LinkedIn Profile Tips: How to Update Your LinkedIn Resume and Get Found by Employers

If you are serious about your job search, you need a strong online presence, and that starts with your LinkedIn profile. Not sure how to make it stand out? The following LinkedIn profile tips share practical strategies to improve visibility, make the right impression, and get found by employers and recruiters.

Why Use a LinkedIn Profile?

LinkedIn is more than a social network. It is the world’s largest professional community and one of the first places employers look when hiring. According to

LinkedIn’s own Ultimate List of Hiring Stats reports, 90% of recruiters use the platform regularly to find and evaluate candidates, and professionals with complete profiles are up to 40 times more likely to receive opportunities through the site.

A strong LinkedIn profile works like a living resume, helping recruiters find you, showcasing your skills, and making it easier to apply for jobs directly on the platform.

When optimized correctly, your LinkedIn profile becomes a personal search result that appears when someone searches for your name or your skills. Even if you are not actively job hunting, a complete and credible profile can open doors to new opportunities, including recruiter outreach, networking leads, and interviews.

Getting Started With A LinkedIn Profile

If you have never used LinkedIn before, start simple. You can build a solid foundation in a few minutes with these steps:

Create your account and upload a clear photo. Choose a recent, professional headshot with good lighting and a neutral background.

1. Add a short Headline. Combine your current or target role with one or two top skills, for example: Administrative Assistant | Scheduling and Client Support.
2. Write a short About section. Use two or three brief paragraphs to summarize who you are, what you do well, and what kind of role you want next.
3. List one current or recent experience. Add two or three bullets focused on what you accomplished, not just what you did.
4. Add ten relevant skills and pin your top three to match target roles. These are searchable keywords employers use to find candidates.
5. Turn on Open to Work with your target job titles, locations, and work types.
6. Start connecting. Follow five companies that interest you and send connection requests to at least three people you know, such as former coworkers, classmates, or mentors.

Each step helps LinkedIn understand who you are and where your profile should appear in searches. Once these basics are in place, refine and expand over time.

Top 7 LinkedIn Profile Tips for Job Seekers

Now that your account is set up, it is time to make your profile stand out. These LinkedIn profile tips focus on the areas that matter most to recruiters: keywords, consistency, networking, and credibility.

LinkedIn Profile Tip 1: Use the right keywords in the right places

Recruiters search by keywords, job titles, and skills. Mirror the language you see in relevant job descriptions, especially skills, certifications, and software tools.

Place priority terms in your Headline, the first two lines of your About section, the first bullet of each Experience entry, and your Skills list. Pin your top three skills to match target roles. Write for humans first and avoid stuffing.

Because recruiters also scan resumes for the same terms, keeping language consistent across both strengthens your presence. For resume formatting and ATS specifics, see our related guide: How to Create an ATS-Friendly Resume.

LinkedIn Profile Tip 2: Keep everything accurate and consistent

Consistency builds trust. Make sure job titles, dates, employers, and accomplishments match your resume.

Use a recent, professional photo with a neutral background, customize your profile URL with your name, and add a simple banner image aligned with your field. Small details like these help your Linked profile look credible and organized.

LinkedIn Profile Tip 3: Write a headline that gets noticed

Among the most important LinkedIn profile tips is crafting a strong headline. Your headline is one of the first things recruiters see in search results, so it should capture both who you are and what you offer at a glance.

Move beyond a single job title. Pair your role with high-value skills or outcomes so you appear in more searches and communicate your value clearly.

Examples:

• Customer Service Associate | CRM Systems, Conflict Resolution, Client Retention
• Accounting Graduate | Excel and QuickBooks | Entry Level Finance
• Project Manager | Construction and Facilities Operations | PMP Certified
• Educator Transitioning to Corporate Training | Facilitation and Instructional Design
• IT Support Specialist | Network Troubleshooting and End User Training

LinkedIn Profile Tip 4: Strengthen your About and Experience sections

Use the About section in your LinkedIn profile to introduce who you are, what you do well, and what you want next.

Aim for three short paragraphs. Keep the first two lines keyword rich, since most readers see that preview before clicking See more.

Example (professional):

“I am a customer service professional with five years of experience in the technology industry. I help teams strengthen customer relationships through clear communication and reliable follow up.

Recently I managed CRM data quality, trained new team members, and created a ticket triage process that improved response times by 20 percent.

I am seeking opportunities to grow into a leadership role where I can coach teams and continue improving the customer experience.”

Example (student or early career):

“I am a business student with coursework in accounting, analytics, and marketing. I enjoy solving problems with data and clear communication.

I have completed projects using Excel and Google Data Studio, including a capstone where our team increased a local nonprofit’s social engagement by 30 percent in six weeks.

I am looking for an internship in finance or operations where I can contribute immediately and keep learning.”

Your Experience section should use short bullets that start with strong verbs and end with measurable results. Here are some examples:

• Managed inventory for 200+ SKUs and reduced discrepancies by 12 percent in two months
• Built onboarding guides and training sessions, lowering ramp time for new hires by 25 percent
• Coordinated vendor quotes and schedules and delivered a project three weeks early and under budget
• Mirror language from target postings where it fits your real work, and keep the most relevant achievements at the top of each role.

LinkedIn Profile Tip 5: Network with genuine messages and steady activity

LinkedIn is primarily a networking platform, not just a profile directory. Another important LinkedIn profile tip is to follow companies, engage with posts, connect with people, and join groups.

When you reach out, personalize your note and keep it brief.

Templates that get replies:

• To a recruiter: “Hi [Name], I am exploring roles in [field] and noticed your post about [role]. My background includes [one relevant skill or result]. If you are open to it, I would value a quick connection.”
• To a professional: “Hi [Name], I appreciated your post on [topic] and have been following your work at [company]. I am growing in [field] and would appreciate connecting to learn from your updates.”

Show up consistently. Comment thoughtfully, share an occasional article with a short takeaway, and keep your profile active.

LinkedIn Profile Tip 6: Turn on features that boost visibility

LinkedIn offers several free features that many job seekers overlook.

These LinkedIn profile tips show which ones to activate so employers can find you more easily and see verified examples of your skills.

• Open to Work: add target titles, locations, and work types.
• Job Alerts: set alerts for specific keywords so you apply early.
• Skills Assessments: verify competency in common tools such as Excel.
• Recommendations: ask supervisors or colleagues to cite results and skills by name.

These features help your profile surface more often and add quick credibility.

LinkedIn Profile Tip 7: Avoid common mistakes that limit reach

Even the best LinkedIn profile tips won’t help if common mistakes are holding you back. Avoid these frequent missteps that can reduce your visibility and weaken your professional presence online.

• Copying your resume word for word. Use a conversational tone and highlight outcomes.
• Using Seeking Opportunities as a headline. Describe your value and target field instead.
• Relying on vague buzzwords such as “hard working” or “results driven.” Provide specific skills and measurable examples.
• Hiding your profile. Review visibility settings so recruiters can find you easily.
• Letting it go stale. Refresh your Headline, Skills, and recent achievements regularly.

A Note To Students and Career Changers

These profile tips for LinkedIn also apply if you’re a student or making a career change—but your approach should look a little different.

Whether you’re highlighting academic projects or pivoting to a new industry, the goal is to show skills, achievements, and initiative that match the roles you want next.

Students can showcase coursework, capstone projects, leadership roles, volunteering, and part-time work with clear outcomes.

Career changers should emphasize transferable skills and results that map to target roles. Keep the focus on tools used, outcomes achieved, and language that matches job descriptions.

LinkedIn Profile Tips – Final thoughts

Improving your LinkedIn profile is an ongoing practice. Consistent updates, targeted keywords, and thoughtful networking help you appear in more searches and make stronger impressions with employers. When your resume and profile use the same language and achievements, they reinforce each other and make it easier for recruiters to see your fit.

CareerSource Tampa Bay can help

Need guidance with your job search or online presence? CareerSource Tampa Bay offers free interview preparation workshops, resume assistance, access to local job listings, and career fairs. Visit CareerSourceTampaBay.com to explore resources for job seekers and connect with employers in your area.