LinkedIn Profile Tips: Get Found by Recruiters

What should you put in your LinkedIn headline?

Your headline appears under your name everywhere on LinkedIn: in search results, comments, connection requests and messages. It is the single most important line on your profile. By default LinkedIn fills it with your current job title and employer, but you have up to 220 characters to write your own, and you should use them.

• Lead with the job title you want to be found for, such as "Project Manager" or "Registered Nurse", not a creative alternative nobody searches for.
• Add your specialism or sector so you stand out from others with the same title.
• Include two or three skills or tools that recruiters search for.
• Optionally, add the value you create in a few words.
• Skip empty labels like "passionate", "ninja" or "guru".

What makes a good LinkedIn profile photo?

A blank avatar can make a profile look inactive or even fake, and many people will simply move on. Your photo does not need to be taken by a professional, but it should be sharp and show you clearly.

• Your face should fill most of the frame; crop from the shoulders up.
• Use natural light, ideally facing a window.
• Choose a plain background with nobody else in the shot.
• Dress as you would on a normal working day in your field.
• Use a recent photo so people recognise you when you arrive for an interview.

Do not forget the banner image at the top of your profile. A simple image related to your field or city, or a plain design with one line about what you do, looks far more polished than the default background. If you are wondering whether to include a photo on your CV as well, our guide to CV photos and personal details explains the norms, which differ from country to country.

How do you write a strong LinkedIn About section?

The About section is your LinkedIn summary. You have up to 2,600 characters, but only the first few lines are visible before readers have to click "see more". Put the essentials first: who you are professionally, what you are good at and what kind of role you are looking for.

1. Opening line: your professional identity and specialism in one sentence.
2. Second paragraph: two or three concrete results or examples of what you have delivered.
3. Third paragraph: how you work and what colleagues can count on you for.
4. Fourth paragraph: what you are looking for now, or what people can contact you about.
5. Finish with a line listing your key skills as searchable keywords.

Write in the first person and in a natural voice. LinkedIn is more personal than a CV, so let some personality come through, but keep the focus professional. If you already have a good CV personal statement, it makes an excellent starting point; see our CV profile examples.

How should experience and education appear on LinkedIn?

Your experience section should be consistent with your CV. Recruiters often compare the two, and mismatched dates or titles raise questions. You can, however, be a little more narrative on LinkedIn.

• Use your official job title, and explain it in the description if it is internal or unclear.
• Write two to four bullet points of achievements under each role rather than a list of duties.
• Link each role to the company's LinkedIn page so the logo appears.
• Add media such as a report, portfolio or presentation where it is not confidential.
• Include volunteering and part-time jobs if your experience is limited.

If you have a gap in your career, LinkedIn lets you add a career break with a short explanation, such as parental leave, travel or caring responsibilities. That is usually better than leaving the period blank; our guide to employment gaps shows how to phrase it.

Which skills should you add to LinkedIn?

The Skills section feeds LinkedIn search when recruiters filter candidates. Add the professional skills and tools that appear in the job adverts you are targeting, and pin the most important ones at the top.

• Prioritise job-specific skills and systems over generic words like "communication".
• Use the same wording as job adverts, for example "Power BI" rather than "dashboards".
• Link skills to the roles and qualifications where you used them.
• Ask former colleagues to endorse the skills that matter most.
• Write a recommendation or two for others; people often return the favour.

Should you turn on "Open to Work"?

The Open to Work feature tells LinkedIn which job titles, locations and working arrangements you are interested in. You can make it visible to all members, which adds the green frame to your photo, or to recruiters only, meaning people using LinkedIn's paid recruiting tools.

• All LinkedIn members: Useful if you are between jobs and want your network to help. Contacts can share and recommend you.
• Recruiters only: Useful if you are employed and searching discreetly. LinkedIn tries to hide the signal from recruiters at your current company but cannot guarantee it.

Either way, fill in your target job titles carefully. Use the titles that actually appear in job adverts and add several variants, for example both "Marketing Coordinator" and "Marketing Specialist" if both fit. If you are looking for work in Denmark, add Danish titles too, as many Danish employers advertise in Danish; our guide to the Danish CV format covers other local expectations.

How do you use LinkedIn for networking and job search?

A good profile is only half the job. A larger, more relevant network means more people see your activity and you come up more often when recruiters and former colleagues look for someone like you.

1. Connect with former colleagues, classmates and people you have met professionally.
2. Follow the companies you would like to work for and switch on job alerts.
3. Add a short, personal note when you send a request to someone you do not know.
4. Comment thoughtfully on posts in your field; it builds visibility without writing long posts yourself.
5. Share an occasional post about a project, a lesson learned or a professional insight.
6. Reach out to someone at a company before you apply and ask a specific question about the role.

When a recruiter contacts you, reply promptly and politely, even if the role is not right. A short note on what you are looking for instead keeps you in mind for the next opportunity. If you apply through Easy Apply, make sure the CV you attach fits the role. CVm8 can tailor your CV to each job advert from your profile, so it stays consistent with what your LinkedIn says.

Frequently asked questions

How long can a LinkedIn headline be?

Up to 220 characters. Put the most important words first, because the headline is often truncated in search results and on mobile.

Should my LinkedIn profile match my CV?

Job titles, dates and qualifications should match. Descriptions can be more personal on LinkedIn, while your CV should be tailored to each job advert.

Can my employer see that I'm Open to Work?

If you choose recruiters only, LinkedIn tries to hide it from recruiters at your company, but this is not guaranteed. If you choose all members, anyone can see the green frame.

Should my LinkedIn profile be in English or the local language?

Write in the language used in the job adverts you target. LinkedIn also lets you add a profile in a second language, which is useful if you are applying in Denmark in both Danish and English.

Is LinkedIn Premium worth it for job seekers?

Premium adds features such as extra direct messages and insight into who viewed your profile. A complete free profile and an active network matter more.

Related guides

• CV Personal Statement: 9 Examples and a TemplateCV personal statement examples for 9 roles, a simple four-part template and the mistakes to avoid. Write a profile that gets the rest of your CV read.
• Skills for a CV: Hard and Soft Skills + ExamplesSkills for a CV: which hard and soft skills to list, how to show IT and language levels, and how to prove them. Includes skill lists for 6 roles.
• CV Photo and Personal Details: What to IncludeShould your CV have a photo? Learn when a CV photo helps, what a good one looks like and which personal details to leave out. Read the checklist.
• Salary Negotiation: How to Ask for What You're WorthSalary negotiation made practical: research your market rate, answer salary expectations and negotiate the full package. Scripts included.