LinkedIn^® optimization for pros: Unleash your profile’s full potential

Developing a compelling profile requires a focus on quality rather than quantity. If you want to stand out from the crowd (and yes, you do), focus on three areas: the headline, the “about” LinkedIn summary section and your profile picture. 

It’s important to update your headline strategically as it’s the only piece of your profile besides your name and photo that appears on the homepage. The headline can drive people to click (or not click) on your profile. If you’re not strategic, LinkedIn will default your headline to your most recent job title at your most recent company. For example, “Senior Leader at ABC Company.” While your job title is great, it doesn’t always provide the full picture of your skills and accomplishments. 

Instead, aim for a clickable headline that intrigues human readers and promotes the value you bring to your industry. Your headline should include relevant industry keywords that reflect your skills and job description. The goal is to capture the attention of industry peers — or recruiters and employees if you’re in the job hunt — and encourage them to check out your profile. This could look like: “Senior Leader Focused on Driving Sales and Leading High-Performing Teams in the Finance Industry.” Headlines like that tell recruiters and employers who you are, what you focus on and what you can bring to the table.

Aim for a concise yet captivating LinkedIn summary that highlights your skills, expertise, unique value proposition and notable achievements. Also, be sure to incorporate industry-specific keywords that showcase your aspirations and relevant professional journey.

One approach is to start the LinkedIn summary section with one to two short paragraphs that talk about who you are as a professional, what you focus on when it comes to driving results and what your secret sauce is for achieving those results. Is it your leadership style or collaborative nature? Whatever it is, let it shine!

From there, list three to five impressive achievements that show off how you’ve gotten the results that matter to you.

In the age of the humble brag, it can be hard to strike the right note between sharing your experience and achievements and not coming off as a know-it-all. How do you provide enough detail to explain your skills without listing every role and responsibility you’ve ever had?

Take it section by section. Consider which opportunities you’re most interested in pursuing, and tailor each section in the experience component to those opportunities. Emphasize your most notable accomplishments that align in the direction you want your career to go, quantify your results and sanitize any proprietary information that can’t be shared online.

While you’re at it, make sure you adopt a bulleted format for easy reading.

Once you’ve outlined your achievements and accomplishments, it’s time to flesh out those highlights with multimedia elements, such as work samples, articles or presentations. You can use the Featured section on your LinkedIn profile to showcase your resumé, articles, newsletters, links, website and portfolio.

(Uploading your resumé on LinkedIn is a best practice as it allows recruiters and headhunters to easily access and share your resumé and profile with hiring managers.)

From there, maximize your visibility by using the Open to Work feature. Don’t forget to check the Recruiters Only option to optimize your visibility to recruiters and headhunters if you’re in a passive search. Choose Open to All if you want the green Open to Work banner visible on your profile photo.

You can also supplement your experience with additional sections, such as:

• Volunteer experiences
• Relevant skills and specialties 
• Awards
• Organizations you belong to
• Publications you’re proud of
• Causes you support
• Certifications

Your LinkedIn profile is a great way to round out who you are as a professional in ways that aren’t strictly confined to your work experience. If you’re not a fan of the humble brag, reach out to current and past colleagues for professional endorsements. LinkedIn endorsements are a great way to let others highlight your skills. In fact, the two go hand in hand. When you add new skills, make sure to ask for endorsements. 

As your LinkedIn presence expands, it’s common to receive connection requests from strangers. When evaluating these requests, consider factors such as relevance, mutual connections and shared interests. Assess the potential value of the connection. If you’re unsure about a request, consider sending a polite message asking for more context or suggesting a brief conversation to determine potential synergies.

That said, don’t be afraid to connect with other individuals you don’t know personally. It’s polite to send a “note” with your connection request to allow the individual to know why you’re connecting and wanting to network with them. It’s also OK to be selective about who you network with. Just keep in mind that your network expands with additional second- and third-degree connections with each first-degree connection you make.

LinkedIn Premium offers enhanced features and insights to help you supercharge your professional growth. Consider the value it can bring based on your career goals. With Premium, you gain access to features such as the ability to send InMail messages to professionals outside your network and can see who’s viewing your profile.

In addition, you get access to advanced job search and career advancement tools such as salary data, how you stack up to other applicants in jobs you’re interested in and full access to LinkedIn Learning (the platform’s database of professional development courses).

Still not sure? Then consider the free, 30-day trial to assess if Premium is worth the investment for you.

Remember, LinkedIn is more than just a platform; it’s a dynamic community where you can connect, learn and contribute. Embrace the journey, stay authentic and let your professional brand shine.