LinkedIn is where many people meet you professionally for the first time. A tidy, thoughtful profile makes that first impression work in your favour — whether you’re job-hunting, building a freelance practice or simply keeping professional options open.
Make the top of your profile work
The top section of your profile is what people see first. Get the basics right so a casual visitor quickly understands who you are and what you offer.
- Profile photo: Use a clear, professional-looking headshot. Aim for a simple background, good lighting and a friendly, approachable expression. Avoid full-length photos or group shots. - Headline: Your headline doesn’t have to be just a job title. Use a short phrase that explains what you do and who you help — in plain language. Think of it as a tagline that sells your value. - Background image: A banner image can reinforce your sector or personal brand. It doesn’t need to be elaborate; a clean, relevant image adds polish. - About/summary: Write a few short paragraphs that explain your specialism, key strengths and what you’re looking for. Lead with the most important points, then add brief evidence — projects, outcomes, or the kind of roles you enjoy. - Contact and links: Include up-to-date contact details and links to a portfolio, personal site or other professional profiles so interested people can follow up easily. - Custom URL: If available, create a short, recognisable profile URL to share on resumes and business cards.
Fill out the rest and stay active
A complete profile builds credibility. Focus on clarity, achievements and discoverability.
- Experience: List roles with concise bullet points that focus on outcomes. Wherever possible, replace vague duties with measurable results or clear achievements — even basic metrics such as "increased X" or "reduced Y" help. - Projects and media: Add work samples, slide decks, articles or links that demonstrate what you’ve done. Evidence beats claims. - Skills and endorsements: List the core skills you want to be known for. Colleagues can endorse these; endorsements help visitors quickly scan your strengths. - Recommendations: Ask for short recommendations from people who have worked with you. Specific, task-focused praise is more useful than generic compliments. - Keywords: Think about the words employers or clients would search for and weave them naturally into your headline, summary and experience sections. This helps your profile show up in relevant searches. - Keep it readable: Use short paragraphs and bullets. Avoid long blocks of text — hiring managers skim. - Activity and networking: Share occasional updates, comment thoughtfully on industry posts, and connect with people you’ve met. Being visible on the platform keeps your profile from feeling stale. - Privacy and settings: Check what others can see and adjust contact preferences. Make sure your public profile shows the sections you want visible to strangers.
A good LinkedIn profile is a living document. Review it every few months: update roles, add recent results, and tidy the language. Small, regular improvements keep your profile ready for opportunities when they arise.
