Intro

Recruiters might receive thousands of job applications each day but only a few profiles stand out and get noticed, and only these people receive a call back. Some studies report that around 72% of companies hire employees from LinkedIn and 63% check a candidate’s LinkedIn profile before offering them a job. Whether you’re a job seeker or an entrepreneur looking for business connections, having a good LinkedIn profile matters. The first thing that catches people’s attention is your profile picture.

Add a High Quality Profile Picture

It’s like your first impression. People with professional looking profile pictures tend to get way more attention than those without one, with some data pointing to up to 21 times more views and up to nine times more connection requests. Add a high quality profile photo of yourself. If the background isn’t great, you can use an AI tool like Adobe Firefly to help create a better background for your photo. Go to Adobe Firefly, select the generator, and drag and drop your photo. Change the outfit by selecting the area, typing what kind of outfit you want, clicking generate, browsing more options, then clicking keep. To change the background, click on it, remove the current one, describe what type of background you want, click generate, then keep, and a polished profile picture is ready. Download the image, go back to LinkedIn, and upload it.

Banner Image

A professional looking banner can really make you stand out among other profiles. Choose a banner that reflects your industry, keep it visually clean, and avoid excessive text and logos. You can create one using Canva. Search for LinkedIn background photo templates and pick one you like. Edit the text by selecting it and adding your own, then click share, then download. Upload it on LinkedIn by clicking the icon, selecting edit profile background, choosing your banner, and clicking apply, and your banner will be updated.

Create a Custom Profile URL

Your profile URL is the next step. The default URL is just a string of random numbers with no meaning. You can create a custom URL using your name so your profile ranks higher in Google searches and is easier to find and remember. Click the pencil icon, click it again, change the URL, and save.

Write a Strong Headline

Your headline is one of the first things people see on your profile. Instead of just listing your job title, you can showcase your expertise and what you’re really good at. If you’re stuck, the LinkedIn Profile Builder tool can help generate headline ideas based on your profile. Enter your name and a brief summary of your current role and work highlights, or copy the content from your resume and paste it in, then save. Click generate and you’ll get a list of headline suggestions. Choose the one you like, go back to LinkedIn, paste it in, and save.

Write a Compelling About Section

This is where you describe a few words about yourself. Keep it concise and use bullet points. Use relevant keywords in your about section too, like job titles, location, and key skills, so recruiters can find you easily. Click the profile section, go to core, then add about, and describe your experience, skills, and achievements. You can also generate personalized content with the LinkedIn Profile Builder: scroll down to the about me generator, click create content, and you’ll get three different versions. Regenerate for more options if needed. Once you find one you like, copy it into your profile.

Add Your Top Skills Correctly

Pick three to four strong skills that you really excel at and add them to your profile. This helps recruiters quickly grasp your strengths and match you with the right opportunities. Endorsements from friends and colleagues, especially those with the same skills, are a bonus worth having. If you need help figuring out which skills to list, the profile skills generator in LinkedIn Profile Builder will suggest a list that suits your profile. Go back to LinkedIn, add the ones you want to showcase, and save. You can also add your education and other profile sections from here.

Add a Featured Section

Here you can share anything you’ve created that you want recruiters to see, whether it’s a website you’ve built, a blog you’ve written, or something else you’re proud of. Head to the recommended section, find the feature section, and click the plus symbol. You’ll see options to share a post, showcase an article, add a link, or include an image. To share a blog link, click add a link, paste it in, add a short description, and save.

Add Certifications & Licenses

If you’ve completed any certifications, showcase them on your profile. Go to the profile section, head to the recommended section, and select licenses and certifications. Fill in the details and save, and your certificate will be added. If you don’t have any yet, there are plenty of good courses available online that you can take and add later. Once your profile is set up, the next step to stand out and attract more opportunities is simple: stay active on LinkedIn. Share a post regularly, whether it’s an update, an article, or a thought about your industry. Regular activity keeps you visible.

Create Engaging LinkedIn Posts

Go to your home feed and start creating a post. If you need ideas, LinkedIn Profile Builder can generate them for you: click create content and it will give you 10 unique post ideas. If you’d rather have sample posts tailored to your profile, it can generate three different posts on various topics ready to share. If you’re job hunting and want to let people know, use the job search post feature to generate content based on your profile. Copy it, paste it on LinkedIn, and post.

Find and Apply for a Job

Go to your profile and click on jobs to start searching. Type the role and location you want in the search bar. You can filter by experience, date posted, and remote options to narrow down the results. Once you find something you’re interested in, click easy apply, fill in the information, and click next. Upload your latest resume, click next again, double check everything is correct, then submit.

LinkedIn Quick Tips

If you’re job hunting, you can let recruiters know by adding an “open to work” frame to your profile picture. Click on your profile picture, go to frames, select open to work, and apply. Enter the job title you’re looking for. You can also choose who sees this, whether it’s everyone on LinkedIn or only recruiters. Select your preference and save, and your profile picture will update with a border letting people know you’re searching for a new job.

Skill Assessments

The next step is taking a skill assessment on LinkedIn. It’s a good way to show employers you have the skills and expertise they’re looking for. Go to jobs, click skill assessment, and take a quiz on any of your strong skills. Once you complete it successfully, you’ll receive a badge on your profile. Put these pieces together, the photo, the headline, the about section, the activity, and your profile stops blending in with the rest.