On this page, you’ll learn how to make a great LinkedIn profile. This includes, but is not limited to making a LinkedIn headline, profile picture, banner, summary etc. Your LinkedIn profile becomes more visible to the public if you configure your LinkedIn settings and optimize your content. This will lead to more job offers and career opportunities.
#1 Make a Custom LinkedIn Profile URL
The reason why you should make a custom LinkedIn profile is because improves the searchability of your profile. For example, if someone wants to find and connect with you, your profile is more likely to rank and show up in Google or LinkedIn’s search results pages with your name and surname in the URL. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/name-surname/)
#2 Check LinkedIn’s Privacy Settings
Make sure your privacy settings are properly configured so that current, ex or future employers don’t see a LinkedIn notification about recent profile updates you’ve made.
Go to Settings & Privacy > Visibility > Visibility of your LinkedIn profile > share profile updates with your network > No
#3 Configure LinkedIn’s ‘Open To Work’ Settings
Configure LinkedIn’s ‘Open To Work’ settings to let recruiters and hiring managers know that you are open to new career opportunities. Click on ‘Open to’ > ‘Finding a new job’ > Enter a job title (e.g. web developer) and add some other job titles that relate to your expertise [e.g. web designer, front-end software developer etc).
That way, you don’t limit hiring managers in their search process and your profile ranks better in their search result pages. Underneath you need to enter the location settings. For example, if you study in New York but eventually want to live and work in San Francisco, then it’s recommended to enter San Francisco as the job location. At least, if you want your profile to be visible to hiring managers that seek candidates in that area.
As for the start date, checkmark “Immediately, I’m actively applying” or “Flexible, I’m casually browsing”, and choose the preferred job type. You can pick full-time, part-time, internship etc. If you don’t want your current, ex-employer or other LinkedIn connections to find out you are job searching, you can enable “for recruiters only” and click on add to profile.
#4 Upload Suitable LinkedIn Profile Picture
- Choose a picture where you look directly at the camera, body half showing with a contrasting background color
- Go to remove.bg to make the background transparant and use the free tool called ‘Canva‘ to edit your picture
- The recommended dimensions for a linkedIn profile picture are 400 times 400 or you can also pick 1600 x 1600
- Download your picture in PNG format and go to your LinkedIn profile page. Click on the photo-icon > Upload photo
#5 Upload Suitable LinkedIn Banner
- Think about the personal story you want to tell and choose a suitable LinkedIn banner or cover photo
- Go to Canva and enter ‘LinkedIn banner’ and many example banners will pop up
- The optimal dimensions for a linkedIn banner are 1584 x 396
- Download your cover photo in PNG format, go to your LinkedIn profile page > click on the pencil-icon > apply
#6 Enter a LinkedIn Headline (Examples)
Include the job title in the headline, inform viewers about a certain affinity or area of expertise, and add those search terms or keywords that potential employers seek for:
LinkedIn Headline Example (Web Developer)
Junior Front-End Web Developer | HTML/CSS & JavaScript | Installs and tests user interface elements of websites
#7 Enter a LinkedIn Summary (Examples)
Write a summary that is short, concise and to the point. Include the years of experience, some hard skills and industry keywords. These influence the searchability of your LinkedIn profile. Highlight some of your biggest accomplishments using bullet points. That’ll make the whole summary section more appealing at first glance.
Keep the number of buzzwords and adjectives like ‘strategic’, ‘experienced’, ‘passionate’ and ‘expert’ to the minimum. Without context, these words don’t mean anything to the reader. At last, include a closing statement that triggers them to send you a message and how they can get in touch with you.
LinkedIn Summary Example (Web Developer)
Front end web developer with 5+ years of experience in database administration and website design. I focus on installing and testing user interface elements in Adobe, Sitecore and WordPress.
I typically use HTML/CSS and JavaScript in the client, PHP, ASP.NET (C#), Python, Node.js, Go or Java on the server, and http for communications between client and server.
- Increased [Website]’s organic traffic by 50% and newsletter sign-up conversion from 15% to 25% in [Year]
- Contributed to the decrease of [Webshop]’s cart-abandonments by 30% and increase of online sales by 25% per product in [Year]
I’m thrilled about opportunities that involve working with WordPress and Adobe XD, specifically for tech companies. Want to connect? Feel free to send me a message:
✍️ Visit my website and blog: delescen.com
👨💻 Check out my GitHub profile: github.com/username
LinkedIn Summary Example (Career Change)
Aspiring web developer with 5 years’ experience in online brand promotion and acquisition using [social media channels]. Recently, I pivoted my career from digital marketing to website design due to my passion for web space development and problem-solving abilities.
LinkedIn Summary Example (Student / Recent Graduate)
Third-year computer science student, future web developer, with 3 years’ experience in database administration and website design. My passion for web space development brought me to [University Name] where I am working on my bachelor’s degree.
