How to Write a LinkedIn Summary
Are you a job seeker? If so, your online presence needs to reinforce your professional image, and your digital footprint is often a recruiter’s first introduction to you. It is important to create a strong LinkedIn profile with statements that align with your career goals. Know this - recruiters absolutely use LinkedIn as a sourcing tool. They use many advanced search techniques and filters to identity candidates based on specific skills, experience, and location. Recruiters can even further specify their searches by including job titles.
Your LinkedIn summary (LinkedIn Bio or About Me section) is important real estate, and it matters more than you know. It is right below your photo and one of the first things people see when they click on your name. The summary has a character limit, so this means that you have about 370 words to hook your readers, make a great first impression, and keep them wanting to read more.
Your LinkedIn summary makes the first impression.
Your LinkedIn summary is an opportunity to promote yourself through a brief introduction. It is an elevator pitch, a concise summary about who you are, what you do, and what you have accomplished—while highlighting your personality. It should read like a narrative, so aim to write in short paragraphs that tell a story.
The profile summary is your best opportunity to inject a little personality into your profile. Culture fits are always top of mind in recruitment, so write your summary in your authentic voice to let recruiters and prospective employers see what you care about, and what you can offer them.
It should be easy to read.
No one wants to read a huge chunk of text. Break up your LinkedIn summary with short paragraphs and bullet points.
Use whitespace to your advantage by giving the page some “breathing room.” When writing about your accomplishments, for example, consider using a short series of bullet points that connect to your larger story.
Start strong.
By default, LinkedIn shows only the first three lines of your profile summary before readers have to click to see more. That means those first short points need to be strong enough to grab the reader’s attention. So top load your summary with things you want recruiters or hiring managers to know.
Make your LinkedIn summary keyword-rich.
Recruiters search for a combination of job titles, skills, and other keywords to find the right candidate. Be sure to include some terms that a recruiter might plug into a search bar such as job titles, hard skills, or industry specific keywords. Doing this increases your visibility, raises your chances of showing up on searches, and reveals opportunities. The right keywords will elevate your search rankings in LinkedIn’s search engine and can significantly boost the likelihood you will be found.
Open up about your career.
Your LinkedIn summary isn’t the same as a resume or cover letter, it does not have the same amount of detail, however it is the perfect place to add context to your career, show off your accomplishments, and dig into what makes you great at your job.
Make sure you check out the resources and video links about LinkedIn in the Social Media category of our Virtual Resource Room at Calgary Career Hub