LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network on the internet. You can use it to find jobs, build your professional brand, showcase your professional achievements and skills, share content, and connect with colleagues and potential employers.
But just like your resume, you want your LinkedIn profile to stand out. An outstanding LinkedIn profile can open doors to new career opportunities and help you get discovered by prospective employers. The networking opportunities are great, too.
The question is, how do you make your LinkedIn profile stand out? Keep scrolling to learn our top LinkedIn tips for maximum career growth!
1. Choose the Right Profile Picture
One of the most important elements of your LinkedIn profile is your photo. It’s the first impression most people will have of you! Here are our top LinkedIn photo tips:
- Use a professional headshot that looks like you on a typical workday.
- Your face should occupy around 60% of the frame.
- Avoid distracting backgrounds, low-quality selfies, or photos from a night out.
2. Add an Interesting Cover Photo
Another one of our LinkedIn photo tips is to use the cover photo as an opportunity to show off your professional identity with something that leaves a positive impression.
Your background photo is the second visual element people see at the top of your LinkedIn profile, right behind your profile picture. This horizontal banner allows you to show more of your personal brand, professional interests, and accomplishments.
The right photo also helps your page stand out and attract attention, just like the one on the sample profile below:
Image Source: Neil Patel | LinkedIn
3. Create a Simple Profile URL
One of the easiest LinkedIn tips is to create a custom LinkedIn URL. This looks much more professional and makes it easier to share your profile link. Plus, it increases your chances of showing up on Google when people are searching for you or individuals with your work experience.
Update your URL in three simple steps:
- Log in to LinkedIn and go to your profile.
- On the upper right-hand side of your own profile, click “Edit your public profile & URL”.
- In the “Edit your custom URL” section, click the pencil icon and change the random string of numbers at the end to a simple version containing your name or some identifying keywords related to your professional career, personal brand, or industry.
4. Write a Catchy Headline
Another one of our top LinkedIn profile tips is to get creative and write a short, punchy headline that grabs attention.
Your headline appears right under your name at the top of your profile. It’s one of the first things people notice, so make it count! Use your LinkedIn headline to briefly highlight your key skills, expertise, credentials, current job, or the type of industry you are in. Better yet, showcase what sets you apart!
5. Turn Your Summary Into Your Story
Your LinkedIn summary is your chance to share your story with your LinkedIn network and potential connections. Use it to provide a quick overview of your work history, expertise, passions—any value you can provide potential employers or recruiters.
Treat it like your personal elevator pitch by highlighting key strengths and achievements. But don’t just list facts! Try to share your authentic story and personality to humanize your LinkedIn presence and truly connect with the reader on an emotional level.
6. List Your Relevant Skills
All of the best LinkedIn profiles take advantage of the skills section to showcase past and current position key responsibilities as well as new and existing skills. Scroll through the list and carefully select those that are most relevant to your background, experience, and the type of roles you’re pursuing.
For example, if you’re a customer service professional, you’re going to want to highlight your communication skills and experience in client relations. This feature is amazing because:
- Anyone who views your profile will see your skills.
- Your LinkedIn connections can endorse you for these skills.
💡 Bonus LinkedIn Tip: The key here is staying relevant—a long list of skills that aren’t true to who you are and what you do comes across as inauthentic.
Image Source: Shutterstock
7. Show Examples of Your Work
Job seekers on LinkedIn can use the “Featured” section to showcase samples of their work and thought leadership. This could be professional projects, videos, articles, and more. This is one of our top LinkedIn profile tips that makes your skills more credible and allows you to put your best foot forward in front of recruiters and hiring managers.
It’s a powerful tool for career growth, even when you’re not actively looking for job opportunities!
8. Make Sure Your Resume and LinkedIn Match
While your resume and LinkedIn page don’t have to be identical, your job titles, companies, degrees, and licenses should match up and so should the dates. This LinkedIn tip is especially important when you’re actively looking for a new job. Don’t contradict yourself—your LinkedIn is essentially your online resume!
9. Grow Your Network
You have a complete profile, now what? Connect with other industry professionals and grow your network! One of the easiest LinkedIn profile tips to grow your network is to sync your profile with your email address in your contacts. This allows LinkedIn to suggest people you could connect with.
Don’t worry, no connection requests are sent without your permission!
10. Stay Active
Even with a great LinkedIn profile, you can’t just abandon the platform until your next job search. The key to success is staying active by sharing relevant content to your LinkedIn feed and engaging with your professional connections.
This doesn’t have to take hours of your time, just a few minutes with these top LinkedIn tips can boost your visibility and impact:
- Share insightful articles and industry trends on your LinkedIn profile.
- Take LinkedIn learning courses to further your expertise.
- Comment on posts from thought leaders in your field.
- Like and react to updates appearing in your feed.
Maximize Your Career Potential With ILAC International College
While these LinkedIn tips can help upgrade your online resume, you also need the right qualifications to truly stand out as a top candidate. That’s where we come in!
ILAC International College offers accredited programs across business, sales and marketing, hospitality and tourism and more. Our career-focused programs equip you with in-demand skills, practical experience, and sought-after credentials that employers value.
We also help students kickstart their professional journey by assisting with resume reviews, interview coaching, and LinkedIn profile upgrades—including taking a professional portrait for your profile picture.
Don’t just upgrade your LinkedIn, upgrade your career with ILAC International College. Let us be your partner in building your future—apply now!