5 Steps to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile for Recruiters

After applying to more than 300 jobs and dedicating months of networking, I finally secured a full-time position. The journey was not easy!

Thankfully, my quest to secure a job went viral on both LinkedIn and TikTok, resulting in a tremendous wave of support.

A lot of generous professionals assisted in improving my LinkedIn profile, which was in need of a serious makeover.

Considering the increasing unemployment rate and financial constraints that some individuals are going through, I am excited to share 5 FREE tips to improve your LinkedIn profile for job recruiters!

Let's get started!

1. Add A Profile Photo

If you were a recruiter, wouldn't you be more interested in someone who has a profile photo rather than someone who hasn't added one?

Go ahead, upload a headshot. It's not just common courtesy, but also a professional practice.

If you cannot afford a professional photoshoot, there are alternatives! All you need is your smartphone. ??

Below are a few things to avoid when taking your headshot picture:

• Avoid wearing hats, hoodies, or beanies
• Avoid wearing sunglasses
• Avoid having messy hair

Look straight at the camera and smile.

You'll notice that the picture below was taken at an event, that's perfectly acceptable.

Try to wear something nice.

You don't need a suit & tie; a simple polo shirt is sufficient.

2. Add 50 Skills

LinkedIn allows you to add up to 50 Skills to your profile, so make sure to make the most of this overlooked feature!

When you apply for jobs on LinkedIn, your Skills can significantly increase your chances of landing interviews.

Your Skills match with jobs on the backend, meaning the more Skills you add, the higher the likelihood of getting noticed by recruiters.

In the example below, the person has only listed 9 Skills, which can actually be detrimental to their candidacy.

The 50 Skills that you include on your profile should genuinely be skills that you possess.

3. Update Your Banner

Your Banner is the perfect place to quickly tell the world what you do, and what you are passionate about.

Whether you're seeking a job or aiming to enhance your personal brand, make the most of your Banner.

For FREE templates that you can customize, check out Canva. They offer a wide range of LinkedIn Banner templates to choose from.

The example below showcases how you can maximize your Banner space.

Since my passion and career revolve around Social Media, creating a Social Media-focused Banner is an ideal way for me to easily promote what I do and love.

4: Add #OpenToWork If You Are Unemployed

I get it, it can feel a little embarrassing to add the #OpenToWork feature.

It can feel a bit desperate and you may not want your network to know that you’re unemployed.

However, consider this perspective: "How can somebody help me if they don't know that I need help?" ??

The #OpenToWork feature serves as a digital microphone, broadcasting to the world and recruiters that you are actively seeking employment.

The infamous green banner also sends a message behind the scenes to recruiters, signaling that you are available for job opportunities.

Wear your green banner proudly; we've all been there!

5: Update Your About Section

I've come across some About sections that are cringeworthy, so please avoid being that person.

The example below requires significant improvement.

In your About section, make sure to include the following information to convey to recruiters:

• A brief self-introduction
• Your professional experience
• Your passions
• Your education background or area of study

Key Takeaways

If you are new to LinkedIn or want to create a strong personal brand and increase your chances of getting more interview opportunities, make sure to:

1. Add a profile photo of yourself
2. Add up to 50 Skills
3. Update your profile Banner
4. If you're unemployed, add the #OpenToWork feature
5. Revise your About section.

If you found this article helpful, please share it to someone that might need it.

May God guide you on your journey towards happiness. ????