Job Hunting 101: What Makes a Great LinkedIn Profile?
- Carolina Aguilar
- Jul 9
- 3 min read
With the talent market continuing to be unpredictable and competitive, job hunting can sometimes feel overwhelming — almost like the Hunger Games. As recruiters, we often share tips on how to make your CV stand out, but one equally important factor is your LinkedIn profile.
LinkedIn has become an extension of your CV, sometimes even replacing the CV in general specially if you haven't directly applied to a particular position and a sourcer/head hunter is looking for candidates for a specific role.
Recruiters frequently use LinkedIn to cross-reference information on CVs, which makes it crucial that your profile and CV align perfectly.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through practical steps to improve your LinkedIn profile and boost your chances of getting contacted for opportunities you might not even know existed — or to increase your chances of landing that initial interview.
📸 1. Choose a Great Profile Photo
Your photo is the first thing people notice. I often see profiles where the person is holding a drink, wearing sunglasses, or at a nightclub — which might be fine for personal social media, but remember: LinkedIn is your professional identity.
Some industries like tech are more lenient, but if you’re in banking, law, consulting, or similar fields, this really matters. To be safe, choose a professional photo.
✅ What works:
Clear, high-resolution headshot
Neutral or uncluttered background
Professional but approachable look
Note: You do not have to hire a personal photographer for this, just a photo against a clear background would be enough as long as it's not blurry.
This is an example of a photo you can use. Clear, simple and neutral.
🎯 2. Who Are you? What do you do?
What is your job title and where do you work? Are you open to new opportunities?
📝 3. Use the "About" Section to Tell Your Story
Write in first person, and highlight:
What you do
Who you help
Why you do it
A personal touch or mission
DO NOT DO THIS:
This type of profile would go unnoticed as it doesn't tell recruiters/hiring managers anything about you. Although some people do prefer this for privacy reasons (which is totally fine) if you are looking for a new role or hoping to get head-hunted, this is not the type of profile I would recommend. Why?
Gives little information about who you are/what you do
Not sure about your work experience
Don't know if you would be open to work or what your past experiences are
🧩 4. Show Off Your Work in the Featured Section
Use this section to link to:
Portfolio items
Website or blog
Posts that performed well
💼 5. Use Your Experience Section Strategically
Instead of dumping a job description, highlight results.
Bad:
Managed social media for brand channels.
Better:
Grew Instagram following by 230% in 6 months and increased engagement by 75%.
🧠 6. Add Skills That Match Your Goals
LinkedIn lets you list 50 skills, but prioritize the top 3 (they show up first). Choose skills that match your current goals, not just past experience.
🔗 7. Customize Your URL
Instead of linkedin.com/in/john-smith-4b29x59, make it:
It’s cleaner for resumes and emails.
Final Touches
Check for typos
Add a banner image that reflects your field or brand
Set your profile to "Open to Work" or "Open to Collaboration" (if applicable)
If you are looking/open to relocate set your profile to this
Make sure that your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date with correct companies you have worked for, job titles and dates (this matters)
It's important to think of your LinkedIn profile as a more personal touch to your CV - an extension of it rather than just a page with your name on it, with little to no information - this is a helpful platform that can optimize your chances of getting noticed in the already competitive job market.
Thanks for reading! I hope these tips are helpful in your job searching journey or if you are looking for ways to improve your LinkedIn presence. For more tips on interviews, job hunting - or if you are looking for a new opportunity in tech, follow for more!
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