Why Your LinkedIn Summary Matters More Than You Think

I get it. Writing your LinkedIn Profile summary isn’t at the top of your to-do list. You’re not sure what to write. Your photo and headline make your Profile complete enough. It’s not worth your time since your company already attracts so many great candidates. [Insert your own excuse here.]

Why have a summary at all?

Your summary or About section is the one place you define yourself in your own words, free of start dates and titles. Whether you use it to put career choices in context, highlight your biggest achievements, or show off your personality, the summary is your chance to put your best self out there. It strengthens your first impression in a way no other Profile section can.

Don't just write facts, but tell stories; write in the first person like you would talk to somebody in person.

Follow this short and sweet formula with 3 elements in your About:

Company branding: present company/organization, USP, etc.

Personal branding: talk about your role, skills, highlights

Call to action: add an action your visitor should do next: send an invitation to connect, register for an event, download a piece of content (do not forget the UTM parameters to track the results), etc.

This is what I like/tips:

I have gone through many variations of my ABOUT section on LinkedIn. I have gotten great feedback on my ABOUT section because it's personalized and it tells a story. I keep it short and to the point, no more than 2 paragraphs. A lot of people don't like to read nowadays. You need to HOOK the reader right away. A good recruiter will read your ABOUT section and mention it, in their reach-out (which is what I do). This is your chance to explain what YOU like and your work accomplishments. I'm not a fan of when individuals put what they do at their current company, that's for your experience section.

Takeaways!!

Not only will your summary help you network and connect with potential employers, but it will also give you a chance to show off your personality and highlight your unique skills and experience. For more information about writing a strong LinkedIn profile check out our LinkedIn Profile Writing Guide. I'm also a HUGE fan of Bard (now called Gemini), another AI writing tool (but it's more accurate than ChatGPT. If you use an AI writing tool, I recommend reading and re-writing things that don't sound like your voice). And if you really want to take your LinkedIn profile to the next level, try Jobscan’s LinkedIn Optimization Tool. This tool is easy to use and will increase the searchability of your profile so that recruiters and hiring managers are more likely to find it – resulting in more job opportunities!

Cheers!!!. [Insert your own excuse here.]

Why have a summary at all?

Your summary or About section is the one place you define yourself in your own words, free of start dates and titles. Whether you use it to put career choices in context, highlight your biggest achievements, or show off your personality, the summary is your chance to put your best self out there. It strengthens your first impression in a way no other Profile section can.

Don't just write facts, but tell stories; write in the first person like you would talk to somebody in person.

Follow this short and sweet formula with 3 elements in your About:

Company branding: present company/organization, USP, etc.

Personal branding: talk about your role, skills, highlights

Call to action: add an action your visitor should do next: send an invitation to connect, register for an event, download a piece of content (do not forget the UTM parameters to track the results), etc.

This is what I like/tips:

I have gone through many variations of my ABOUT section on LinkedIn. I have gotten great feedback on my ABOUT section because it's personalized and it tells a story. I keep it short and to the point, no more than 2 paragraphs. A lot of people don't like to read nowadays. You need to HOOK the reader right away. A good recruiter will read your ABOUT section and mention it, in their reach-out (which is what I do). This is your chance to explain what YOU like and your work accomplishments. I'm not a fan of when individuals put what they do at their current company, that's for your experience section.

Takeaways!!

Not only will your summary help you network and connect with potential employers, but it will also give you a chance to show off your personality and highlight your unique skills and experience. For more information about writing a strong LinkedIn profile check out our LinkedIn Profile Writing Guide. I'm also a HUGE fan of Bard (now called Gemini), another AI writing tool (but it's more accurate than ChatGPT. If you use an AI writing tool, I recommend reading and re-writing things that don't sound like your voice). And if you really want to take your LinkedIn profile to the next level, try Jobscan’s LinkedIn Optimization Tool. This tool is easy to use and will increase the searchability of your profile so that recruiters and hiring managers are more likely to find it – resulting in more job opportunities!

Cheers!!!