Quickly Tune Up Your LinkedIn Profile
- Darren Webster
- Jun 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 2
Why Your LinkedIn Profile Matters
Your LinkedIn profile isn’t just a digital resume, it’s your personal landing page, your reputation snapshot, and a 24/7 recruiter magnet. It’s where hiring managers go after reviewing your application or connecting on LinkedIn.
It’s where networking starts before you even say a word.
Done well, your profile works while you sleep. Done poorly, it works against you.
Here’s a section-by-section breakdown of what makes a LinkedIn profile stand out — especially when you’re actively job hunting.
Your Profile Photo (Not Your Passport Photo)
Think of your photo like a handshake, it sets the tone before a single word is read.
Use a high-quality headshot where you’re well-lit, dressed professionally (relative to your industry), and looking approachable. No vacation pics, cropped group shots, or grainy selfies. This should look like you’re ready for a Zoom interview right now.
Use a clear, professional headshot - smiling, approachable, and well-lit.
No passport photos, car selfies, or logos unless they’re intentional and relevant.
Wear what you’d wear to an interview for your target role.
Pro Tip: Profiles with headshots get up to 21x more views and 36x more messages.
The Headline
Your headline (the line under your name) defaults to your current role - but don’t leave it that way. Think of it like a billboard.
Use it to communicate your key strengths, specialties, and value in 220 characters or less.
Instead of just “Project Manager,” say:
“Project Leader | Agile + Cross-Functional Teams | Driving $MM Efficiencies”
Make it keyword-rich and benefit-oriented.
Show what you do and why it matters.
The About Section (Your Story, Framed for Your Future)
The “About” section is your pitch. It’s where you make your case as a high-impact, self-aware, forward-looking professional.
Structure it like this:
Who you are professionally (background, strengths)
What you’re great at (big wins, unique skills)
What you’re looking for (roles, industries, ways to contribute)
End with a human touch — something memorable, approachable, or inspiring.
Keep it conversational. Use first person.
Bad: “Experienced professional seeking new opportunity”
Good: “I help companies bridge the gap between ideas and execution…”
Experience
Use bullet points to describe your achievements, not just duties. Each point should answer:
“What did I make better, faster, or more efficient?”
Outcomes Over Responsibilities:
Use bullet points (3–5 max) for each role.
"Increased lead conversion by 42% through improved onboarding workflow."
"Reduced churn by 30% by implementing client success playbooks.”
Add rich media if possible - decks, videos, articles, press.
Skills & Endorsements
Think SEO and relevance here.
LinkedIn allows up to 50 skills, prioritize those that match your target job. This helps with both recruiter search and algorithmic recommendations.
Put your top 3 most valuable, relevant skills at the top.
Avoid vague filler like "Teamwork" unless you’re just starting out.
Endorsements are a signal, not a game, so don’t overthink the numbers, but do curate quality.
Recommendations
Two or three strong recommendations can go a long way in validating your value.
Make them the highest ranking people you can think of, particularly if they're in the industry you're focused on.
Ask past managers, colleagues, or even clients to share what stood out about working with you.
Be specific in your request: "Can you highlight how I led the launch project under tight deadlines?"
Return the favor by writing recommendations for others and they’ll often do the same.
Education, Certifications, and Licenses
List formal education, but also include recent certifications, especially if they demonstrate upskilling relevant to your next role.
Examples:
Google Project Management Certificate
HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification
SHRM-CP
PMP
These show that you're not just experienced, you're also keeping up.
Featured Section
The "Featured" section lets you visually showcase your best work. Put your best content there because it's easy to see and if interesting enough, worth clicking on.
Upload case studies, blog posts, videos, presentations, awards, or media coverage.
If you have a personal website or portfolio, link to it here.
If you’ve posted valuable content on LinkedIn (like job search advice or reflections on a project), feature it!
Open to Work
Under “Open to Work,” you can privately signal to recruiters that you’re job seeking. Whether you choose to put the green banner up or not, make sure you've got this setting updated to ensure recruiters can access you more easily.
Set:
Job titles you’re targeting
Job types (onsite, hybrid, remote)
Locations
Industries
Keep this up to date and aligned with what you’re applying to. Be intentional.
Bonus: Activity
Be a Thoughtful Participant
Comment on posts in your space, share relevant content, and post once or twice a week if possible.
Even likes and shares help — they signal presence and interest.
How Goalster Can Help
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