How to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

For many recruiters and new contacts, your LinkedIn profile is the first thing they see about you. A few focused improvements can make it far easier to find and much more convincing once someone lands on it. You can work through the steps below in an afternoon and keep refining over time.

Nail the First Impression

The top of your profile does most of the work, so start there.

1. Profile photo: use a recent, well-lit head-and-shoulders shot where you are looking at the camera. A plain background and the kind of outfit you would wear to work are ideal. It does not need to be taken by a professional photographer.
2. Background banner: replace the default with a simple image related to your field or city. Keep it uncluttered.
3. Headline: you are not limited to your job title. Describe what you do and for whom, for example “Payroll Specialist helping small businesses pay staff accurately and on time”.
4. Location and contact settings: make sure your location is correct and, if you are job hunting, use the platform’s setting to let recruiters know you are open to opportunities.

Write an About Section People Will Read

Treat the About section as a short, friendly introduction rather than a formal statement. In three or four short paragraphs, explain what you do, what you are good at, a couple of achievements you are proud of and what you are looking for next. Write in the first person and keep sentences simple. Naturally include the words someone might search for when looking for a person like you, such as specific skills, tools or job titles.

Strengthen Your Experience Section

• Add a short description to each role instead of leaving only the title and dates.
• Use bullet points for your main responsibilities and, more importantly, your results.
• Where you can, include real numbers, such as budgets managed or team sizes, but only figures you can stand behind.
• Include volunteer work, freelance projects and career breaks, which can all show valuable skills.
• Make sure dates and job titles match your resume.

Fill In the Supporting Details

List your most relevant skills and pin the most important ones at the top. Add education, certifications and courses. Ask two or three former managers or colleagues for short recommendations that mention specific qualities, and offer to write one for them in return. Customise your public profile web address so it is clean and easy to share on your resume.

Stay Active Without Overdoing It

• Connect with people you have genuinely worked or studied with, adding a short personal note to requests.
• Share or comment on posts in your field occasionally, adding a thoughtful point rather than a one-word reaction.
• Update your profile whenever you finish a project, earn a qualification or change role.
• Review your privacy settings so you are comfortable with what the public can see.