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How To Write A Crazy Effective LinkedIn Summary [10+ Examples & Tips]

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What if there was an easy way to boost the visibility of your LinkedIn profile, land more job interviews, and have more prospects reaching out to you ?

There is. And you can do all of the above with the right LinkedIn Summary.

Your Summary is one of the most important parts of your LinkedIn Profile . It's the place where you get to tell your story, share your value, and get other people excited to reach out!

But crafting a great Summary is easier said than done.

Where do you even start? What exactly makes a LinkedIn Summary great? How does that differ for job seekers, professionals, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders?

That's exactly what we're going to break down in this post. Here's a summary of what we'll cover:

• Why Your LinkedIn Summary Matters
• LinkedIn Summaries For Job Seekers: Templates & Examples
• LinkedIn Summaries For Entrepreneurs: Templates & Examples
• 4 Tips To Maximize Your LinkedIn Summary Results

But first, I think it's important to share a bit about me and why I'm qualified to share this advice…

Who Am I To Give LinkedIn Advice?

Great question!

There are a LOT of LinkedIn “experts” out there with all kinds of opinions. Why should you care about what I have to say?

This article is focused on everyone who might be using LinkedIn — job seekers, professionals, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs — so let's cover them all:

If you're a job seeker , I've coached thousands of other people (just like you) to leverage LinkedIn in their job search. My systems have helped them go on to land jobs at places like Microsoft, Google, Tesla, Facebook, Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, and thousands of other companies.

If you're a professional , I've leveraged LinkedIn to help drive tens of millions of dollars in new business as a Director of Partner Development for Microsoft.

If you're an entrepreneur or thought leader , I've used LinkedIn to create a profitable business with a pipeline that's bursting at the seams. I don't do outbound promotion, all of my leads reach out to me (typically after reading my LinkedIn Summary)!

On top of that, I grew my LinkedIn following from 3,000 people to over 100,000 in 12 months. Today, I have an audience of 1.2+ million followers on LInkedIn.

Don't just take my word for it though! Here are my LinkedIn profile analytics:

My goal with this article is to teach you the same LinkedIn Summary tactics that have helped me (and thousands of my clients) achieve those results!

Why Does Your LinkedIn Summary (a.k.a LinkedIn About Section) Matter?

Your LinkedIn summary is the largest freeform text area on your profile.

If your LinkedIn Headline is your hook, your LinkedIn Summary is where you expand on your story, your value, and where you drive your reader to take action.

It's one of the most important sections of your profile, but it's also one of the most intimidating. When you click “edit” on your Summary for the first time, all you get is a blank box with a blinking cursor. You can say anything! Which leads to all kinds of questions:

• “What do I talk about?”
• “How long should this be?”
• “Should this be polish and professional or casual and personal?”

It's super overwhelming!

But when you get it right, a great LinkedIn Summary can completely change the game.

It can differentiate you from the competition and compel your target audience (recruiters, followers, prospects, etc.) to reach out to  you.  You'll turn your LinkedIn profile into an inbound lead generating machine, no matter what your goals are.

How To Edit Your LinkedIn Summary

Easy! All you need to do is go to LinkedIn and head to your profile.

On your profile, scroll down until you see the About section. When you're there, click on the pencil icon in the upper right of that section:

That will open up the text editor where you can add or update your Summary / About.

LinkedIn Summary Limits: LinkedIn recently expanded the limit for the Summary / About section to 2,600 characters. I recommend writing your Summary wherever you're most comfortable, then paste it into a tool like WordCounter to make sure you're within LinkedIn's limits.

LinkedIn Summary For Job Seekers

As a job seeker, how awesome would it be to have recruiters and employers constantly reaching out to you? That's the dream, right?

That's exactly what can happen when you tailor your LinkedIn Summary the right way. This is your chance to focus on your story, your skills, and the value you bring to the table!

After coaching thousands of job seekers through this process, here's the LinkedIn Summary template that I've found works best for job seekers:

My LinkedIn Summary Template For Job Seekers [Compelling Action Word] [Insert Job Title Keyword] with X+ years of experience in [Insert Field / Job Title] . I help companies do [Insert Pitch Or Value Proposition With Metrics Or Social Proof] . Some examples include: Case Study Bullet #1 Case Study Bullet #2 Case Study Bullet #3 Case Study Bullet #4 Cultural Fit / Extracurricular Bullet #1 Cultural Fit / Extracurricular Bullet #1 I get excited about opportunities where I [Insert Specifics About What You’re Looking For In A New Role] . I love connecting with new people, you can reach me at [email protected] .

Let's break down each of those sections!

Intro Line – You're leading off with a line that tells the reader what field you're in, how many years of experience you have, and the specific value you bring / have brought to other companies.

For example, you might say,  “Award-Winning Sales Manager with 11+ Years Experience Helping Early Stage SaaS Companies Grow From <$5M to $30M+ ARR.”

Case Study Bullets – Next, you're cherry picking specific examples and results that support the sentence above. These bullets should including compelling language and measurable results (check out our free tool ResyBullet.io to score and improve your bullets).

For example, here are a few case study bullets that supports the opening example above:

• Sold $10M in new business in 12 months for [Company], a cloud-based SaaS payment system
• Won OneTeam Award for largest annual deal ($7.75M) at [Company] a marketing SaaS platform

These bullets provide the specific, supporting evidence for your value.

Closing With Opportunities  – The last section of your summary should speak directly to the opportunities you're looking for…without specifically saying you're looking for new opportunities.

Picture this. You're at a bar having a drink with both your current manager and a recruiter at your dream company. You want to tip off the recruiter without your manager getting suspicious.

How do you do that?

You talk about the opportunities you're excited about!

If you say, “I love applying my SaaS-experience to help new companies with products that specifically impact the finances of SMBs” then any recruiter looking at your profile will know exactly what you want without you actually saying it.

💡 Pro Tip: Choose one of these 175+ data-backed action words to supercharge your LinkedIn summary!

How To Write A LinkedIn Summary If You Are A Job Seeker

Now that you have the overarching template, let's take a look at a few examples of that template in action for job seekers in different roles. I'll use the same color coding as above so you can see how to fill in specific aspects of the template.

First up, we have Amari who works as a marketer in the fintech SaaS space and also edits a marketing-focused publication on Medium:

LinkedIn Summary Example #1 – Fintech SaaS Marketing Innovative Marketing Manager with 7+ years in the fintech SaaS space . I help early-to-mid stage companies like BitFloss and Profitly add 50,000 users per year. Some examples of my results include: Spearheaded new referral-based growth system at BitFloss, resulting in 87k+ new users in 8 months (without spending a dime on ads) Led content management overhaul for Profitly, boosting site traffic from 8k users / month to 100k+ users / month in 12 months Editor at Better Marketing, a Medium.com publication with 10,000+ monthly readers where marketers share and discuss innovative strategies Fluent in English and Spanish, currently learning Italian I get excited about opportunities where I'm able to work with highly creative people to develop innovative marketing solutions in the fintech space. I love connecting with new people, give me a shout at [email protected] or here on LinkedIn!

Next, let's look at Taylor who is a data analyst in the healthcare space who has also combined their passion for basketball and analytics on the side. Given the technical nature of their role, we added a line for “Technical Skills & Tools” at the top so future employers can see they are proficient with those tools:

LinkedIn Summary Example #2 – Data Analytics in Healthcare Award-Winning Data Analyst with 3+ years in the healthcare space . I help healthcare systems like HCA Healthcare and New York Presbyterian Hospitals use data to lower readmission rates by 30%+. Technical Skills & Tools: Python, R, SQL, mongodb, Tableau, & PowerBI Here are a few examples of my work: Analyzed 100,000+ patient records to identify specific procedures with the highest readmission rate, resulting in 15% decrease in patient readmission for the following calendar year Developed visualization of readmission rates and total costs per procedure for HCA health system, enabling executives to report out and act on rising readmission rates and costs Additionally, I am a big college basketball fan (go Georgetown!). In that vein, I created a site called AnalyzedMadness.com where I build predictive models for the annual NCAA Basketball Tournament based on current and historical stats. I get excited about opportunities where I'm able to leverage big data to discovery insights and identify patterns that have real human impact. I love connecting with new people, give me a shout at [email protected] or here on LinkedIn!

Those are just two examples for job seekers in different industries.

Keep in mind that a template is simply something to work off of. If you're following our foundational principles and focusing on value, you can structure your information in whatever way feels best to you!

LinkedIn Summaries For Thought Leaders & Entrepreneurs

If you're an entrepreneur and / or thought leader on LinkedIn, your goals are probably similar.

You want more people to find your profile, follow along, and then reach out about / find their way to your offerings. An endless funnel of inbound leads!

While your LinkedIn Headline can help ( here's how to write a great LinkedIn headline ), it's only the tip of the iceberg. Most people want to learn more about the person they might be spending money with.

That's where the Summary comes in.

I've spent years A/B testing my own Summary. I've also coached hundreds of entrepreneurs and thought leaders on LinkedIn Growth.

Here's the template that I've seen work best:

My LinkedIn Summary Template For Thought Leaders & Entrepreneurs [Website] // [Your Elevator Pitch] My strategies/products have been featured in [Insert Social Proof] and they’ve helped [Number] of people (just like you) [Insert Achievement Or Benefit] . Reach out to me for: [Insert Service #1] [Insert Service #2] [Insert Service #3] Here’s what a few of my clients/customers have to say about me / my products: [Insert Testimonial #1] [Insert Testimonial #2] [Insert Testimonial #3] For more information, feel free to send me a note at [email protected] .

Let's break down each section here.

Website & Pitch  – As an entrepreneur or thought leader, the basis on your LinkedIn presence should be creating content and the goal should be to capture those profile eyeballs somewhere. As a result, I like to put my website right up front so people can easily check it out for more info.

Right after the website, you want to include a pitch that sums up who you are and what results you (or your product) help people achieve. Your audience wants to see what you can do for them so if this is front and center, it makes for a great hook.

Social Proof  – Social proof is one of Robert Cialdini's Six Principles of Persuasion.

Cialdini says, “the principle of social proof says so: The greater the number of people who find any idea correct, the more the idea will be correct.”  This is furthered by the type of people who are finding the thing “correct.” If the person or entity is highly reputable, their recommendation is more likely to be trusted.

That's why we might look at someone who is regularly published in the New York Times as “more reputable” than someone who is regularly published in Johnny's Weekly Blog.

Including the names of the places you've been featured, the companies you've worked with, or the # of people you've helped is a great way to add social proof to your LinkedIn Summary.

Services / Products  – The goal is for us to convert profile views into something tangible like sales or clients. By including your services, you're showing people exactly what you offer so they know what to reach out to you for!

Testimonials – Adding to our social proof, testimonials at the bottom of your profile tell people two things. First, that you've worked with other folks and you're not just making this stuff up. Second, that your work or products are good enough for people to publicly praise them. That's powerful!

Contact Info / CTA – Finally, you want to make it as easy as possible for people to contact you or to find a way to convert. Including your info or a CTA at the bottom of your Summary is the best way to make that happen.

LinkedIn Summary Examples For Thought Leaders & Entrepreneurs

Now let's take a look at a few examples of that template in action! We'll be using my profile as well as my friend (and fellow entrepreneur) Miloney as examples in different spaces.

Again, the examples will be color coded to match the template above.

First, we'll start with the LinkedIn Summary from my profile . I operate in two spaces, the career coaching space and the SaaS space:

LinkedIn Summary Example #3 – Career Coaching & SaaS Apps CultivatedCulture.com // I teach people how to land jobs they love in today's market without traditional experience and without applying online. Want “insider” career advice? Text me here 👉 201-479-9511 My strategies have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Inc., Fast Company, & The USA Today . I've also helped thousands of job seekers (just like you!) land offers at Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Twitter, Uber, Spotify, Deloitte, Accenture, Sequoia Capital, Tesla, SpaceX, ESPN, The NFL, & more. If you're ready to accelerate your job search, here are my best tools and resources (they’re all free!): ✅ CultivatedCulture.com/JobSearch/ – My super comprehensive guide on landing a job without applying online ✅ Mailscoop.io – My free email lookup tool to help you find anyone’s email address in seconds ✅ ResyBuild.io – My proven job-winning resume builder with free, super effective templates ✅ ResyMatch.io – My resume optimizer to help you identify keywords/skills for your resume & LinkedIn profile ✅ ResyBullet.io – My resume bullet analyzer to help you write crazy effective resume bullets that sell your value ✅ Get the 5 most effective strategies my clients use to land jobs without applying online (for FREE): CultivatedCulture.com/DreamJob/ Here's what a few of my clients have to say about my job search strategies: “I recently left a job with nothing else lined up. My visa was tied to that job so I had 60 days to get hired and land visa sponsorship. Then COVID-19 hit. Austin helped me land a Program Manager role at a leading tech company, a 30% raise, AND H1-B sponsorship during the pandemic.” – Jasleen “I was looking to get back into the workforce after taking 8 months off to pursue a startup idea. Austin helped me land multiple $100,000+ job offers within 3 months.” – Ben “Austin helped me make the jump from a VP role in finance to a Program Manager role at Amazon with a $300,000 compensation package – a 30% increase over my previous salary.” – Amish “I spent years struggling to take the transition from vendor to full time employee. Austin helped me land a job in Product Marketing at a Fortune 30 tech company with a $40,000+ raise.” – Amyr “Austin helped me make the transition from Minneapolis, MN to Europe. Making the transition from the US to Europe was not easy. But with Austin's help, I landed multiple six-figure roles and ended up accepting my dream job in Amsterdam.” – Anton For more free career tools, advice, and resources check out my Featured section (above 👆) or my website CultivatedCulture.com

Next, let's look at Miloney Thakrar's summary. Miloney is a consultant who helps companies use data storytelling to advance gender equity, diversity, & inclusion:

LinkedIn Summary Example #4 – Data-Driven D&I Consultant MindTheGenderGap.Org // I help companies ranging from non-profits to startups to Fortune 500s craft innovative and scalable solutions to advance gender equity. My work has been featured at the Society for Human Resource Management and the Forum on Workplace Inclusion . My clients include Accenture, Women Tech Founders, and UN Women, among others. Book a discovery call to learn more 👉🏽 https://mindthegendergap.as.me/discoverycall I f you’re ready to close the gender gap at your company, let’s talk! You can reach out to me for: •Strategy Consulting & Advising – I can help you navigate the complex aspects of advancing gender equity, diversity, and inclusion without having to invest in costly solutions that don't scale. •Data Storytelling & Research – Through propriety 5-step approach uniquely combines data feminism, compelling data storytelling, and cutting-edge technology, I can help you clearly assess your company's current state and where it needs to go to close the gender gap. •Facilitating & Keynoting – I customize my talks and workshops to meet the unique needs and interests of your audience. Popular topics include: Leveraging Technology to Advance Gender Equity, Effective Data Storytelling to Advance Gender Equity, & Gender Equity in Leadership. Here’s what my clients have to say about my work: “I had the pleasure of working with Miloney in collaboration for our International Women’s Day celebration at Accenture. Miloney offered immense knowledge and support as we consulted her in the creation of content and the structure for our Gender Advocacy Workshop. I would highly recommend her as a speaker, facilitator and consultant in creating conversations for change and educating one's organization on advocacy and gender equality.” Gabby – Management Consultant, Accenture “Miloney served as a guest speaker at Accenture's Gender Advocacy lunch event for International Women's Day, where she talked about the UN Women's HeForShe campaign…In preparation for her talk, Miloney coached the event organizers on how to create a safe space to allow for a candid conversation around gender equity in the workplace…What impressed me most was her nuanced understanding of issues related to gender equity and her ability to not only engage but also inspire the audience. I highly recommend her as a speaker and facilitator.” -Ola, Global Ethnicity Lead, Inclusion & Diversity, Accenture

Those two examples should give you a basis for drafting your own LinkedIn Summary as an entrepreneur or thought leader!

Again, templates are just that — something to work off of. Feel free to customize or adjust as you see fit as long as you're sticking to the core principles and the rationale behind them.

LinkedIn Summary For Students

Wondering how students can craft an amazing LinkedIn summary?

You might think that, because you’re just getting started in your career, you don’t have a compelling background to share on your LinkedIn summary.

Well, think again! I’m sure you have some awesome accomplishments you could use as “case studies” that would grab any recruiter’s attention, like:

• Projects you've developed for school
• Extracurricular activity you took (like volunteer work, mentorship programs, etc.)
• Your performance in specific classes

And that’s assuming you don’t have any work experience, e.g. an internship or trainee, and you’re looking for a first work experience – otherwise, you can add them to your summary, too!

My LinkedIn Summary Template For Students

Here’s a LinkedIn summary template for students that you can borrow:

[Compelling Action Word] [Insert Course] Student with experience in [Insert Field] . I am passionate about [Insert Fields Of Interest + Value Proposition With Metrics Or Social Proof, If Applicable] . Some areas of expertise include: Case Study Bullet #1 Case Study Bullet #2 Case Study Bullet #3 Case Study Bullet #4 I am excited about opportunities where I can [Insert Specifics About What You’re Looking For In Your Career] . Let’s connect! You can reach out to me at [email protected]

Now, let’s break down these sections.

Intro Line – Begin your LinkedIn summary with a general context, then wrap up by getting specific about the fields you are most interested in. If you have value propositions with metrics (like a project you worked on) or social proof (such as awards or even referrals you’ve gotten from colleagues and teachers), even better!

For example, you might say: “Engaged Communication student with experience in social media management. I am passionate about crafting video content and sharing culinary tips for a 10K+ follower base on TikTok”.

Or, you could also go with something like: “Innovative Computer Science student with experience in software development. I am passionate about creating user-friendly applications and improving functionality, as praised by course coordinator at Northwestern University”.

Case Study Bullets – Next, you’ll want to showcase your best achievements in your field of study. You can mention things like:

• Self-initiated projects you’ve worked on
• Projects you’ve developed for a class assignment that could have real-world applications
• Awards you’ve won
• Your achievements with volunteer work And so much more!

Closing With Opportunities – Wrap up your LinkedIn summary by specifying the specific areas you’re interested in working in!

LinkedIn Summary Examples For Students

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s look at a couple of examples to get you inspired. 

Our first example if of a Computer Science student who’s worked on self-initiated projects. Here’s how they could craft their LinkedIn Summary:

LinkedIn Student Summary Example #1 – Computer Science Student Dynamic Computer Science student at Rivertown University, specializing in machine learning and data analysis . I am dedicated to developing algorithms that improve user interaction and efficiency, showcased by my final year project that reduced data processing times by 30% . Here are some of my achievements: Developed a personal app for organizing academic schedules, currently used by 40+ students at my university. Designed a machine learning model for a class project that predicts student performance, winning the Best Innovation Award. Created a custom CRM database for the university’s tech club, enhancing member engagement and communication. Led a group study project that optimized existing open-source code, contributing our improvements back to the community. Keen on exploring roles in software development where I can further my passion for creating impactful, user-friendly technology . Let’s connect! Email me at [email protected]

Now, let's look at a LinkedIn summary of a Business Administration student:

LinkedIn Student Summary Example #2 – Business Administration Student Strategic Business Administration student at Summit University with a focus on entrepreneurial management and market analysis . I am passionate about turning market insights into actionable business strategies, as demonstrated by my capstone project that increased class engagement by 25% . Here are some of my proudest achievements: Founded a student-run consultancy that provides free marketing and strategic advice to local small businesses, increasing their customer base on average by 20%. Conducted a market feasibility study for introducing a new health food product in the campus cafeteria, leading to its adoption and a 15% increase in student satisfaction. Organized and led the annual business case competition, attracting over 300 student participants from across the university. Developed a business plan for a sustainable clothing start-up as part of a class project, which was recognized with the ‘Innovative Business Idea' award at the university business fair. I am eager to apply my skills in a dynamic business environment that values innovative ideas and strategic thinking . Let's explore potential collaborations! Contact me at [email protected]

Edit and adapt these templates however it suits you best, and you’ll end up with a compelling, effective LinkedIn summary!

4 LinkedIn Summary Tips To Maximize Your Results

Now that you have an idea of which template to use and what examples you want to work from, let's take your Summary to the next level:

Tip #1: Leverage The Right Keywords

Most people don't realize that LinkedIn is a search engine like Google, Amazon, or YouTube.

Recruiters are constantly searching for candidates and prospects are looking for coaches and services to help them achieve their goals. If you know how the engine works under the hood, you can optimize your profile so you show up for more searches and win more clicks.

Keywords are a big factor in achieving that goal.

When someone runs a search, LinkedIn looks at the keywords and filters in their search and they match them up with the keywords on thousands of profiles. Then they serve up the profiles they believe will be most relevant (that's a bit of an oversimplification, but that's the gist).

If your profile contains the keywords and right LinkedIn skills that your target audience is searching for, you'll show up for more searches and win more clicks. Your LinkedIn Summary is a great place to embed those keywords.

Here's a video walking through a 10 minute exercise to help you find the perfect keywords for your LinkedIn Summary (followed by written instructions for job seekers, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders):

Finding Keywords For Job Seekers

If you're a job seeker, finding keywords is super easy.

They're sitting right in the job descriptions of the roles you're targeting! Here's how to identify them:

• Open a new document (Word or Google Doc) and have it handy
• Head to LinkedIn Jobs and run a search for a target roles as if you were going to apply for them
• When you find a job description that matches your target criteria, copy the entire job description and paste it into your doc
• Rinse and repeat until you have a total of 20+ job descriptions in your doc

Once you have your 20+ descriptions, head to ResyMatch.io and select the Job Description Scanner option:

Next, paste all of the content from all of your job descriptions into the field on the left. Then hit “Start Job Description Scan:”

ResyMatch will scrape all of the data from every job description you added and it will extract the top hard and soft skills based on frequency. These skills are prevalent across every role you're targeting so they're going to be the keywords and skills you want to target in your summary.

To make things easier, use the ResyMatch.io shortcut below:

Copy/paste or upload your resume here:

Click here to paste text

Upload a PDF, Word Doc, or TXT File

Paste the job post's details here:

Scan to compare and score your resume vs the job's description.

Scanning...

The keywords are:

76 – design

61 – product

41 – UI

31 – research

30 – UX

16 – user experience

16 – communication

These are the keywords we'll want to weave into our LinkedIn Summary.

Finding Keywords For Entrepreneurs & Thought Leaders

Finding keywords as an entrepreneur or thought leader uses a similar process with a different data source.

We're not lucky enough to have “job descriptions” for our purposes, so we'll have to find another source of data! The good news is that LinkedIn already tells us who's doing this well because they appear at the top of the existing search results. All we need to do is check out their profiles.

Here's the path for finding keywords as an Entrepreneur or Thought Leader:

• Open a new doc (Word or Google) and keep it on hand
• Head to LinkedIn
• Put yourself in your prospect's shoes and run a search (e.g. “career coach”)
• Click through the profiles of the first 5 pages
• When you find a profile that's aligned with your offerings, copy the profile and paste it into your document
• Rinse and repeat until you have 20+ profiles in your document
• Head to WordClouds.com and repeat the steps above

After editing for filler words and non-relevant terms, you should have a list of keywords that are aligned with your offerings that you can add into your LinkedIn Summary.

Tip #2: Grab Some Eyeballs With Formatting And Emojis

I'll start by saying that, for this tip, a little goes a long way. Both fancy formatting and emojis have their time and place. It's also easy to overuse them. But when used sparingly and intentionally, they can really make your summary pop.

How To Add Formatting To Your LinkedIn Summary (Bold, Italics, Etc.)

Many people don't realize that you can actually add bold , italicized , and other non-traditional font formatting into your LinkedIn profile. Here's an example of bolded font in one of my posts:

How'd that get in there?

Simple. I used a tool called Unicode Text Converter .

UTC takes the text you submit and it converts it to unicode which most any plain text editor can parse and visualize. Here are just a few of the font options UTC offers up:

How can you use this?

You can bold important points in your summary or you can bold different headings that you'd like to feature (e.g. Projects, Press, Interests) so they are easy to differentiate.

How To Add Emojis To Your LinkedIn Summary

Emojis are trickier than simply bolding some text in your Summary. You really need to know your audience here.

If you're targeting traditional companies (legacy law firms, financial institutions, or government roles) or your prospects tend to be more traditional, I'd pass on this.

But if you're targeting progressive, new-age companies or your demographic is younger, you might consider sprinkling them in to help specific areas of your Summary pop.

For example, my target demographic is younger job seekers looking for roles in tech. I use emojis in my profile to highlight a phone number that people can text me along with specific resources and tools that I want to draw attention to:

Compared to the amount of text in my Summary, I don't use a ton of emojis. I also use them in a consistent fashion (each one is at the start of a new tool / bullet).

Tip #3: Don't Be Afraid To Get Personal!

In today's digital world, a personal touch can go a  long  way.

As a job seeker, recruiters want to see that you're more than just bullets on a resume. As an entrepreneur or thought leader, people want to know you're more than just a talking head trying to sell them something.

When writing your resume , I recommend adding a unique, personalized Interests section . I also recommend doing the same for your LinkedIn profile!

Here's why…

Let's say that I add  “Podcast Enthusiast (my daily Go To's are Up First, The Tim Ferriss Show, and Work Life with Adam Grant)” to my LinkedIn Summary.

I just added 3 potential layers of connection into my profile:

• If someone is a big fan of any of those podcasts, it's an immediate connection
• If someone is a big podcast fan, we have that in common (even if they haven't heard of those 3)
• If someone doesn't listen to podcasts, at least they know a bit more about me personally, which creates the opportunity for a talking point

Now multiply that by four or five different interests and you're cooking with gas!

What Interests Should You Focus On?

You don't want to list anything and everything in your Interests. For example, getting political can potentially cause more harm than good.

Instead, I like to focus on a few topics that are viewed as positive by pretty much everyone. They are:

If you stick with those, you'll be in great shape!

Template & Examples For Adding Your Personal Interests 

I like to use a specific format for building out my personalized interests section:

General Interest #1 (Specific Detail), General Interest #2 (Specific Detail), General Interest #3 (Specific Detail), General Interest #4 (Specific Detail).

Let's say that I'm planning to add Travel, Sports, Reading, and Learning to my interests. It might look like this:

Interests: Traveling (Currently planning a trip to Mykonos – recommendations welcome!), Reading (Currently reading Eat A Peach by David Chang), Podcasts ( my daily Go To's are Up First, The Tim Ferriss Show, and Work Life with Adam Grant), & the New York Football Giants.

Look at all of those opportunities for common ground and points of connection! That's what we're aiming for.

Tip #4: Check (And Double Check) Your Grammar

Last but not least, we have an obvious tip. As obvious as it may be, I'm always blown away by how many people have typos and grammatical errors in their LinkedIn profiles.

Here's a trick I used to get rid of typos and improve my writing in less than 5 minutes.

First, go through everything else in this article. Choose your favorite Summary template, leverage one of the examples to help you get started, then add in your keywords and your formatting.

When you're done, head over to Hemingway App and paste in your entire LinkedIn Summary.

Hemingway will not only show you where you've misspelled some words, it'll also show you which sentences you could improve and how to improve them. It'll even give you a readability score!

Here's my current LinkedIn Summary in the app:

Improving it is easy. Just rework your sentences to follow Hemingway App's guidelines and you'll be in great shape.

Tip #5: Still Suffering From Writer's Block? AI To The Rescue!

You've made it this far, so you probably feel better about the core principles of writing a better LinkedIn Summary.

But you're still missing one important step: actually  writing your LinkedIn Summary!

If you still feel like you have no idea what to say or how to implement these strategies, let AI help.

How To Use ChatGPT To Write Your LinkedIn Summary

Here's how:

• Open up a text-based generative AI tool like ChatGPT
• Open up a digital copy of your resume
• Copy one of the templates I shared earlier in this article
• Ask ChatGPT, “Write me a LinkedIn Summary in the style of this template: [Paste Template From This Post] . Personalize the LinkedIn Summary using content from my resume: [Paste Resume Content] .”

How's that for a starting point?!

This summary fits the template I shared to a tee, and it does an amazing job of personalizing the template to the sample resume. It even included a ton of measurable metrics and value, which is one of our top recommendations!

Now all you have to do is jump in to proofread, edit, and add your magic touch.

A Note About Artificial Intelligence AI is an amazing tool to help supplement your work, but it's not a replacement. We  never recommend simply copying the LinkedIn Summary that the AI generated and publishing it on your profile. Instead, you should view it as a tool that will help get you from 0% to 80%. From there, it's your job to come in and personalize the output before you share it with the world.

Next Step: Update The Rest Of Your LinkedIn Profile

Now that your new LinkedIn Summary is ready for it's big debut, make sure the rest of your LinkedIn profile is optimized!

• Comprehensive Guide On How To Build An Amazing LinkedIn Profile
• What's Your LinkedIn Headline Score? Click Here To Get It For Free
• How To Write A Crazy Effective LinkedIn Headline
• How To Create A LinkedIn Profile Picture
• How To Craft an Amazing LinkedIn Cover Photo
• How To Ask For A LinkedIn Recommendation

  📚 Want More LinkedIn Advice? Check Out Our Guide: How To Use LinkedIn For A Job In 2024 [Free Guides & Tools]

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Austin Belcak

Austin is the founder of Cultivated Culture where he helps people land jobs without connections, without traditional experience, and without applying online. His strategies have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, & Fast Company and has helped people just like you land jobs at Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Twitter, & more.

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Home > Blog > Career Tips > Getting a Job > Top Tips on How to Write a LinkedIn Resume

Career Tips , Getting a Job

Top Tips on How to Write a LinkedIn Resume

Updated: June 19, 2024

Published: August 18, 2019

Maybe you just started applying for jobs, maybe you just graduated from school, or maybe your resume just needs a good fine-tuning. Whatever the reason may be, don’t make it hard on yourself — you can create your resume for your LinkedIn with our quick and easy tips. You’ll also learn how to use the resume assistant, plus how to find great jobs on the site. Your best LinkedIn resume, coming right up!

 Photo by  Andrew Neel  on  Unsplash

How to upload your resume to linkedin.

The feature to add a file to your LinkedIn profile is no longer available. The best (and only) way to do so is to create your resume on a shareable file such as Google Doc, or any file that can be linked. Then, add the link into your “About” summary.

Why You Shouldn’t Link Your Resume To Your LinkedIn Profile

You may not want to provide a link to a PDF or document of your resume. LinkedIn is meant to be a more dynamic version of your professional self than only a resume can offer. Adding a link to your paper resume might make it seem to some employers that you don’t fully understand the website’s purpose.

How to Upload Your Resume to LinkedIn Job Applications

When searching for available jobs , you will have the option to “Save” or “Apply.” If you see the “Apply” button, you will be taken to an off-site link where you will continue your application. If you see the “Easy Apply” button, that means you can apply straight from the LinkedIn website. Just click, and you have the option to add your email, phone number, and upload your resume file.

Can You Import Your Resume Into LinkedIn?

No, you can no longer import your resume to LinkedIn. Instead, work on each section thoughtfully, and you can showcase your skills, accomplishments, and experiences even better than on a typical CV.

How to Download Resume from LinkedIn

You can easily generate your CV from LinkedIn — here’s how:

• Click on your icon, “Me”
• Click “View Profile”
• Click “More…”
• Click “Save to PDF”

Note that this is a general resume, so yours will look the same as everyone else who has downloaded their resume from LinkedIn. You should also remember that you cannot edit this, unless you have access to a PDF editor.

There are several tools online to help you with your LinkedIn. Here are just a few:

1. LinkedIn Resume Builder: Download as a PDF

This tool from LinkedIn helps you create a beautiful and professional resume using the information on your LinkedIn profile. With this feature, you are able to download your resume as a PDF and submit it anywhere. LinkedIn Resume Builder is only available to members who have subscribed to Premium Career, a paid feature.

2. Convert Your LinkedIn Profile to a Beautiful Resume With Resumonk

Resumonk is a website that allows you to create interesting and unique resumes. To make the info entry step easier, you can import your LinkedIn profile to help build the resume .

3. Build A Resume With Your LinkedIn Profile With VisualCV

This website allows you to import your LinkedIn profile, and let VisualCV take care of the rest. There are several templates available for you to customize. Sign up is free, but there may be fees associated to download or share.

4. LinkedIn Resume Assistant

Resume Assistant is a feature in Microsoft Word, powered by LinkedIn. It is a smart program to help you write your resume by searching LinkedIn databases right in the side bar of your Word document, to get you thinking of ideas. To use LinkedIn Resume Assistant, open Microsoft Word and click on Resume Assistant. From there, you can type in the job you are applying for, and it will return commonly used phrases to use, as well as resume examples.

How to Use Your LinkedIn Profile as a Resume

Photo by  Rachel Danner  on  Unsplash

What is a linkedin profile.

Your LinkedIn profile is an online representation of everything you want colleagues, recruiters or connections to see. You can add a summary, work experience, education, volunteer experience, certifications, accomplishments, and interests. You can also request endorsements from other users.

The Importance of Your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is becoming an increasingly popular way for recruiters to find applicants, and for job seekers to find open positions. HR reps and recruiters will often refer back to your LinkedIn profile after you submit an application, or they might browse the site for those looking for jobs. Therefore, if you’re in the market for a new job, it’s extremely important to keep your profile up to date and attractive to recruiters. Here are some ways to do so:

1. Be Specific: Use detailed, accurate information about your experiences.

2. Upload A Professional Photo: Your photo should show you in the best light, as a professional.

3. Use A Catchy Headline: Write in one sentence why you should be hired- catch their attention quickly with a good headline.

4. Write An Engaging Summary: Your summary tells more about you than just the headline, without users having to scroll through everything you’ve added.

5. Use the Right Keywords: Get to know what keywords recruiting software is searching for when it comes to your industry or job function and make sure to use them where relevant.

6. Add Skills, Values, Achievements: Don’t be shy — show everyone what you’ve done to stand out.

7. Get Endorsed: Ask colleagues or employers to endorse your skills and write recommendations for you.

8. Maintain Your Profile: Check LinkedIn often for messages, newsfeed items, and always keep your profile up to date.

How to Use Your LinkedIn Profile as a Job Search Tool

First of all, make sure you keep everything updated. This will ensure that when recruiters are looking for you, they have the most up-to-date and relevant info. You can also update your LinkedIn profile to ‘searching for jobs.’ This will show companies and recruiters your profile when they search for potential employees. This feature will also add relevant jobs to the top of your LinkedIn feed.

LinkedIn is also a great resource to research the companies you are applying to. Look them up, and follow them. That way, you’ll always be in the know about new job offers and what’s going on in the company. Check out contacts of the companies too, and ask them for an introduction on LinkedIn — asking never hurts!

Finally, take advantage of the advanced search tool on LinkedIn to search for jobs. You can search by location, skills, and job title keywords to get the most relevant results for you.

LinkedIn Resume Tips

1. have a purpose:.

Always include a plan and purpose with each resume you create. Start your resume with a plan in mind, such as how to show a company that you are passionate about their mission and experienced in what they need, and make sure you stay true to that purpose the whole way through.

2. Include Your Strengths:

Make sure to include a section on your resume for listing your strengths. Don’t forget to make them relevant to the position and company you are applying for.

3. Learn About Key Words:

Have you heard about applicant tracking software? In this day and age, it shouldn’t surprise you that a machine is scanning your resume before a human sees it. If you include the correct keywords, without sounding like you are copying and pasting the job description, your resume is more likely to get ahead.

4. Make Your Resume Visually Interesting:

Don’t forget that in the end, there will be a real person reading your resume. Don’t make the mistake of submitting a cookie cutter B&W resume- include color, varied spacing, and images if it makes sense. With so many design platforms these days, there’s no reason not to!

Photo by Kaleidico  on  Unsplash

5. include testimonials:.

In keeping with making your resume more interesting, provide a quote or two from your written recommendations. Personally written reviews can go a long way, just make sure they are succinct!

6. Proofread and Get a Second Opinion:

Always have someone else look over your resume. It’s never a bad idea to get another set of eyes to find any mistakes. You can also ask their opinion on how well you tailored your resume.

7. Know and Use Employer’s Pain Points:

Find out exactly what this employer is missing, and how you fill that gap. Try to portray these points throughout your resume and cover letter.

8. Create Customized Resumes:

Always make a new resume and cover letter to fit the position and company you are applying for. It will help you stand out, and it is also painfully obvious when a resume is generic and meant to be sent to many companies. Show this new company how interested you are by putting in the extra time to make a custom resume for the job.

More amazing resume writing tips here !

Photo by Rachel Danner on Unsplash

Networking on linkedin.

Networking on LinkedIn is extremely important, not just for the job search, but for building your professional community as well. Try to build up your first degree network as much as possible. Reach out to people of interest, and introduce yourself with your add. You can also import email contacts for an easy way to add people you may know. Networking is important for both students and post grads, and it’s never too early to start networking. Here’s the best tips on how to network as a student .

The Things that are Ruining Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile

Avoid these common mistakes:

Show You’re Assertive And Not Just A Doer: Don’t write about everything you did. Write about the leadership initiative you took, how you delegated tasks, and got the job done.

Show You’re a Problem Solver: Don’t just write you’re a problem solver, write about exactly what problem you solved, how you did it and what role you played.

Get Rid of Fluff: Get to the point, don’t make recruiters and HR personnel have to navigate through a bunch of filler words.

Don’t Come Off As Creepy: Seeming too eager, or too interested is a big no-no. There’s a difference between being a go-getter and showing you’re interested in the job, and being a bit creepy with too many follow-up messages.

Be Precise and Eliminate Mistakes: Don’t just copy the job description, show your potential new employer exactly how you improved your current organization, and the role you had. If you’re not a perfectionist, don’t add it in. Interviewers will be able to tell right away. Eliminating simple mistakes is one of the most important things you can do for your resume and profile. Spelling errors or generic “add title here” text that you forgot to delete are instant turn-offs.

Words Before Numbers: When HR professionals are scanning your profile, make the numbers stand out by including them first. For example, say, “increased enrollment by 80% due to xyz,” instead of, “created a comprehensive program, resulting in an 80% increase in enrollment.”

Don’t Talk About Money Until it’s Time: At this stage, it’s all about convincing the other party that you are a good match for each other. And while salary is an important part of that dance, making it a priority can either have you looking a little desperate (salary negotiable), or can make you seem like you don’t have the company or job in mind first.

Photo by  Bench Accounting  on  Unsplash

LinkedIn is an incredible resource for helping you craft your perfect resume, for networking and job hunting. Use LinkedIn in conjunction with the tips we’ve listed, and you are well on your way to finding a great job.

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• Resume and Cover Letter
• 6 Important LinkedIn Profile...

6 Important LinkedIn Profile and Resume-Writing Tips

7 min read · Updated on June 13, 2022

People make common resume and LinkedIn mistakes all the time — here's how to avoid them.

Job searching is much like buying a house. You convey your preferences, comfort zone, price range, and location.

You also learn the real-estate lingo and how to avoid items described with filler. You know “cozy” is another word for “small” and “needs a little work” means to run for the hills. It's these keywords that describe something — or someone — we cannot see for ourselves.

Much like prospective homeowners, hiring managers and recruiters learn to sift through cover letters, resumes and LinkedIn profiles. They know the filler language, and they search for candidates who meet their criteria without sounding ridiculous. They cringe at the sight of terms that are vague or too “buzzword-y.” This is a sign that the candidate doesn't know what they're doing, but wants to look like they do. You, as a job seeker, need to learn what to put on a resume and LinkedIn profile — and what not to.

Padding your resume and LinkedIn profile is dangerous, lazy, and unprofessional. Just because you've run out of things to say doesn't give you permission to jam your profile with unnecessary descriptions and adjectives. Rather than fill the pages with disconnected filler, show what you're capable of achieving for the company. Try replacing these common mistakes with quantifiable results by implementing these important LinkedIn profile tips, plus other resume writing examples.

1. Show them you're an achiever, not just a doer

Yes, most companies look for candidates who follow instructions, abide by industry standards, and use effective, proven methods. However, job seekers and candidates shouldn't stop there; this simply isn't enough. Show the company you can achieve higher results and take their brand to the next level.

With this in mind, statements like “responsible for…” and “job duties include…” don't cut it anymore and aren't things to include on a resume. Hiring managers don't want to see regurgitated job descriptions from the human resources department. Instead, they want to see what you really did to improve the company of your last job, so use strong descriptive verbs, not adjectives or adverbs, to describe your achievements. Here is an example:

Wrong: Responsible for maintaining strict inventory compliance.

Right: Reduced inventory waste by proactively monitoring all inventory requisitions and determining correct usage.

2. If you're a problem solver, prove it!

Saying you have problem-solving skills doesn't tell the recruiter anything — this could mean you played solitaire or crossword puzzles all day! Hiring managers and recruiters want real examples to understand how you solved problems. For instance, did you rectify aged accounts receivable or reduce downtime by 50 percent? Consider your past five positions. Ask yourself: “What achievements did I accomplish?” “Did I leave my mark on the company? How?” Look for quantifiable information — numbers, facts, figures, and data.

Next, go through your last five positions and make a list. Come up with 10 notable contributions and problems solved. Once you determine your top contributions to your previous companies, reduce each list to the three most important contributions. Place numbers and results before strategies. Here is an example:

Wrong: Built new accounts management system that reduced aged account receivables by 30 percent.

Right: Reduced aged receivables 30 percent by designing a new accountability system.

3. Be sure to eliminate mistakes

We all claim to be detailed-oriented; it's our perverse nature seeking to be recognized for accomplishments and contributions. There's nothing wrong with this — as long as it actually reflects your overall personality. Never claim to be detailed-oriented if you aren't. That's also not what to put on a resume. Instead, there are ways to convey this knowledge without actually saying it, like listing the achievements and problems solved from your past jobs.

The best method by far is eliminating mistakes from your resume and LinkedIn profile. There are few mistakes that are sure to lose a job during the job search faster than spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. One typo and all your claims of being detailed-oriented fly straight out the window. Use Microsoft Word to type all LinkedIn information, or at the very least, install the “freemium” Grammarly extension on your browser to help catch stray typos.

Related:   How to Proofread Your Resume

4. Remove the fluff from your words

Many professional resume writers and recruiters usually see these two common mistakes on resumes and LinkedIn profiles: not promoting yourself enough and over-promoting yourself. Either scenario is dangerous to a candidate, but the most dangerous is stuffing your content with fluff. Save the stuffing for the politicians. Here are two of the most common stuffers:

Self-starter: All candidates should be willing to do their job without the need for others to push them. Saying you are a self-starter sends the message you have no meaningful information to back it up or are underqualified for the job. The same sentiment goes for “highly motivated” and “results-driven.” Show real examples on your resume that prove you'll go the extra mile.

Team player: Hiring managers cringe when they read these lines. As with self-starter, they expect all candidates to play well with others. It seems to them as though you couldn't come up with anything better to say. If you want to convey that you work well in groups, give specific examples from your past work experience.

5. Did you say you're obsessive? We'll get back to you

No matter how much you love your work and want to give it your best, obsessive is never positive — and definitely not what to put on a perfect resume or LinkedIn profile. This is like saying “I'm creepy” or “Please like me.” It's weird, uncomfortable, and will probably get you escorted to the elevator.

On the other hand, passionate is never a bad thing to say. Use the career summary section to talk about your passion for the industry and give examples of the sector you love most and why. Show examples of past projects you were excited about, keeping the language professional and in the third person. Here are some examples:

Always Wrong: Journalism is such a great field. I'm obsessed with learning new things and writing about them for others to read.

Wrong: I love journalism. It gives me the opportunity to explore my passions.

Right: Professional journalist with experience delivering local news through diligent research and systematic interviews with a focus on truth and objectivity.

6. Never talk money until it's time

Salary negotiation is always is a tedious part of the employment process, but it has no place on a resume or LinkedIn profile. Never post your salary expectations online or say you expect a certain amount. Not only does this put you below candidates asking for less money, it gives the future employer or hiring manager the upper hand at the negotiation table. Plus, it's no one's business what you make or want to make. Let the recruiter or hiring manager approach you regarding this matter either during or after the interview.

Saying your salary is negotiable is another big mistake. Consider this the same as above — it's no one's business what you want to earn until they interview you. Plus, it makes you come across as a little desperate. Instead of focusing on salary at this point, focus on your qualifications. Show the recruiters you are worth what they are willing to pay. A little research doesn't hurt either; brush up on salary, benefits, and other perks of the role you're seeking using a site like Glassdoor .

Avoiding these mistakes is important because they can either make or break your chances for opportunities. Keeping your LinkedIn account active and your resume updated is also important. Spend at least one hour each week posting news, updating your information, connecting with colleagues, and researching your industry on LinkedIn. For your resume, spend at least one to two hours hour each month looking at areas on your resume in need of improvement. For example, you may receive a reward or promotion, or your department may pay for a seminar at the local university. Just remember these Linkedin profile and resume tips when you update as well.

Photo credit: Alex Proimos/Flickr

Click on the following link for more resume and career advice .

Don't know if you're making these resume mistakes? Try a free resume review today!

Recommended Reading:

Words and Phrases to Remove From Your Resume Right Away

Ask Amanda: How Can I Make My Resume Beat the ATS?

Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writing: How Different Should They Be?

Related Articles:

How to Write an Online Bio

How to Write a Short Bio? (With Examples)

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Why I Still Prefer Gaming PCs Over Consoles

Why i prefer shooting street photography on my smartphone over a dslr, finally you can use snapchat natively on your ipad.

Almost all of us Internet-dwellers have LinkedIn profiles . Even if we don't really use them very well for networking purposes or taking in job search advice , it still serves as an online resume and publishing platform that might get a few eyeballs from time to time.

But there's another great reason to keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date, and that's the following tools you're going to love. You'll be whipping up resumes on the fly in no time.

As most of these tools use your LinkedIn data, it makes perfect sense to edit your LinkedIn profile thoroughly before you start testing them. It's a good idea to keep it up-to-date anyway, as you never know who will actively seek someone with your skills.

With that said though, the final recommendation on this list doesn't use LinkedIn data, as they feel it's not the best for a traditional resume. But even without that original data they'll have a resume ready for you in 15 minutes, which isn't bad at all. It's definitely worth checking out!

Resume.LinkedInLabs.com

The whole point of this Resume LinkedIn Labs tool is to make it super-easy to get the information from your LinkedIn profile straight into a PDF ready for emailing to your next prospective boss. And since each job you apply for is ever so slightly different, this tool makes it easy to pick and choose what to display and what to ignore.

Plus, it has a bunch of great formatting options to choose from. So, rather than using the simple PDF export option of LinkedIn (seen on your profile), this tool will actually make your resume look good.

All you do is log in to your LinkedIn account and all your details will be ready for use in the resume builder. It's so simple to use.

Once you've settled on a template style and tweaked the content you can save this version of your resume for future use. Then you can reformat and edit for different purposes and save new versions for later.

With Resumonk, you can use the simple PDF export from your Linkedin profile, then easily import that into their system. They have their own collection of beautiful resume templates to work with, and you can choose from four free templates (with Resumonk branding) or pay for a premium membership (only $19 for the year) and get more styling options.

The beauty of premium membership is that you can download the resume in formats other than PDF, meaning you can keep a working, editable version of your resume on your own computer. But that's not necessary for everyone, so the free membership will often do just fine.

Visual CV is basically a site for creating a beautiful digital version of your LinkedIn resume. However, it also has a PDF export function for most templates, so once you're done you can print a copy or email it to your next employer.

To use Visual CV, it's a simple matter of logging in to LinkedIn, choosing a template and editing until you love it. Note that Visual CV has a premium membership for $12/month which offers perks like premium templates and personal domain names.

Visualize Me

Visualize Me is not just about making beautiful PDF versions of your LinkedIn data. It's about manipulating that data into beautiful visual representations of your work history. For instance, you can show a neat timeline of where you worked and for how long, including any overlaps in your work history along the way. This can really help to show your prospective employers how long you stayed in a certain role and how you advanced through the ranks over the years.

It also has features like language maps, showing all of the countries where your primary and secondary languages are spoken (or more languages). This could really help you to highlight that skill, especially in a role that would involve international business.

Visualize Me uses a simple LinkedIn login (or you can set it up directly), then talks you through the various visualizations and templates. Then it's simple to download as a PDF or PNG for your resume needs.

Strikingly use the ever-so-simple LinkedIn login to grab your data, then show you a selection of mock-ups to choose from. They're all designed to be viewed online, and use clean formatting to display your data beautifully.

Strikingly add elements to your resume such as a contact form and a motto, plus you're given a personal URL for your resume. You can edit the resume to your liking, including using elements from the other templates for certain sections and changing the imagery used, then you're done.

These are incredibly beautiful sites, and it's worth setting one of these up just to have a beautiful resume people can find. If you're desperately in need of a PDF version, you can use a browser extension like PrintFriendly to create a PDF from this template.

There are paid plans available for Strikingly, but they are aimed more at businesses and special events that also use this service to showcase their wares.

Resume Builder

Now, Resume Builder is a site that disagrees with using LinkedIn data to build a resume, as they believe the information people put into LinkedIn isn't phrased correctly for resumes . However, they do offer a neat alternative that's worth checking out, as it only takes 15 minutes.

https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/7251228/type/dlg/sid/UUmuoUeUpU50123/https://vimeo.com/114529272

What they do is let you choose a template, then guide you through the process of adding the correct information for a professional resume . This results in the right information being displayed prominently, with no messy formatting.

When it comes to adding responsibilities, they offer a keyword search to find the best matches for your experience. From there, the job description details can be pre-populated with a few clicks, using the best wording as determined by Resume Builder's experts. But don't worry, you can edit and add your own details as you wish.

When it comes to the additional skills section, they suggest you make the dot points as relevant as possible, and completely unlike LinkedIn's skills section. From there you can download as a PDF for printing or a Word document and do whatever you like with it. You can always tweak it later and download it again quite easily whenever you like.

The basic service is free, and you can access premium features from $1.95 for two weeks. They also have a 6-second resume challenge game you can play to see how your resume will fare in the application pile, which is a neat way to check if you've filled things out correctly and made yourself stand out .

How Do You Create Your Resumes?

Are you still creating your resume with Word templates or do you prefer to use web tools? Have you even used a resume recently? Or is LinkedIn good enough for you? Let us know in the comments what essential elements need to be present for you to use any given resume template or tool.

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How to Create a LinkedIn Profile Recruiters Actually Read

Customers Interviewed by:

Did you know that every minute, eight job candidates are hired through LinkedIn?

With 95 percent of recruiters using LinkedIn to look for their next hire, you need to create a LinkedIn profile that stands out to recruiters and creates a strong first impression.

In this guide, we will show you how to create an powerful LinkedIn profile in 10 steps.

You can also try out Jobscan’s LinkedIn Optimization Tool to check if your profile is optimized for your dream job. We analyzed nearly 1 million job applications and found that job seekers who used Jobscan’s LinkedIn optimization tool were 1.5 times more likely to land an interview.

The tool will analyze your LinkedIn profile against the job descriptions of the position you are applying for. Then, it will generate a score of how optimized your profile is and provide you with a report of how you can better optimize your profile.

Why is your LinkedIn profile important?

Your LinkedIn account is the most valuable digital asset in your job search.

“LinkedIn is the place to go for your next opportunity,” according to career expert Jasmine Escalera. “It is the best place to showcase who you are and what you are passionate about. It is the best place to get connected to hiring potential.”

Reasons why having a solid LinkedIn profile is critical:

• Recruiters check your LinkedIn profile if they want to vet your professional capability. 
• Your LinkedIn profile makes you searchable in Google.
• It is the best place to position yourself as a professional and industry expert and build your brand.
• LinkedIn allows you to connect with professionals across different industries around the world. It also gives you access to recruiters, hiring managers, and prospective employers.
• As of the 2nd quarter of 2023, more than 63 million companies are on LinkedIn . This means that LinkedIn users have a wide net of job opportunities and easy access to job boards.
• LinkedIn offers different courses to build skills and improve your employability. Check out our guide on LinkedIn certifications to get started.

How to create a LinkedIn profile in 10 steps

Creating a LinkedIn profile is not that hard. But you need to be strategic about what you put into your profile if you want to stand out.

Here’s how you create a great profile:

Step #1. Set an intention on what you want out of LinkedIn

Jasmine Escalera said that the number one thing to do is set an intention on what you want to do on the platform.

“For all of you in this space, this part is super easy because you are all here with the intention of: ‘I want to find my next opportunity or ‘I want to find my next job.”

What are you trying to achieve by using LinkedIn? Who is your target audience? The way you fill out your profile and interact with the platform should depend on that intention or goal.

Step #2. Create a LinkedIn account

Before you can set up your LinkedIn profile, you need to create your account.

How to set up your LinkedIn account:

Step 1 . Go to www.linkedin.com .

Step 2 . Click “Join Now” or  “New to LinkedIn? Join now”

Step 3 . Enter your username or phone number and create a password. You can also set up your account by using your existing Google account.

Step 4 . LinkedIn will then ask you to answer basic questions like your first name and last name.

Once your profile is created, you can now begin to tweak and build your LinkedIn profile.

Step #3. Add a professional profile photo

Your LinkedIn profile photo is one of the first things people will see when they open your LinkedIn profile. Recruiters will also see your profile picture in LinkedIn search results. 

Studies show that those with a profile picture have 21 more views and 9 times more connection requests than those who don’t. That’s why we highly recommend that you upload a decent and professional profile picture.

Tips for choosing the best picture for your LinkedIn profile :

• Dress and groom yourself like you would for an in-person job interview.
• Stand in front of a solid background that isn’t too busy or distracting.
• Make sure you’re well-lit from the front. Natural lighting, or a ring light, is most ideal.
• Have someone else take the photo for you. Selfies are OK if the angle is straight on and your arm isn’t in the photo. You just need to crop from the center of your chest to the top of your head.
• Take a deep breath and flash a welcoming smile to show off your personality.
• Pick your favorite photo and upload it to your LinkedIn profile.

Check out our full guide : 10 Ways to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile Picture (For Free!)

When you scan your LinkedIn profile with Jobscan , part of what it checks is whether you  have all the basic LinkedIn information which prove your credibility to recruiters. This includes your full name, profile picture, location, and industry.

Here’s what it looks like:

Step #4. Choose a compelling cover photo

Together with your photo, your LinkedIn cover photo or banner is one of the first things that recruiters will see when they open your profile. Your cover photo solidifies your personal brand.

By default, this is what your LinkedIn cover photo looks like:

Choosing not to upload a cover photo is a wasted opportunity. A well-selected cover image not only enhances the visual appeal of your profile but also conveys a snapshot of your professional identity.

For your cover photo, you can use something that:

• Represents your field of expertise.
• Showcases your value proposition.
• Shows your workspace.
• Highlights your top accomplishments.
• Represents your passion or hobby.
• Represents your company.
• Represents you as a person.

Your cover photo should be 1584 x 396 pixels with a maximum file size of 4mb. LinkedIn accepts cover photos in the following file formats:

Step #5. Write a powerful headline

Your LinkedIn headline is your primary branding real estate and your first opportunity to tell others what you bring to the table. It is the key to appearing in more searches and explaining who you are and what you do. 

The LinkedIn headline offers you 220 characters to showcase your unique value and expertise. Because your headline shows up in LinkedIn and Google searches, you need to make it compelling.

Tips for writing a standout headline:

• Think about the job you’re looking for next.
• Find one to two things that the company or job wants you to do to be successful in that role. 
• Study the job description and look at other representative job descriptions for the job/s you are applying for.
• Note one to two really important things mentioned in the job descriptions. Create a LinkedIn headline that’s focused on that.
• Include measurable accomplishments.
• Work in as many job or industry-specific hard skills and keywords as possible. This will help you appear higher in LinkedIn searches by recruiters interested in what you have to offer. 
• Maximize the 220 characters.

By default, LinkedIn makes your current job title and company your headline, for example: “Web Developer at ABC Company.”

An optimized headline could read:

Web Developer at ABC Company | Full Stack Engineer | Front End Specialist | HTML5, CSS3, Bootstrap, JQuery, PHP 

Why is this headline good? Not only does it include the user’s current position and company, it also expands on the user’s skillset. It also mentions specific hard skills that a recruiter might search for.

Here are examples of powerful LinkedIn headlines: 18 Impactful LinkedIn Headline Examples from Real People

When you scan your profile into Jobscan’s optimization tool , you will see whether your LinkedIn headline is the right length and whether it matches the job titles in the job descriptions.

Step #6. Write a summary that showcases your skills

Below your profile photo, name, and headline is your LinkedIn profile summary , also known as the About section.

Most users underutilize this section or leave it blank. This is a missed opportunity, as the summary is your introduction to anyone visiting your profile.

With its 2,600-character limit , the summary gives you approximately 370 words to explain who you are, what you do, and what makes you unique.

Here are some tips for writing a good LinkedIn summary:

Tip #1: Determine your audience

The tone, language, or calls to action you include in your profile summary will depend on who you’re trying to reach.

Tip #2: Optimize your summary

Work in as many job or industry-specific hard skills and keywords as possible. This will help you appear higher in LinkedIn searches by recruiters interested in what you have to offer.

Analyze relevant job descriptions or check the profiles of successful industry peers. Then come up with a list of keywords and phrases that recruiters are likely to search for on LinkedIn.

Tip #3: Tell your story

Your summary is your chance to directly address recruiters and share with them your unique story. 

You can use this section to explain why you are passionate about the job and how you can bring value to the company. You can also share a noteworthy experience that makes you the best candidate for the job.

Tip #4: Show off your personality

The summary is your best opportunity to loosen up and show off your personality within your LinkedIn profile. 

Allow the reader to get an idea of what it’s like to be around you. This might help out a hiring manager trying to determine office culture fit or a LinkedIn user who is considering following you. 

What your LinkedIn profile summary can include :

• Who you are
• Who you serve
• Your career background
• Major career accomplishments you are super proud of
• Your guiding principles
• Reasons why you are passionate about your job or industry
• Career ambitions
• Call to action (Your next step and how the viewer can help)

Here is an example of a LinkedIn summary section:

You can check out more summary examples here: 15 LinkedIn Summary Examples You Need to Read in 2023

To get a detailed breakdown of how to improve your LinkedIn summary, scan your profile into Jobscan and go to the Profile Summary section of your report. You’ll see scores based on length, skills mentioned, tone, and more.

Step #7. List your work experience

The work experience section should showcase all your relevant positions, previous employers, and measurable achievements. You can do this by listing them in bullet points.

To add a new job to your profile, click the plus sign (+) at the top of the Experience section. 

When adding a new job, be sure to select the company from LinkedIn’s suggestions rather than just typing it in. 

This will include you with other employees on the LinkedIn company page and allow recruiters to find you when they filter by company.

Here are some tips for writing a great experience section:

Tip #1: Add details to your work title

Much like the LinkedIn headline, simply typing your job title into the job title field — e.g. “Accountant” — is a wasted opportunity.

The work experience job title fields which are weighted heavily in LinkedIn Search allow you to type up to 100 characters.

Instead of saying “Accountant,” a more effective job title would be something like:

Accountant – CPA, Budget Forecasting, Financial Statement Analysis 

This still shows that the user was an accountant, but it highlights their expertise while adding high-impact keywords.

2. Add relevant keywords

A powerful way of increasing your visibility to recruiters and hiring managers is by using relevant industry-specific keywords . 

Keywords are usually job titles, skills, or other industry-related terms that recruiters will search for when looking for a candidate for a specific job. 

But how do you know which keywords to use? 

Check out job descriptions or the profiles of successful industry peers the note specific skills or terms frequently mentioned. Come up with a list of these keywords, then incorporate these into your LinkedIn Profile. 

With just a few clicks, Jobscan’s LinkedIn Optimization tool gives you a comprehensive list of relevant keywords that you need to include on your profile to increase your chances of being seen and noticed by recruiters.

Tip #3: Mention measurable results

Measurable results add legitimacy to your claims. Recruiters are less interested in what you say you can do. They are more interested to know what you’ve actually accomplished. 

Show that you have the skills and competencies by listing your work history in your profile. 

Tip #4: Include your most current position plus two prior positions

LinkedIn members with current positions are discovered 16 times more in recruiter searches and their profile views increase up to 29 times.

The bullet points in your work experience section should be achievement-based and targeted towards your desired job or field.

Step #8. Highlight your education and certifications

Your education and certifications prove to recruiters and hiring managers that you have relevant academic credentials in your field or industry. They also prove how dedicated you are to your craft.

Be sure to list all the schools you attended and the degrees you earned, even when it feels like ancient history or it’s not relevant to your career.

This is for two main reasons: networking and search filtering .

When browsing open jobs on LinkedIn, information about your network is displayed at the top of job listings. 

One of the insights you’re likely to see is how many alums work at the company. Clicking on the link produces a list of LinkedIn users who went to your school. 

Using your alma mater as an ice breaker, you might be able to contact someone at the hiring company and get a leg up on the competition. Additionally, a hiring manager or recruiter might be biased in your favor after seeing that you went to their school.

Search Filtering

When recruiters search LinkedIn, they have a number of filtering options to narrow their search, including location, past companies, and education. 

If education is part of the job requirements for the position they’re filling, they’re likely to set a filter so that they only see candidates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree. 

If you’ve had a successful career as a software developer despite being an art history major in college, failing to include your degree on your LinkedIn profile could exclude you from recruiter searches.

Step #9. Get endorsements from others in your network

Having LinkedIn endorsements further cements your credibility and professional expertise.

Endorsements give you a chance to validate your skills, strengths, and abilities by having your bosses, colleagues, and peers vouch for your skills.

Don’t hesitate to ask for endorsements from your connections or those you have worked with who can genuinely vouch for your skills. When somebody endorses your skill, their name and photo will appear next to that skill.

It is highly likely for someone to endorse you if you also endorse them. And doing this is easy.

How to endorse someone:

Step 1 . Go to the profile of your 1st degree connection. These are your LinkedIn friends.

Step 2 . Scroll down to the Skills & Endorsements section of their profile.

Step 3. Look for the skill you want to endorse.

Step 4. Click the ‘Endorse’ button.

Step #10. Customize your public profile URL

The default LinkedIn URL that comes with your LinkedIn account is made up of your first and last names, followed by a string of random numbers and letters. This is difficult to share with people. 

You can customize your URL from LinkedIn’s Public Profile Settings page and create your vanity URL that includes your name separated by dashes, such as:

• linkedin.com/in/john-doe
• linkedin.com/in/john-doe-houston
• linkedin.com/in/john-doe-project-manager

A customized URL is easier to remember and tell people. Plus it looks cleaner when printed on a business card or resume.

Now that you’ve created your LinkedIn profile, it’s time to dive into some of the platform’s rich features to amplify your professional presence.

How to connect with other professionals in your industry

Using LinkedIn to grow and cultivate your professional network has benefits beyond finding a new job or simply keeping in touch with your peers and former colleagues.

In general, the more quality connections you have on LinkedIn, the better. 

When you first sign up for an account, LinkedIn will ask you if you’d like to import your email contact list for an initial list of suggested connections. 

Once you’re all set up, you can find more suggestions under the Network tab. You can also connect with other users by going to their profile page. 

A “Connect” button will either appear under their profile picture or in the “…” dropdown menu at the top of their profile.

Send a personalized note with your connection request to make a good impression and increase your chances of having it accepted.

Members who accept your invitation and members whose invitation to connect you accepted become your 1st degree connections. 

People who are connected to your 1st degree connections become your 2nd degree connections, and those connected to your 2nd degree connections become your 3rd degree connections.

How to participate in LinkedIn groups for networking opportunities

LinkedIn groups can help you meet key people during your job search or connect with professionals in the same field or industry. 

You can discover LinkedIn groups in different ways:

• Keyword Search : Start by typing relevant keywords or industry terms in the LinkedIn search bar. This will pull up groups that align with those terms.
• Check ‘Discover’ Tab : Under the ‘Work’ icon on your LinkedIn homepage, there’s a ‘Groups’ section. Clicking on it will lead you to a ‘Discover’ tab with group recommendations tailored for you.
• Profile Exploration : Visit the profiles of professionals you admire or want to network with. Often, they list groups they’re part of, which can be relevant to your interests.
• Alumni Networks : Many universities and colleges have dedicated LinkedIn groups for their alumni. Joining these can help you connect with peers from your academic background.
• Industry Associations : Many professional organizations and industry bodies have their own LinkedIn groups. Being a part of these can keep you updated with the latest trends and discussions in your field.

Remember, once you’ve joined a group, actively participate in discussions, share insights, and engage with other members to make the most of the networking opportunity.

How to use recommendations from colleagues

Linkedin recommendations are testimonials from other LinkedIn users about who you are as an employee, co-worker, or boss. Recommendations help validate your credibility as a professional. 

You can simply list those you want to ask for recommendations from and shoot them a message.

You can also follow these steps:

Step 1. On the recommendations section of your profile, click the + button.

Step 2. Click on “Ask for a recommendation.” This dialogue box will then appear. Type the name of the connection you want to ask for a recommendation from.

Step 3. LinkedIn will ask about your relationship with the connection you chose. Be sure to write a personalized message.

Don’t forget to also give your connections a recommendation!

Here’s our full guide : How to Recommend Someone on LinkedIn (and How to Ask for a LinkedIn Recommendation)

How to share content consistently

Posting relevant links and interesting updates to the LinkedIn newsfeed is a great way to engage your peers and increase the visibility of your LinkedIn profile.

Your posts won’t automatically go out to all of your connections. When you publish an update, LinkedIn’s newsfeed algorithm judges your post to determine whether it is quality content or spam. 

If it passes, your post then gets shared with a small segment of your connections. 

How to find a job with LinkedIn

At LinkedIn.com/jobs , you can search for jobs posted on LinkedIn by job title, keyword, company, and/or location. 

As you search, a number of filters are available to help you narrow your search. 

Some jobs allow you to apply with LinkedIn “Easy Apply,” while most take you to a different application website. 

Optimize your LinkedIn profile with Jobscan

Appear higher in LinkedIn Search by optimizing your LinkedIn profile with Jobscan’s LinkedIn optimization tool . 

Check this video to see how it works:

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is a linkedin profile.

A LinkedIn profile is the personal user profile you receive when signing up for the social media network. It offers opportunities for individuals to share their professional background and details to build their network, find jobs, and communicate with connections.

How do I create a good LinkedIn profile?

Follow the steps in this article to help you complete each section of your LinkedIn profile and be sure to optimize according to your goals on the platform.

Can you see if someone views your LinkedIn profile?

The LinkedIn premium account gives you access to see who views your profile. The standard account only offers a limited view.

What are the parts of a LinkedIn profile?

Here are the parts of a LinkedIn profile:

• Industry and location information
• Profile photo
• About, Featured
• Licenses & certifications
• Volunteer experience
• Skills & Endorsements
• Recommendations
• Connections

What does it mean to optimize your LinkedIn profile?

Once you’ve filled out your profile, the next step is to “optimize” it by including strategic keywords and desirable skills into key areas of your LinkedIn profile. 

This helps make your profile easy to locate and process by recruiters, which can improve your chances of job interviews and offers.

How does LinkedIn’s search algorithm work?

LinkedIn’s search algorithm considers a variety of profile sections to rank their results.

To increase your chances of being a top result in a recruiter’s LinkedIn search, your hard skills and keywords should be placed into the fields LinkedIn’s search algorithm values the most. 

These include:

• Past and present job titles
• Profile Summary or About section
• Work experience

94% of recruiters use LinkedIn to vet job candidates. Optimize your LinkedIn profile and show that you’re a recruiter’s perfect candidate.

Click here to start optimizing your LinkedIn profile

More expert insights on this topic:

28 LinkedIn Profile Tips to Supercharge Your Job Opportunities

How to Add Volunteer Experience to LinkedIn

What Job Seekers Need to Know About LinkedIn’s New Report

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Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Perfect Resume (With Examples!)

Your resume is arguably the most valuable piece of paper for your career. But this document can be daunting for many. Maybe you’re not sure how to fit in all your information onto one page. Maybe you’re not sure about the right way to format and write your resume. Maybe you don’t even know what the heck a resume is!

Whatever your concern, we’ll break down everything you need to know about making the perfect resume, from scratch.

What Is a Resume?

What are employers looking for in a resume.

• Pick Your Format
• Start With Your Basic Information
• Add in Your Work Experience
• Consider Including Volunteer Work or Other Experience
• Don’t Forget Your Education
• Top It Off With Some Skills and Interests
• Write a Resume Summary Statement (if Relevant)
• Tailor It to the Job (and the ATS)
• Edit and Refine It

What Are Some Examples of a Good Resume?

A resume is a summary of your career, whether yours is just getting started or has been going on for years. Coming in at around one page in length (two only under specific circumstances), it showcases the jobs you’ve held and currently hold, the responsibilities you’ve taken on, the skills you’ve developed, and the qualities you bring to the table as an employee. Together, those things make it super easy for any hiring manager to see your qualifications and fit for a role.

For all the work you may put into writing one, hiring managers actually spend very little time—mere seconds in many cases—looking at your resume. But despite this sad fact, it’s safe to say that creating a great resume (rather than hastily throwing one together) still matters.

“If you miss the mark, your resume may never be read. Even worse, you might be removed from the applicant pool by a computer before a human even knows you exist,” says Muse career coach Heather Yurovsky , founder of Shatter & Shine. So you want to get it right because, as she explains, isn’t the goal to “spend less time looking for a job and more time in a role you love?”

You might be wondering if you can lean on your LinkedIn profile instead of writing a resume. The answer, sadly, is no. Most hiring managers still expect you to submit a resume, even if they also look at your LinkedIn. Even if you don’t need a resume for a job you’re applying for now, you’re going to need one at some point in your career—they’re not anywhere close to going out of style. So it’s best to always have one at the ready should an opportunity pop up.

And although LinkedIn has plenty of benefits, a resume has one clear advantage: While your LinkedIn is usually a broader picture of your career trajectory, your resume gives you the opportunity to tailor your career story to a specific role or company (more on that later).

Oh, and you’ve probably heard of something called a CV? It’s slightly different from a resume , and usually more common with academics and job seekers outside the U.S.

Hiring managers look for three things on your resume, “What did you do? Why did you do it? And what was the result?” says Muse career coach Martin McGovern , owner of Career Therapy. “If you can answer all three of these questions in...your resume bullet points, you’re going to be on the right track.”

Clear, easy-to-understand language is key. “The truth is that most resumes make no sense. They are stuffed with jargon, they are too technical, and they are filled with redundancies. Try to read a resume that isn’t yours and you will quickly realize that it feels like an alien wrote it,” McGovern adds. Put yourself in the shoes of a recruiter who has no idea how your role works—how can you make your resume accessible to them?

The hiring manager also cares about more than just you and you alone—they care about you in relation to them. “Hiring managers want to see if a candidate matches the requirements” of the role they’re hiring for, Yurovsky explains. “Your resume should paint this picture so the hiring manager not only knows what day-to-day responsibilities you can handle, but why you, above other[s], bring value to their organization.”

How Do You Write a Resume?

Whether you’re someone who’s never written a resume in your life, or you need a nice, thorough refresher on the process of creating one, follow these steps to go from a blank page to a complete—and dare I say beautiful—document.

Related: This Free Worksheet Makes It Easy to Create (or Update) Your Resume

1. Pick Your Format

Before you start typing one single thing, you have to decide what you want the overall resume to look like.

Resume builders can be helpful for this step—they’ll take all your basic information and organize it for you, eliminating some of the legwork. You can also use a pre-made outline, such as one of these free Google Docs templates .

But it’s often safest to start with a clean slate all on your own and eventually upgrade to a more advanced layout. (If you'd still like a place to write all the relevant information before you get started, check out our resume outline .) This allows you to course correct, edit and re-edit, and choose a resume format that best fits your particular situation (after all, not everyone has a career trajectory that’s easy to compartmentalize).

In general, you’re most likely to cover and/or include sections on the following:

• Your work experience
• Your non-work experience, including professional organizations, community involvement, or side projects
• Your education and certifications
• Your skills (specifically hard skills) and interests

So how do you format and organize all of that information?

By far the most common (and safest, if you’re not sure which route to take) option is reverse chronological order . This means you organize your experiences from most recent to least recent. So your work experiences would go above your education, and your current role would go above previous roles you’ve held. This of course has its exceptions—maybe you went back to grad school between jobs, or your most recent role is irrelevant to the job you’re applying for. So the whole page may not be exactly in reverse chronological order depending on your situation. It’s just a guideline.

There’s also something called a functional or skills-based resume . This is used pretty rarely, mainly with career changers and those with limited or complicated work histories. It gets its name because it’s primarily about listing your skills rather than experiences, and showcases them above your work history and education.

You can also opt for a combination resume , which is a mix between a reverse chronological resume and skills-based resume. It highlights your skills at the top, but allows just as much room below to cover your job and school experience.

Use caution when choosing these two formats: “Combo and skills-based [resumes] can be hard to follow, because [they force] the reader to hunt for connections between your skills and experience, and [don’t] provide the full context of your work,” says Muse Career Coach Angela Smith , founder of Loft Consulting. “I’ve also heard a lot of recruiters say that they automatically discount skill-based resumes because they feel the candidate is trying to hide something. I don’t necessarily believe that, but I think it’s important for job-seekers to know that perception is out there.”

2. Start With Your Basic Information

Your contact information should always go at the top of your resume. In this header you’ll want to include anything that could be helpful for a recruiter to get in touch with you. Usually, this means adding in:

• Your full name (preferably the name you use across the web)
• Your phone number
• Your personal email address

You might also choose to include other basic information, such as your LinkedIn or personal website URL, your GitHub (for technical roles), your social media profiles (if relevant to the job), or your address. If you’re looking to move for a job, you may choose to leave out your address or write “open to relocating” to better your chances of getting an interview.

The key is to make this part as clear as possible. If a hiring manager can’t reach you, there’s no point in perfecting the rest of your resume.

3. Add in Your Work Experience

This section will most likely be the bulk of your resume. Even if you’re changing careers, employers still want to see where you’ve worked, what you’ve done, and the impact of that work to get a sense of your background and expertise.

Your “Work Experience” might be one entire category, or you might choose to break it up into “Relevant Experience” and “Additional Experience” to highlight the jobs that are most important for hiring managers to focus on. Either way, you’ll almost always want to have your most recent experience at the top and your older experience down below.

Within your work experience, you’ll want to include each official job title, the company (and possibly its location), and the years you worked there. Below that, you’ll add in two to four bullet points explaining what you did in that job, the skills you built and exercised, the tools you used, and the results of what you did. If you accomplished a lot during your time there, focus on the responsibilities that made the most impact or you’re the most proud of, as well as the ones that best align you with the job you’re applying for (more on that in the following sections). It’s key here to list, if relevant, quantitative as well as qualitative accomplishments.

For example, you might write:

Associate Accountant, Finances and Co., Ann Arbor, MI September 2017 – Present

• Manage billing and invoicing for more than 50 clients, ensuring the deadlines and needs of our enterprise partners, including Big Company and Super Star Org, are met
• Collaborate closely with sales, account management, and project management teams on project setup, maintenance, and invoice management
• Assist in the streamlining of invoicing guidelines and procedures through documentation and the implementation of new software, resulting in an average two-week decrease in total time spent per client

Your resume bullets should be in past tense if you’re referring to past jobs and present tense if you’re talking about your current roles. In addition, your bullets should always start with a strong action verb that best describes what you did. And if you have examples of your work, consider hyperlinking them here as well.

If you have a ton of experience and this category is starting to run long (read: over one page), consider kicking out your oldest jobs unless they’re super relevant to the job you’re applying for, or extra impressive for your field.

Not sure where to start? “It’s helpful to do a brain dump and create a document that has everything and anything you consider as experience or an achievement,” says Yurovsky. From there, she explains, you can start to whittle down what is and isn’t important. And you can refer to this document later if you ever decide to update your resume for a specific role.

Need more specific advice on listing your work experience on your resume? Check out these additional resources:

• When you’ve held multiple jobs at the same company: 2 Jobs, 1 Company: How to Show Multiple Positions on Your Resume
• When you’re not sure what your accomplishments are or how to explain them: Resume Revamp: How to Turn Your Duties Into Accomplishments
• When you want to spruce up a boring or insignificant job: How to Make Your Most Boring Jobs Sound More Interesting on Your Resume
• When you’re considering fudging a job title: The Answer to “Can I Change My Job Title on My Resume to Make It More Accurate?”
• When you’ve had a bunch of short-term gigs: How to List Temporary Jobs on Your Resume

4. Consider Including Volunteer Work or Other Experience

Anything you’ve done that’s not work experience—your side gig, volunteer work, special projects—can be hosted under clearly-labeled sections (“Volunteer Experience” or “Activities,” for example). Depending on how robust your work experience is, these things may be worth including, particularly if they’ve helped you level up your skill set or better align you with your dream job. Plus, they make you look that much more well-rounded, passionate, and hardworking.

If you’re a recent grad, you might also build out a section for on-campus activities, such as clubs, organizations, or leadership experience. This can be a great supplement if you’re lacking in the jobs department. You can frame these just as you would professional jobs—including your title, the organization’s name, and bullets describing what your role was and what you accomplished.

Read More: This Is Exactly How to List Volunteer Work on Your Resume

5. Don’t Forget Your Education

If you’re still in school or just graduated, your education can go at the top of your resume, but for pretty much everyone else, this goes near the bottom. Most people include their school, graduation year (for folks less up to about a decade out of school), major, and degree. Brand-new grads might also write in their GPA, honors and awards, study abroad, thesis, or other notable achievements. But keep this section super simple, as you don’t want it to take up too much space over your work experience.

It’s possible you have unique education experience, such as taking an online course or certification. If you did this specifically as a way to boost yourself within your industry, definitely include it. Again, list everything more or less reverse chronologically—so a grad school degree would go above an undergrad degree, and a more recent relevant online course would go above that.

Learn more about the ins and outs of listing your education on your resume:

• How to (and How Not to) List Education on Your Resume
• How to List Online Courses on Your Resume the Right Way (Because Yes, There Is a Wrong Way)

6. Top It Off With Some Skills and Interests

The skills section of a resume gets a bad rap, but it’s just as important as the rest of the stuff you include. It’s a quick list a recruiter can scan to see if your skill set aligns with what they’re hiring for. And it’s super ATS-friendly (ATS stands for “applicant tracking system,” the robot that in some cases reads your resume before a human does) because it allows you to add in keywords the machine is scanning for.

Usually this section goes at the bottom of your resume, but in special cases—such as a skills-based resume or when someone’s switching fields—you may place it further up.

What exactly do you throw in here? You’ll want to list any hard skills and applications you’re familiar with (Photoshop, SEO, JavaScript, to name a few examples), and, if relevant, your level of expertise. Avoid including soft skills here, like time management or public speaking—save those for your bullet points instead.

Be strategic when filling in your skills. Don’t list things you actually couldn’t do at a high competence level (I’m looking at those of you who say you’re “great” at Excel), and maybe nix skills that are completely irrelevant to the job you want. For example, you may not even need to include Excel if you’re applying for say, a design position, unless it’s listed as a job requirement.

Maybe you’re thinking, I’m a really good volleyball player, but that’s not a “skill,” right? No, it’s not, but it is a hobby. Adding in a hobby section at the bottom of your resume is underrated, and frequently a smart choice. It can be a great conversation starter with a hiring manager, and it can show that you’re a good culture fit—or a culture add—for the company. Also, it’s just a nice way to add in some of your personality. So tack on a bullet point listing out some of your interests, such as hiking, rowing, or crafting (no more than five to seven work-appropriate verbs), and you’re all set here.

7. Write a Resume Summary Statement (if Relevant)

You may have heard of a resume summary statement . They’re not super common, but they can be useful to include near the top of your resume if you’re looking to add clarity or context to your resume. If you’re a career changer, you might find a summary statement helpful in explaining your leap and tying your experience to your new path. Or if you’re a more experienced professional, you can use a summary statement to highlight a theme that brings your career trajectory together.

Overall, you probably won’t need a summary statement if your career is pretty linear and your bullet points do a great job of emphasizing what you have to offer in terms of skills and experience. But if you think it makes sense to include one, “Take the time to think about what the person reading your summary wants to know before you write it,” says McGovern. “Good summaries explain why you do what you do and how it can help. For instance: Merging a background in ABC, I help companies improve XYZ through 123. Summaries shouldn’t be any more complicated than that.”

So, taking McGovern’s example, you might say:

Merging a background in social media marketing and PR with seven years in the consumer tech space, I help companies improve their internal and external communication and brand awareness through data-driven, quality content and strategies that align with the modern trends of the space.

Yurovsky adds that “you don’t want your summary statement to be a dense paragraph with too much information. You want it to be easy to read, concise, and memorable. Almost like a tagline.”

Read More: 3 Resume Summary Examples That’ll Make Writing Your Own Easier

8. Tailor It to the Job (and the ATS)

Once you have your resume written out—you’ve broken down your work experience, tagged on some activities and additional experiences, and listed out your skills—it’s important to go back to the job description (or multiple job descriptions, if you’re applying to several similar jobs) and make sure that what your resume says matches up with the kind of candidate the employers are looking for. In other words, tailor it .

Let’s explain further. You’ll want to begin by tackling the ATS . This means combing the job description to see if individual words and phrases line up. What skills are they asking for, and have you listed them (so long as you actually have them)? What words are they using to describe their ideal hire, and do you use similar language in your resume?

Next, take a bird’s-eye view. If you were the hiring manager for the role, where on your resume would your eyes be drawn to? And what would you be looking for? Whatever you think will be most important for the recruiter, make sure it’s near the top of your resume, or otherwise emphasized.

Finally, dig into the role and responsibilities of the job. Does your resume reflect similar experience? If not, is there a way you can spin it so that it’s clear you’re capable of doing the job (and doing it well)?

These articles can help you if the word “tailoring” makes you start to sweat:

• What It Really Means to “Tailor Your Resume”
• Your Guide to Making Unrelated Experience Look Relevant on Your Resume
• A Cool Trick: How to Spin 1 Resume Bullet 5 Different Ways

9. Edit and Refine It

Please, please don’t just write your resume and shoot it out without giving it a second glance. Hiring managers may not spend hours browsing it, but if there’s one thing that sticks out more than anything else it’s a glaring typo.

The best approach? Write a rough draft, then leave and come back to it later with fresh eyes to give it an edit.

Cover the basics: Is your contact information correct and updated? Are you using the right verb tenses? Does everything look consistent and accurate in terms of spelling and grammar?

Then do some cutting if your resume’s quite long. It’s no longer a hard-and-fast rule that all resumes must be only one page—but consider it a smart guideline for most applicants, especially if you've got less than 10 years work experience. The exception is if you’re very senior or very established in your career; in this scenario, a two-page resume isn’t completely out of the question. Everyone else, read this article for advice on how to cut your resume down.

Formatting-wise, it’s key to consider a couple things. First, what font are you using , and is it legible (for a human and a robot)? When in doubt, go with one of these simple, but sleek, options: Arial, Arial Narrow, Calibri, Cambria, Garamond, or Helvetica.

Second, are you going to save it as a Word document or PDF ? Neither option is wrong, although a PDF helps ensure that your formatting is maintained, no matter what type of computer the hiring manager uses to open the document.

Third, is your resume formatted in a way that it’s skimmable? If it’s feeling crowded or overrun with words, read this: 12 Tiny Changes That Make Your Resume Easy for Recruiters to Skim .

Once you’ve given it a few good looks, it may be worth sending it to a friend or colleague (or even a career coach ) to get a second opinion. Don’t just have them edit it for spelling and grammar—they should dig into your bullets and offer feedback on whether or not your resume is showing you in the best possible light (it’s smart to also send them the job description for something to compare it to).

Here’s the thing: Your resume won’t ever look exactly like someone else’s, nor should it. How you choose to format it, organize your information, and talk about specific experiences depends not just on your career path, but on your field, the job you’re applying for, the company that job is at, and more.

So there isn’t a universal way to do a resume. But there are common themes. To give you some context as to how yours might turn out, here are three examples of different kinds of resumes.

The Most Popular: A Reverse Chronological Resume

As previously mentioned, a reverse chronological resume is preferred by many coaches and HR experts, mainly because it’s super readable. When everything’s in a clear order, it’s easy to skim and even easier to draw lines between experiences.

Who it’s good for: Just about everyone—from students applying to internships all the way up to senior-level executives (with an optional resume summary statement)

Download an Example Chronological Resume for a Software Engineer

The Unorthodox Route: A Functional or Skills-Based Resume

Rather than listing out your experience in reverse chronological order, a functional or skills-based resume has bullet points that reflect how each of your skills is demonstrated by the work you’ve done over the course of your career. At the bottom, you’ll include everything else, such as your education, job history, professional achievements, community involvement, and other technical skills. This is a good option if you have a somewhat all-over-the-place work history and want to tie everything together neatly.

Who it’s good for: Career changers whose work experiences may not appear to be relevant and people with an abundance of temporary jobs or gaps in their work histories.

Download an Example Functional Resume for a Project Manager

The Creative Angle: An Infographic Resume or Resume Website

This resume type is characterized by how it’s formatted visually. You may choose a reverse chronological order or skills-based style to organize your information, but also use graphics, colors, unique fonts, and even multimedia elements to help that information pop. Keep in mind that any creative resume is still likely subject to an ATS—and certain elements may be unreadable by a robot. So consider going this route only if you know a human will be reading your resume (and that said human might enjoy it).

Who it’s good for: People applying to creative roles (designers, editors, writers, marketers, video producers, for example), startups, or fun companies, or to jobs where a creative resume is encouraged, if not required.

Download an Example Infographic Resume for a Designer

Not a designer but want your resume to look just as pretty as this example? Check out these articles:

• 5 Sites to Create an Awesome Infographic Resume (Even if You’re the Least Creative Person Ever)
• How to Build a Resume Website That Will Impress Every Hiring Manager Who Sees It
• 5 Digital Tools That Will Make Your Resume Infinitely More Beautiful

Your resume is a living, breathing document. So while you won’t go through this whole process every time you apply for a job, you should be thinking about all these things as you go to update your resume for your next career step. You might decide later on to switch up the order, or remove or add things, or even get creative and try out a whole new format. If you’re not getting the calls back you expect, you may decide to scrap it and start over —and that’s totally OK.

Regardless of where this piece of paper goes and how it grows, when you give it the care and attention it deserves, you set yourself up for success. And you’ll make it that much more likely that you’ll land an interview and get the chance to prove to the hiring manager—over the phone or in person—what you’ve got to offer.

More From Forbes

17 linkedin profile writing tips to make you standout.

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LinkedIn logo is seen displayed on a phone screen.

Today, my first phone call was from a Baby Boomer who asked if she really needs a LinkedIn profile? She was not job hunting, and she didn’t realize that employees, customers, clients, and other colleagues might be checking her out. “Oh no,” she replied. “No one will be impressed if they see what I have up. I haven’t updated it in years.” She was mistaken to think only job hunters use LinkedIn. However, US News reports that 95% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find and evaluate job candidates. It seems everybody is using this professional network. One of the best things you can do for your career is to have a terrific LinkedIn profile. These 17 useful tips will help you create a profile that will impress others.

By default, your current job title will show as your headline. That is not what you want. This heavily searched section should focus on what you do. State the work title you qualify for, do now, or want. Be specific using standard titles that are typically found on a job search site. You can highlight the field you are interested in, plus any specialties or key certifications that you possess

Your profile headline and job titles are weighted heavily in LinkedIn’s search algorithms. State the most accurate name for what you do to clarify to a reader if your formal title isn’t clear. For example, “Tech 3” might be the internal title, but “Network Engineer” is the actual work you do, so you would want to use that instead. You have 100 characters available so add anything distinctive, example:  Product Manager - Global Emerging Countries

Your Profile picture

This is a vital part of your personal brand. Make sure you have an updated photo that is not more than one year old. The image should be a headshot with a plain, neutral background. You want good lighting on your face and SMILE! Your photo should make you look warm and engaging.

You need to display a distinct skill set, noting your key strengths and accomplishments. You must create the right keywords if you want LinkedIn to be an effective tool for you. Peruse current job openings that you are a fit for and note the critical skills and experiences they want. Identify 5-10 typical job tasks you perform and list these keyword job skills deemed imperative to perform the job. Make sure you pepper these keywords throughout your profile.

Best Travel Insurance Companies

Best covid-19 travel insurance plans.

Work Experience

Do not describe the company you work for. Focus on what you do for them. Avoid long, generic job descriptions. Add measurable results and a few accomplishments. Distinguish how you have cut costs, developed or created something new, added to the sales revenues, enhanced productivity, note any important process/system/organizational improvements you have made. 

Recommendations

These mini references are powerfully effective. Be sure you have at least five recommendations – more is better. Ask a few bosses, clients, or colleagues to write one for you. You increase your chances that they will comply if you ask and offer a few sentences on what you would like them to mention. The easier you make it for your connection to post a recommendation, the higher the probability they will do it.  

Summary/About section

LinkedIn recommends this be a personalized section that shows your personality and is written in FIRST PERSON. Here you tell people about what kind of work you do, what you feel you are good at, and what type of work tasks you enjoy. You can also discuss why you like your field or job. Consider mentioning what a boss says you are good at or what clients like about working with you. Keep it all genuine and authentic. Think of it as a personal communication if you were networking in person and what might you say about yourself. Above all, avoid resume speak. You do not want this to look like something you pulled off your resume or a bio about yourself.

Make connections

LinkedIn advises you to connect with 300-500 individuals that you know to have a good network. The more common connections you have with any searcher (recruiter, hiring manager, prospective client, etc.), the higher your profile will be in their results when they search words relevant to your profile.

Review what you have. Update and add any new skills and remove old ones to this section.

FOR JOB HUNTERS:

Open to work/new job.

Let recruiters on LinkedIn know you’re open to new job opportunities by turning on this section seen only by Recruiters unless you use the “OPEN to WORK” tag (which I don’t recommend displaying). You can specify up to 5 job titles that you are interested in and your preferred location. LinkedIn does an excellent job shielding you from your current company’s recruiters. They take steps to prevent LinkedIn Recruiter users who work at your company and related companies from seeing your shared career interests, although they don’t guarantee it.

Recruiters often begin to look for candidates by searching job title and location. On the “Let Recruiters Know you are Open to Work,” you can select up to 5 locations. Use cities, not small towns. Listing states are a good option too. Many recruiters say that they are looking for candidates who are likely to accept the job offer.

+ Remote Work desired

Employers have most people working remotely now, so you can designate this under the “Let Recruiters Know you are Open to Work” section and broaden your job opportunities.

Contact info

Add a phone number since recruiters like to call or text prospects. Include your personal email, one that you often check, as this is essential. You may have set up LinkedIn using an old or work email. Go into your settings and update it to a personal email that is currently active so you won’t miss an employer trying to contact you. 

Post, comment, use hashtags

Be visible on LinkedIn. Many recruiters and HR folks monitor hashtags and conduct content searches looking for the movers and shakers in the industry they are sourcing.

By posting quality content and including appropriate industry-related hashtags, you are putting yourself out there as an expert, and you may get noticed and found in an entirely different way.

Connect to recruiters on LinkedIn

Chances are, some recruiters specialize in your industry. Make sure you know who they are and that they know you. The easiest way to do this is to conduct a search on LinkedIn for recruiters that source talent for your industry. Use LinkedIn’s search box designating PEOPLE, and type “Recruiter AND [the name of your industry].” Scroll through the results and click on profiles that look interesting. When you find a match, send the recruiter a PERSONALIZED MESSAGE (no resume) with the connection request.

Open to PUBLIC

Under the small picture of your face, in the drop-down menu, you set privacy settings. Some HR and smaller employers do not use LinkedIn recruiter due to the cost. Opening your Profile up allows anyone searching using Google (etc.) to find you.

Complete education info

If you earned a degree, you must add in the graduation date, or the employer/HR or Recruiter may think you only attended college but did not finish.

MORE HELP on Creating Your Profile

For depth direction and specifics on creating your LinkedIn Profile, download this free LinkedIn Profile Creation Step by Step Guide as it will be very beneficial.

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How to Write a Compelling LinkedIn Summary [with Examples]

We discuss what to write in your LinkedIn "about" section and provide effective LinkedIn summary examples

Your LinkedIn summary serves as a 30-second elevator pitch for your profile visitors.

When writing your profile summary, assume that your readers will have a short attention span.

You should quickly engage readers right away by providing key information they need to determine whether they want to engage with you further.

We'll analyze key elements of an effective LinkedIn profile summary and explain how you can leverage them to build your credibility with potential employers or clients.

A strong summary accomplishes the following goals:

• Provides an overview of your background
• Outlines your key areas of expertise
• Tells visitors what you are interested in
• Invites visitors to contact you
• Builds your personal brand

1. Provides an overview of your background

The primary purpose of your summary section is to tell anyone who happens to stumble upon your LinkedIn profile who you are.

Because LinkedIn is a social network, it's perfectly acceptable (and even encouraged) to write your summary in the first person .

Questions to address in your introduction include:

• What is your current job title?
• What companies have you worked for in the past?
• What major career accomplishments are you best known for in your industry?

You don't need to go into granular detail here.

More detailed information should go into your experience section instead.

An effective example for a hotel investment professional would be:

I currently serve as the Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for DiamondRock Hospitality.   I bring over 10 years of experience in hotel feasibility and development finance, consulting, and asset management with Hilton, EY’s Hotels and Hospitality group, and Host Hotels and Resorts.

2. Outlines your key areas of expertise

In your summary statement, be sure to outline your key areas of expertise.

By doing so, you will naturally incorporate relevant keywords , helping with LinkedIn SEO and allowing recruiters to find your profile more easily.

The candidate above might say something along the lines of:

My areas of expertise include portfolio growth strategy, investor and owner relations, contract negotiations, and financial analysis.

3. Tells visitors what you are interested in

Make your professional goals clear in your profile.

After reading your LinkedIn summary section, a hiring manager, recruiter, or potential client should walk away with an idea of:

• The hard skills you bring to a prospective employer
• What kind of jobs may be of interest to you
• What services you offer to your clients

A CFA candidate might mention:

I am currently pursuing my CFA designation and look forward to applying my skills in a long-term career in portfolio management.

A cross-border financial planner might say something along the lines of:

If you are a US citizen living in the UK, we can help you navigate US and UK tax laws in relation to your financial planning and investment management efforts.

4. Invites visitors to contact you

In your LinkedIn profile summary, be proactive!

Whether you are a job seeker, employer, or looking for new clients, make sure to leverage the power of social media to your advantage by telling visitors why they should get in touch.

Consider saying something along the lines of:

If you are in the market for a new role in logistics, please don't hesitate to contact me.

- Hiring manager looking to add a team member

Upon completing my MBA, I hope to secure a role in management consulting, and I'm happy to share my resume outlining my prior experience in financial services.

- MBA job candidate seeking a new position

My team of career experts can help you kickstart your job search with interview preparation coaching that will boost your confidence and interview performance. Feel free to contact me for more information.

- Founder of career coaching firm

You may also want to include your email address in your LinkedIn summary, enabling visitors who are not an existing connection or do not have LinkedIn premium to easily reach you.

5. Builds your personal brand

A great LinkedIn summary helps build your credibility and reputation.

You should put just as much care into preparing your profile summary as you would into preparing your resume and cover letter (though your LinkedIn content should be different from that of your resume ).

We recommend printing out your final summary on paper to catch any punctuation or grammatical errors.

Your LinkedIn summary is among the first things visitors see when they visit your profile.

By making your background, accomplishments, and professional goals clear, you'll be able to maximize the value you get out of your LinkedIn profile.

To learn more about LinkedIn best practices, check out our   LinkedIn Series here !

About Resume Pilots

Resume Pilots is an award-winning executive resume writing firm and a proud member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Our previous clients include CEOs and senior executives at the world's leading companies.

As a professional services firm, we take your reputation seriously. We are committed to delivering writing excellence and superior service while operating with integrity and discretion. Recruitment firms we partner with also trust us to consistently deliver quality documents for their clients.

Our writers have studied in the Ivy League and other top-tier universities and have strong writing backgrounds coupled with industry experience.

Here's how we can help you:

Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn Writing Services : If you are looking for end-to-end support, hire one of our professional resume writers to rewrite your documents from the ground up.

Executive Resume Template Downloads : If you plan to prepare your own resume, consider using one of our classic, ATS-friendly resume templates for Microsoft Word.

To learn more about our services, book an introductory call with our founder here or email [email protected] .

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About the Author Matt Glodz

Matt Glodz is the Founder and Managing Partner of Resume Pilots and a Certified Professional Resume Writer. After studying business communication at Cornell University, Matt worked within Fortune 500 companies, where he noted that qualified candidates were frequently denied interview opportunities due to poorly written documents. At Resume Pilots, Matt combines his business and writing background - which includes prior work for a Chicago Tribune publication - to craft resumes that give his clients the best chance of landing interviews. He works with clients ranging from CEOs to recent graduates and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. He has been quoted on numerous business and career-related topics in outlets including Business Insider, CNBC, Fortune, Glassdoor, The Ladders, and Thrive Global.

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