LinkedIn has over 1 billion members. Recruiters search it every single day using filters and keyword searches to find candidates. The question isn't whether you need a LinkedIn profile — it's whether yours is doing the work it should.
Here's what separates profiles that generate inbound messages from those that don't.
1. Your headline is not your job title
Most people write their current job title as their headline. That's a wasted opportunity.
Your headline appears in search results, message previews, and connection requests. It's the first thing a recruiter reads. Make it work:
Instead of: Project Manager at Capita
Try: Senior Project Manager | NHS & Public Sector | PRINCE2 Practitioner | Agile | £5m+ Programmes
Pack in keywords, sector, and seniority. LinkedIn's search algorithm weights your headline heavily.
2. Your About section should tell a story
The About section is the one place on LinkedIn where you can speak directly and in your own voice. Most people leave it blank or write a dry summary.
Structure it like this:
- Hook — your headline achievement or the one sentence that defines your career
- What you do — the specific value you bring, in plain English
- How you do it — the methods, sectors, or skills that differentiate you
- What you're looking for — be explicit if you're open to opportunities
Aim for 200–300 words. Write in first person. Don't just paste your CV summary.
3. Turn on "Open to Work" — carefully
The "Open to Work" frame is visible to everyone, which can feel uncomfortable if you're currently employed. Use the privacy option: set it to "Recruiters only" so it appears in recruiter searches but not on your public profile.
Go to: Me → View Profile → Open to → Finding a new job → Recruiters only
4. Quantify everything in your experience section
Recruiters skim. Numbers stop them.
- ❌ "Managed a large IT project"
- ✅ "Delivered a £3.2m ERP migration for 800 users, 6 weeks ahead of schedule"
Every bullet in your experience section should answer: so what? If it doesn't have an outcome, rewrite it until it does.
5. Skills section: choose strategically
LinkedIn allows up to 50 skills. Your connections can endorse them, and recruiters filter searches by skill.
Prioritise the skills that appear in job descriptions for your target roles. Check 10 relevant job postings, note the skills they mention repeatedly, and make sure those are in your list.
6. Get recommendations
A written recommendation from a former manager or senior colleague is worth more than any endorsement. Aim for at least three, ideally from people who can speak to specific projects or outcomes.
Ask specifically: "Could you mention the X project and what we achieved together?" The more concrete the recommendation, the more credible it reads.
7. Activity matters
An inactive profile ranks lower in search. You don't need to post daily content — but engaging with posts in your industry (thoughtful comments, not just likes) keeps you visible and signals to the algorithm that you're active.
Posting once a fortnight about a relevant professional topic can meaningfully increase your profile views.
The LinkedIn checklist
- [ ] Headline includes keywords, sector, and seniority — not just job title
- [ ] Professional headshot (not a selfie, not a holiday photo)
- [ ] About section 200–300 words, first person, includes a hook
- [ ] Open to Work set to "Recruiters only" (if appropriate)
- [ ] Every experience bullet has a number or outcome
- [ ] 50 skills selected, prioritised around target-role keywords
- [ ] At least 3 written recommendations
- [ ] Custom URL set (
linkedin.com/in/firstname-lastname)
Our Career Pack includes a professional LinkedIn summary written to rank in recruiter searches — alongside your CV rewrite and cover letter.