Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile for Recruiter Search Success

Step 1: Ensure Changes are Not Shared Publicly

Click on Me (top right), scroll down to Settings & Privacy, on the left click Visibility, and scroll down to ‘Share job changes, education changes, and work anniversaries from profile’ and make sure this is turned off

 

Click on the Blue LinkedIn button top left

 

 

Step 2: Change URL

Click Me (top right), Click ‘View Profile’, at the top right of the screen you will see ‘Public profile & URL’ with your LinkedIn URL with a pencil icon beside it. LinkedIn defaults to providing you with a URL with your name and a bunch of numbers, ex. www.linkedin.com/in/clementinecrooks1938471

Once you click on the pencil icon a new page appears and again in the top right it says ‘Edit your custom URL’, click the pencil icon and remove all of the numbers. If your name URL is taken you may need to modify, for example mine might read www.linkedin.com/in/clementinecrooksMA or www.linkedin.com/in/clementinecrooks1 

Click Save

 

Close this window and return to the original window. Click refresh on your profile page, and then click Contact Info in your Header Section (below your name and headline)

In the Contact Info section you will see your new URL, copy and paste this to the contact section of your resume.

Here is a video walking you through how to make this change: https://www.resumerestoration.ca/linkedinurl

 

 

Step 3: Upload your formatted resume to your profile for recruiter access

Click Me (top right), Click Settings & Privacy, Click Data Privacy (left side), scroll down to Job Seeking Preferences, and click on Job Application Settings, upload your most current resume and turn Share Resume Data with Hirers On

If there are old versions of your resume here, please remove these

 

Click on the blue LinkedIn button top left

Click on Me, View Profile, to return to your profile

 

 

Step 4: About

Click on the pencil icon in your About Section on your profile page. If you have not yet set this up, scroll to the top of your profile and below your heading section will be a handful of buttons (Open to, Add Profile Section…), click Add profile Section, under Core select ‘About’

Now scroll down on your profile until you reach the About section, click on the pencil icon.

Copy and paste your profile or professional summary from your resume here as well as applicable additional sections which may include Skills, Competencies, Qualifications, Career Highlights, Technology

Click Save

 

 

Step 5: Professional Experience

On your Profile Page, scroll down to Experience and here you want to add each of your professional experience sections from your resume into these sections. If you need to add additional roles click on the + icon next to the Experience heading.

For each position you include, you need to add your Job Title, Company Name, Length of Employment, and then copy and paste bullets from your resume into the Description section. If the bullets from your resume exceed the allotted space provided you will need to edit this section accordingly.

 

 

Step 6: Education

Scroll down your profile to the Education section. If this is not included on your profile you will need to add it. To do so scroll to the top of your profile and below your heading section will be a handful of buttons (Open to, Add Profile Section…), click Add profile Section, under Core select ‘Education’

Here you will add your Degree, School, Field of Study, and you may wish to include End Date or years of program.

 

 

Step 7: Licenses & Certifications

Scroll down your profile to the Licenses & Certifications section. If this is not included on your profile you will need to add it. To do so scroll to the top of your profile and below your heading section will be a handful of buttons (Open to, Add Profile Section…), click Add profile Section, under Recommended select ‘Licenses & Certifications’

Once added, scroll down and click on the + icon next to the title. Here you can add your certifications, professional memberships, professional affiliations, and licenses. You are welcome to include organizations here or alternatively LinkedIn does have an organizations section. To add this section to your profile, scroll to the top of your profile and below your heading section will be a handful of buttons (Open to, Add Profile Section…), click Add profile Section, under Additional Sections select ‘Organizations’

 

 

Step 8: Courses

If you have completed additional professional development training that did not result in a certification or degree, you will want to include this in the Courses Section. To create this section, scroll to the top of your profile and below your heading section will be a handful of buttons (Open to, Add Profile Section…), click Add profile Section, under Recommended select ‘Courses’

 

 

Step 9: Projects

If you would like to provide additional information on projects you have completed, you can choose to include these either in the Experience Section or the Projects section. To create a Projects section, scroll to the top of your profile and below your heading section will be a handful of buttons (Open to, Add Profile Section…), click Add profile Section, under Recommended select ‘Projects’

 

 

Step 10: Additional Options

Depending on the nature of your work, LinkedIn does offer Additional Sections you are able to add to your profile page. These include Volunteer Experience (this is where you would also include unpaid Governance work), Publications, Patents, Honors & Awards, Languages, Organizations

 

 

Step 11: Skills

Ultimately if you are creating your LinkedIn profile to optimize your chances of coming up in recruiter or headhunter searches, you want to ensure your profile includes keywords. One great way to do this is by including these keywords within the skills section. Within the Skills section you can add 100 skills. My recommendation is to ensure your profile has between 50 and 75.

 

You have two options to do this, the first is by clicking on the + icon next to the title of the Skills Section on your profile. Again, if this is not set up, scroll to the top of your profile and below your heading section will be a handful of buttons (Open to, Add Profile Section…), click Add profile Section, under Core select ‘Skills’.

The second way to add skills (my preferred way) is by going to Experience, clicking on the pencil icon, and then click on the pencil icon of your most recent position.

Once this position opens, scroll down and there is an option for you to add Skills performed within this role.

A great option to help you here is to use ChatGPT.

Open ChatGPT and provide the following prompt:
 

I would like you to generate a list of 25 technical skills that I can add to the “Skills” section of my LinkedIn profile based on the job experience I will provide. Please follow these guidelines:

1. Only include skills that are recognized as LinkedIn skills (so they are searchable by recruiters and headhunters).

2. Prioritize skills that will help my profile appear in recruiter searches on LinkedIn.

3. Focus on skills that reflect the actual work I performed in this role.

4. Ensure the list is optimized to strengthen my profile visibility and attractiveness to recruiters in this field.

Here is my role — including the job title, company, and full experience bullets copied from my resume:
<copy and paste your experience here>

 

Add these skills to this position. Repeat this exercise for all positions included on your LinkedIn profile. And please note you can add the same skill to numerous positions.

 

 

Step 12: Professional Designation

At the top of your profile is your name. Ultimately you want to add your designation to your last name. Click on the pencil icon to the right of your name (below the banner image). A box will appear, and it says Basic Info, First Name, Last Name. When you write your Last Name it is recommended you include designations. For example, mine reads Crooks, MA, BA, CPHR.

In this section you can also include your pronouns, select if you would like your current company information included in your heading section, and select if you would like your education included in your heading section. Here you can also edit your Headline – please continue to Step 13.

 

 

Step 13: Headline
At the top of your profile is a headline section under your name. In this same box you were just working in you can edit your Headline. Note, LinkedIn provides a default option of your current job title and company. It is recommended that you modify this to provide a stronger Headline. The best practice for a LinkedIn headline is to go beyond your job title by incorporating relevant industry keywords, showcasing your expertise and value, and using clear, audience-focused language that improves your visibility in recruiter searches — all while keeping it professional and easy to read.

Again, ChatGPT is an excellent resource to help you here. Open ChatGPT and provide it with the following prompt:

I would like you to generate 5 highly effective LinkedIn headline options for me based on my resume content (pasted below).

Please follow these guidelines:

1. Headlines must help my profile show up in recruiter and headhunter searches.

2. They should highlight my expertise, value, and focus — not just my job title.

3. Headlines must use keywords that are commonly searched for in my target industry.

4. Tone should be professional and polished.

5. Headlines should be concise and easy to read (avoid keyword stuffing).

6. Please provide 5 distinct options so I can choose what best fits my brand and goals.

 

Here is my resume content:
<PASTE FULL RESUME HERE>

 

Review what options is provides and select the best one. I always ask it to provide options because it is not uncommon that I mix and match to create the perfect headline.

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Step 14: Open To

LinkedIn has an Open to Work Section where you can include up to 5 jobs you would be interested in and from there you can select open to everyone (green ring around your face) or just open to recruiters. Research continues to show that opening yourself up to everyone (green ring) does not actually enhance your candidacy. As such, I suggest Opening yourself up to Recruiters only.

Opening yourself up to recruiters as it’s ultimately a great passive job seeking tool we have in our toolbelt. By opening yourself up to recruiters, all you are doing is choosing to have your profile prioritized when they search for professionals with similar credentials. So let’s say a recruiter searches for a marketing professional in Calgary and 150 people come up in their search as meeting the qualification they entered, you being one of them. Now those with who are open to recruiters are prioritized and come up at the top of this list where as those who are not still do come up in searches, however are at the bottom of the list. When you are then contacted by a recruiter and you’re not interested, you just politely decline. 

 

 

Step 15: Banner Image

Your LinkedIn banner (the image that displays behind your profile photo at the top of your profile) is an opportunity to visually reinforce your personal brand, industry, or expertise.

The ideal banner should be professional, uncluttered, and relevant to your field — and should enhance, not distract from, your profile. If you do not upload a banner image, LinkedIn will display a default blue background.

Once you have selected your image: Go to your profile, Hover over the banner area (top of profile), Click the pencil icon (top right corner of the banner), Upload your image and click Save.

If you are looking for a custom banner image to enhance your profile, check out https://www.etsy.com/shop/RRestorationDesigns

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