness Officer" they search for "Director of Customer Success." 💡 Change your previous job titles to reflect what you actually did. You DON'T have to use the title your company gave you. 5️⃣ PHOTO & HEADER Check your privacy settings! Many LinkedIn profiles default to not showing your profile photo publicly. ‼️ A missing photo is a huge red flag to recruiters, make sure yours is set to public! Before you send even one more application, check these 5 parts of your profile. 👉 It's better to do the work up front than to send more applications and getting ghosted "for some reason." 👉 P.S. I just sent my "Guide To The ATS" to everyone who commented on my last post. If you missed it, just follow my profile and drop a comment below and I can send it to you too. _ #resume #hiring

POV: If you can't make viral reels on Instagram, invest your time on LinkedIn because you can receive dream opportunities here, like I did from the Founder of Meesho, Sanjeev Barnwal. My story & advice below, especially for International students: I have had an active profile on LinkedIn since 2014. By active I mean that I would keep it up to date but I would hardly keep tabs on it. I didn’t believe a linkedin profile was anything more than just another social media platform that I simply must have a presence on. So, I never bothered checking my messages or using it to my advantage because I didn’t think amazing opportunities could ever land in my inbox. What do you mean I don’t have to clear 6 rounds of interviews to be able to speak to a founder or a C level executive? :) Sadly, most people still think so, & I’m here to change that. I only found this message from Sanjeev very recently, when I was combing through my entire inbox trying to see who all I need to respond to. Sadly, it was a huge life changing opportunity that I missed back then. I’m sharing this screenshot as an example for people who still think LinkedIn isn’t a powerful platform, and is just another social media. It’s not. Believe people when they say that your Linkedin can land you the job of your dreams without even applying. I received job opportunities from Walmart, Morgan Stanley, some other medium sized companies and startups : a total of 12 in the last 2 years. And for that to happen, here are a few things you can do: 1. Have a professional headshot as your LinkedIn profile picture. 2. Have a well thought out headline which highlights your most meaningful skill, experience or academic qualifications or all of them. Limited real estate so use it well. 3. Keep your entire experience section updated with companies you worked with along with detailed yet bulleted points about your work. Show the metrics, results you drove, who you worked with and how you did it. 4. Elaborate on the ‘how’ part by adding certifications, additional courses you took, projects you worked on, awards you won. 5. Make it well rounded profile by adding volunteering experiences you have. Do not lie about them. It’s okay to not list them if you don’t have any. 6. Lastly, make sure you have recommendations from your seniors, peers, classmates, professors, bosses and anyone else who may be able to vouch for your skills or character. Social proof is highly underestimated. There’s so much more that you can do to make sure your profile speaks for itself, but if you’re new to the platform or just lazy, start with these 6 things first. Hope this helps! P.S. I’m Shreya Mishra Reddy, an international student turned TPM at Visa and I write about my mistakes and experiences living and working in India & the U.S. Follow along if you found this helpful!