Tips for Writing a Standout Linkedin Profile

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.

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.

If your entire job search strategy is filling out applications, uploading your resume, and then waiting… you’re missing the bigger picture. I can only speak for the software job market, which is an absolute mess for job seekers. Qualified candidates are everywhere, and you must take extra steps to stand out. Marketing yourself to a hiring manager is not a sin. Yes, some companies should change their hiring practices. Yes, I've made a ton of mistakes when hiring people. Just this last week, I accidentally ghosted someone when I had a last-minute family event jump on the calendar. AND YES, this is off the back of my post last week, where I shared why I no longer read resumes and gave tips on how to stand out in the interview process. Most of you loved it (thank you!), but a few strongly disagreed... STRONGLY disagreed. Who knew people would be so passionate about resumes? I get it. People have different perspectives. However, a resume and job application alone aren’t enough to stand out from the crowd. I promised a few in the comments that I would follow up with tips on making your LinkedIn profile stand out. So let's do it. Start with the Headline: Avoid default titles like “Marketing Manager at XYZ.” Instead, showcase your value: “Driving Revenue Growth through Data-Driven Marketing” or “Empowering Teams to Create Scalable Strategies.” Spend Time on the About Section: This is your elevator pitch. Highlight your skills, achievements, and passions in 3-5 paragraphs. Make it you, not just a resume dump. Add Key Achievements to Your Experience Section: This is one of the most effective and least used. Use bullet points that emphasize results and impact. Quantify whenever possible (e.g., “Increased MQLs by 50% through revamped campaigns”). Keep it concise, but USE NUMBERS. Don't Ignore the Featured Section: Add links to your portfolio, blogs, presentations, or standout projects. This is the place to shine a spotlight if you’ve published articles or spoken at events. Keep Your Profile Active & Current: Update your profile with every new role, project, or milestone. Stale profiles give the impression of inattention. Set a calendar block or invite every other month to update your profile. Start there. Your LinkedIn profile is more than a digital resume because who wants to read a resume? It’s your chance to tell your story, highlight your skills, and make someone want to talk to you. Go forth and conquer.

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

One of the most important sections of a LinkedIn Profile that I talk a lot about in my workshops and working one-on-one with clients is the About section. Employed or not, this is your 24 x 7 billboard, so make it count! If you are in transition, this can be your virtual cover letter. I typically break it down into 2 parts; what you have done and what you would like to do. Without any verbiage to say otherwise, Recruiters typically think you want basically the same type of job you have been doing. But what if you want to change careers? Go part-time? Want to work for a non profit? Do you have your contact info listed? Put in your email address for recruiters to reach you, they may not have access to InMails. If you are currently employed, what do you want people to know about you that you have never met? I am not an advocate of taking up 100% of the space in your About section to tell people how great the company is that you work for, there are plenty of other resources to find that out. It's OK to make this section all about you. If you are in sales, for example, tell people why they should work with you, the expertise you bring, your knowledge of the industry, etc. I still get the 1st person vs 3rd person question. To me, Profiles written in 3rd person sound more like a press release. Use 1st person, make it more personal, how you got started in your profession, what you enjoy about it, what the top 3 things are that you are looking for in your next role, etc. Not a fan of big, giant paragraphs. Maybe an intro paragraph, then bullet points to highlight your accomplishments. Remember two things 1) Metrics, (use dollar signs and percentages to emphasize your accomplishments) and 2) Specific keywords so you can appear in a higher ranking in recruiter boolean searches. It will also change over time. The About section is just like your resume, recruiters may focus on certain areas and never ask about other areas. Downscale things that no one seems to care about and build up the areas that seem to be peeking the interest of recruiters. What you think is a great accomplishment may know longer be relevant in today's job market. Happy Wednesday! #jobsearchadvice #linkedin #opportunity

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

Your LinkedIn About section is costing you opportunities. And you might not even realize it. As a career coach, I review LinkedIn profiles all the time. I see that most people miss the mark showcasing their value and uniqueness. The About section is often treated as an afterthought, but it is the heart of your profile. Yes, people want to see your Experience section, but they also look to your About section to get to know you. This is where you can show who you are beyond your job titles. But too many of you write About sections that are as interesting as watching paint dry. Here are some tips to make it more compelling: 1) Avoid Buzzwords: Replace "visionary mindset" with specifics like "Led a campaign that increased sales by 35%." 2) Tell a Story: Share a moment highlighting your skills or values. For example, “After noticing declining engagement, I revamped our strategy, resulting in a 20% boost in customer retention.” 3) Share Your “Why”: Share your motivation. For example, “I’ve always loved using data to solve real-world challenges, like helping a client cut costs by 15%.” 4) Add Personality: Start with a line that reflects who you are, like, “Hi, I’m a data nerd who successfully turns insights into actionable strategies.” You can stand out in a sea of uninspiring profiles with a bit of effort. Make YOUR story memorable, and see if it doesn't inspire people to reach out to you. In my latest blog post, I will show you a before-and-after transformation of an About section. Take a look: https://lnkd.in/eeD3ACE8 What’s your biggest struggle with writing your LinkedIn About section? Let’s discuss this in the comments! ----- I am Shelley, a recruiter turned career coach. I help you find a job where you can thrive and not just survive. ♻️If you liked this, why not repost it? ♻️ 🟣Following is great, and ring the 🔔 to know about my new posts 🟪Want to see my other posts? Go to #ShelleySays

⚡⚡⚡ LinkedIn Profile Tips ⚡⚡⚡ I look at about ~500 LinkedIn profiles a week -- sharing some common pitfalls and tips to help sharpen your image 👔 🤩 ✅ 🤩 -An actual picture of your face (love a good smile -- or at least pretending like you're having fun!) -A Headline! (it's under your basic info section when you edit your profile) -- share your title / what you want it to be ("aspiring XYZ") and if you worked or are affiliated with something well-known -Short n sweet "About" section - a quick paragraph to describe you (be casual / show your personality!) and a link to a personal site or portfolio is always welcome. -Quick one-liners about the company you worked for, your role, and your impact (quantification is ✨) in each experience section. Include pictures for design/art roles or programming languages (add it as a "skill") for technical roles. -Recommendations! People do still look at them, and it's totally okay (and encouraged) to ask your prior colleagues to write you one. 😨 🛑 😨 -Absent picture. If you're not comfortable sharing your mug, try Notion's new avatar creator: https://lnkd.in/gwb7ftjA -A bajillion bullet points / long-form paragraphs in the experience sections (less is more!) -Tooooo many certifications -- it's okay to have a few key ones in the area you're focusing on, but cut the rest. -Spicy opinions. Be careful about what you share on other posts as well -- it shows up in your "comments" section and hiring teams do look at it. Hope this helps and feel free to reshare / ask questions!