Most people treat LinkedIn like an online CV and that is usually where things go wrong.
LinkedIn is not just a place to list roles. It is a search tool, a visibility platform, and often the first impression a recruiter or hiring manager has of you.
When I review LinkedIn profiles with clients, I am not looking for perfection. I am looking for clarity, credibility, and intent.
Here is how to approach your profile in a way that feels natural, professional, and genuinely useful.
Start with the Small but Powerful Fixes
One of the simplest changes you can make is updating your LinkedIn profile URL.
Many profiles still include random numbers at the end. It looks untidy and makes sharing harder. Tidying this up takes less than a minute and instantly makes your profile easier to find and more professional.
LinkedIn shows you exactly how to do this in their help guide: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a542685
It is a small detail, but these are the details recruiters notice.
Give Your Profile a Visual Signal That You Are Active
A default grey banner is one of the biggest missed opportunities I see. It does not mean someone is inactive, but it signals it. Updating your banner tells visitors that you care about your professional presence.
You do not need anything complicated.
A clean design, a relevant image, or something that subtly reflects your industry is enough. Canva works well for this, even on the free plan. Think of your banner as atmosphere, not information.
It supports your profile rather than explaining it.
Your Headline Is Not Just a Job Title
Your headline is one of the most important parts of your profile, and it is often underused. Recruiters search using keywords. They do not search for your employer’s name.
If your headline only states your current role, you are limiting your visibility. A stronger headline usually includes your professional focus and the areas you are known for.
It should feel future facing, not like a static label. LinkedIn explains how headlines influence discoverability here: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a567650
If someone read only your headline, they should understand what you do and where you are heading.
Write an About Section That Sounds Like You
The About section is where people decide whether to stay on your profile or move on. This is not the place for corporate language or third person writing. It works best when it feels human and confident.
I often encourage clients to talk about what they enjoy in their work, what motivates them, and the kind of impact they like to make. This is also the right place to briefly highlight a few career achievements, once your CV is clear. Adding a short line at the end inviting people to connect or reach out helps guide the next step naturally.
LinkedIn’s own guidance on the About section is here:
https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a507548
Add Context to Your Experience, Not Just Titles
Many profiles list roles with no explanation. That leaves the reader with too much work. Your experience section should provide enough context so that someone understands your scope and influence without having to open your CV.
A short paragraph followed by a few outcome focused achievements usually works well. This is particularly important if you have worked with clients, led teams, managed budgets, or operated across regions. LinkedIn explains how to structure experience entries here:
https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a507549
Keep Your Skills Section Alive
Your skills section isn’t something you set and forget. LinkedIn now allows up to 100 skills, giving you space to reflect your full capabilities. Review job descriptions you are interested in and notice the language used. That language matters.
Recruiters often filter by skills before they ever read your profile in full.
LinkedIn’s skills guidance can be found here:
https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a507561
Use Recommendations as Quiet Credibility
Recommendations carry more weight than people realise. They do not need to be long or formal. They just need to reflect how you actually work.
If you ask someone for a recommendation, it is perfectly fine to suggest what would be helpful for them to mention. It saves time and usually results in something more meaningful.
LinkedIn’s recommendations help page is here:
https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a507576
Curate What You Follow and What You See
Your interests section quietly shapes your LinkedIn experience. Following companies you genuinely admire helps LinkedIn surface relevant content and opportunities. On many company pages, you can also indicate that you are interested in working there, which increases visibility with hiring teams.
LinkedIn explains this feature here: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1380509?hcppcid=search
https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a507507
Use LinkedIn Premium Intentionally
LinkedIn Premium can be useful at the right moment. The free trial is often best used at the start of a job search, when insight matters most.
It gives you access to hiring trends, job match data, and profile view information. You can cancel immediately and still keep the full trial period.
More details are available here:
https://www.linkedin.com/premium
Groups and Job Alerts Still Matter
Groups can be surprisingly effective when they are relevant and well chosen. They often surface roles before they are widely advertised and make networking easier.
Job alerts are also worth setting up properly. They work best when combined with thoughtful filters and active networking rather than relying solely on applications.
LinkedIn’s job alert guidance is here:
https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a507505
A Final Thought
Your LinkedIn profile does not need to be perfect, it needs to be intentional.
It should clearly show what you do, what you care about, and where you are going next. When that is in place, your profile starts working for you quietly in the background.
If you would like help reviewing or refining your LinkedIn profile, this is exactly the work I support clients with. https://calendly.com/lisa-career-coach/30min
