Whether you’re actively job hunting or simply want to stay ready for future opportunities, keeping your LinkedIn profile fresh and professional is essential. With 68% of recruiters using LinkedIn to find talent and over 30 million companies using the platform, a strong profile could be the key to landing your next job.
To uncover what really makes a LinkedIn profile stand out, Parade spoke with veteran recruiter Anya Mwamba, Managing Director of Syndicatebleu at Career Group Companies. With 11 years of experience and a daily presence on LinkedIn, she knows exactly what recruiters are looking for.
Let’s dive into the six best things to put on your LinkedIn profile to help recruiters find—and contact—you.
1. 🎯 Clearly State What Type of Work You Want
If you’re actively searching, turn on LinkedIn’s “Open to Work” feature. You can even choose to show this only to recruiters—helpful if you’re currently employed but exploring new options discreetly.
But it’s not just about turning on the green ring. Specify what types of roles you’re open to—full-time, part-time, freelance, temporary, or remote. Recruiters often filter by this setting.
“If I’m looking for someone who can jump into an ASAP temp assignment, I’ll sometimes filter just by people open to temporary work,” says Mwamba.
🛠️ Tip: Make sure your location and work preferences are up to date so you show up in the right recruiter searches.
2. 📸 Use a Professional (But Personable) Photo
Your profile photo is one of the first things recruiters see, and it sets the tone for your entire profile.
- For traditional industries, invest in a clean, professional headshot.
- For creative industries, you have more freedom—but keep it polished.
“Your photo should represent who you are,” Mwamba explains. “It gives us a sense of how you present yourself professionally.”
💡 Tip: Avoid selfies, group shots, or vacation pics—save those for Instagram.
3. ✍️ Keep Your “About” Section Short but Impactful
The “About” section is your chance to tell your professional story—but don’t overdo it. Mwamba and her colleagues agree that 2–3 concise sentences work best.
Focus on:
- What you do
- What you’re passionate about
- A recent achievement or specialty
“More than one paragraph isn’t necessary,” Mwamba says. “Short and sweet works best.”
📌 Tip: Write in the first person to keep it personal and authentic.
4. 📝 Make Sure LinkedIn Matches Your Resume
One of the biggest red flags for recruiters is when a LinkedIn profile doesn’t align with the resume.
“If your job titles or dates don’t match, it raises concerns,” warns Mwamba. “Recruiters start wondering what else isn’t truthful.”
Make sure your:
- Work experience
- Job titles
- Employment dates
- Responsibilities and achievements
…all match what you’ve submitted on your resume.
🔍 Tip: Treat LinkedIn as an extension of your resume—not a completely separate document.
5. 💡 List Specific Skills—Not Just Soft Skills
LinkedIn’s skills section is crucial for SEO—recruiters often search for candidates by specific skillsets and keywords.
Include:
- Technical tools (e.g. Salesforce, Google Analytics, Adobe Creative Suite)
- Programming languages or certifications
- Industry-specific knowledge
Soft skills like leadership and communication are fine—but they won’t get you into recruiter searches the way hard skills do.
“Make sure your skills are listed clearly,” Mwamba advises. “That’s how we find you.”
🧠 Tip: Endorsements from colleagues add credibility to your listed skills.
6. 📂 Add a Portfolio or Featured Work
If you’re in a creative, tech, writing, or marketing field, don’t forget to showcase your work in the Featured section of your profile.
This area lets you add:
- Articles or blog posts
- Portfolio links
- Videos or presentations
- Case studies or campaign results
“People forget to link to their work,” Mwamba says. “But it’s really helpful for us to see what you’ve done.”
📌 Tip: Even if you’re not in a creative field, consider adding media from speaking engagements, certifications, or personal projects.
⚠️ What to Avoid on Your LinkedIn Profile
Just as important as what to include—here’s what to leave off:
❌ Wrong Location
Recruiters often search based on geography, and many companies can only hire in certain states or cities. If your location is outdated or incorrect, you could miss out on opportunities—or waste a recruiter’s time.
“It’s frustrating when we can’t move forward with someone due to incorrect location info,” Mwamba says.
❌ Irrelevant Info
As your career progresses, trim outdated details—like part-time jobs from college or your GPA (unless you’re a recent grad). Keep the focus on current, relevant experience.
❌ Obvious AI-Generated Content
Mwamba warns against over-relying on AI tools to write your summary or messages.
“Sometimes it’s obvious that candidates are reading from a generated script,” she explains. “It doesn’t feel natural.”
✅ Tip: Use AI as a starting point, but edit it with your own voice.
🔚 Final Thoughts
Your LinkedIn profile isn’t just a digital resume—it’s your first impression to recruiters and hiring managers.
✅ Update it regularly
✅ Be clear, authentic, and focused
✅ Showcase your skills and your work
Whether you’re actively job hunting or simply keeping doors open, these six LinkedIn tips from a seasoned recruiter will help ensure that your profile works for you.
🧰 Quick Checklist
- Turn on “Open to Work” with preferences
- Upload a clean, professional photo
- Write a 2–3 sentence “About” section
- Align job history with your resume
- List specific hard skills
- Add a portfolio or featured section
