LinkedIn should feel
straightforward. It helps the right people understand your work and what you
want next. In technology and creative hiring, profiles that perform well are
clear, honest, and valuable.
This guide focuses on practical steps, real examples,
and outcomes that recruiters and hiring managers look for.
Get the foundations
right
Photo: Use a recent head-and-shoulders photo with good lighting. Aim for approachable
and professional.
Headline: Say what you do and the value you create. A simple pattern works: role, how you
help, proof point.
Examples:
Product Designer, turns
research into shipped features, fintech and mobile
Software Engineer, builds
secure APIs at scale, Python and AWS
About
Write in the first person. Share what you enjoy, where you are strong, and what
you want next. If you are changing direction or returning after a break,
explain it once and frame it as progress.
Contact and links
Add an email address and link a portfolio or GitHub. Make sure your location
reflects where you can work. If you are open to hybrid or remote, say so.
Open to Work
If you are actively looking, turn it on and list clear role titles. Add a short
note that shows what you bring and what you want.
Show proof that matches
your craft
For engineers
Link GitHub in Contact and in the Featured section. Pin a few repositories that
show your strengths. Keep READMEs short, clear, and outcome-focused. Use
screenshots or clips where they help. If projects are private, create redacted
case studies. Highlight open-source contributions and what you learnt.
For designers and
creatives
Link your portfolio or Notion hub in Contact and Featured. Curate case studies
that show the brief, your process, and the outcome. Use before-and-after
visuals and, where possible, short walkthroughs or prototypes. Highlight
accessibility, collaboration, and systems thinking.
Write experience as
outcomes: Treat Experience as a
record of results. Replace task lists with the change you made.
Engineer example
Led checkout service migration to a new API. Simplified the flow from five
calls to three. Reduced timeouts, lifted completion rate from 58 per cent to 71
per cent, and halved error tickets.
Designer example
Redesigned onboarding for a mobile savings app. Ran research and usability
tests, aligned stakeholders, and simplified from five screens to three.
Activation rose by 13 points and support contacts dropped.
If numbers are not
available, anchor outcomes in clear effects such as faster sign-off, fewer
bugs, or improved onboarding.
Use the Featured
section as your shop window : Pin the evidence you want
people to see first: case studies, prototypes, repos, decks, or talks. Add one
line that says what it is, your role, and the result.
Choose skills and
keywords with intent: Pick skills that match the
roles you want now. Prioritise three that reflect your current direction. Add
others to cover the tools, methods, and practices you want to be found for.
Thread these words into your headline, About, and Experience naturally.
Champion wins without
bragging: Share stories in a simple
shape: situation, action, result, learning. Keep them short. Acknowledge the
people who helped. Reflection and shared credit stand out.
Post and comment in
ways that add value: You do not need to post
daily. Consistency matters more.
Simple rhythm
- One short post each week
with a lesson, win, or learning
- Two thoughtful comments on
posts in your field each week
- One useful resource each
month with why it helped
When posting, share
specific insights: a bug solved, a research finding, or a content change that
made something clearer. In comments, add an idea, a question, or an example.
Be authentic with a
positive tilt: State the facts, then show
the next step. If you were made redundant, mention it once and focus on how you
used the time to learn, contribute, or build. If you are switching fields,
share the steps you are taking and the results you have achieved.
Accessibility and clarity: Add alt text to images. Keep paragraphs short. Use headings to make scanning easy. Check spelling and tense.
Keep profile details
tidy: Claim a custom LinkedIn
URL. Switch on the Follow button if you plan to post. Make sure your job titles
and dates line up across LinkedIn, your CV, and your portfolio. Keep your name,
email, and links consistent across LinkedIn, GitHub, and your site.
If actively looking: Turn on Open to Work with
clear role titles and locations. Use the headline to show value, not just
availability. In the About section, add one line on what you want next, the
impact you bring, and where you can work.
Quick checklist
- Clear photo and headline
that show role and value
- About section written in
your voice with strengths and goals
- Experience written as
outcomes with numbers where possible
- Portfolio or GitHub linked
in Contact and Featured
- Skills and keywords that
reflect where you want to go
- Two or three current
recommendations that show how you work
- A light posting and
commenting habit that helps others
- Honest tone with a
positive frame
- Clean links, correct location, and a custom URL
Your LinkedIn profile is not about being perfect. It is
about being clear, honest, and showing what you can do. Small steps add up.
Update one section at a time, and soon your profile will reflect the impact you
bring.
Employers notice that.
