Recruiters search LinkedIn every day for candidates. These LinkedIn profile tips will help you show up in searches and make a strong impression when they click.
1. Use a professional photo
A clear, friendly headshot with good lighting dramatically increases profile views.
2. Add a background banner
Use an image related to your field or a simple branded banner.
3. Write a keyword-rich headline
Don’t just list your current title. Use: Target Role | Key Skills | Value.
Cloud Engineer | AWS, Terraform, Kubernetes | Building secure, automated infrastructure
4. Turn on “Open to Work” (privately if employed)
You can show it only to recruiters so your current employer doesn’t see it.
5. Write a compelling About section
In 3–5 short paragraphs, explain what you do, your top achievements, your skills and what you’re looking for. Include resume keywords.
6. Customize your URL
Change it to linkedin.com/in/yourname.
7. Fill out every experience entry
Add bullet points with measurable achievements, not just titles.
8. Add up to 50 skills — prioritize the top 3
Recruiters filter by skills. Pin the three most relevant to your target role.
9. Get endorsements and recommendations
Ask former managers and colleagues for specific recommendations.
10. Add certifications and courses
These are searchable and signal current skills.
11. Use the Featured section
Showcase projects, articles, presentations or a portfolio.
12. Set your location and job preferences
Recruiters often search by location and remote preference.
13. Be active
Comment thoughtfully and share occasional insights in your field.
14. Grow your network strategically
Connect with recruiters, peers and people at target companies. See networking for your job search.
15. Keep it consistent with your resume
Dates and titles should match. Your profile can be more conversational, but facts must align.
LinkedIn About section example
I help companies move to the cloud safely and cost-effectively. Over the past six years, I’ve migrated 150+ workloads to AWS, built Terraform standards used by five teams, and cut cloud spend by 30%.
What I do: cloud architecture, Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD, Kubernetes, cost optimization and security guardrails.
I’m currently open to senior cloud engineer and cloud architect roles in Dallas or remote. Let’s connect!
LinkedIn profile checklist
- Professional photo and banner
- Keyword-rich headline
- About section with achievements and target roles
- Experience entries with quantified bullets
- Top 3 skills pinned
- Certifications added
- Custom URL
- Open to Work settings configured
LinkedIn profile tips: key takeaways
Here is a quick recap of LinkedIn profile tips to save or share:
- These LinkedIn profile tips start with a photo and keyword-rich headline.
- Write an About section with achievements and target roles.
- Pin your top three skills and add certifications.
- Keep your profile consistent with your resume.
For official labor-market data and more career research, see the LinkedIn and CareerOneStop (sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor). Ready to put this into practice? Make sure your resume matches every job you apply for with the HiReXL ATS Resume Optimizer.
Frequently asked questions
What should I put in my LinkedIn headline?
Your target role, two to four key skills and a short value statement — not just your current job title.
How do recruiters find candidates on LinkedIn?
They search by job title, skills, location, experience and keywords, so a keyword-rich headline, About section and skills list help you appear.
Should I use Open to Work on LinkedIn?
Yes, you can enable it for recruiters only if you're currently employed and want discretion.
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