The LinkedIn profile checklist

Work down this list and you will have a profile that does the two jobs that matter: it shows up in the right searches, and it earns the click when it does. Each item links to the deeper guide where there is one.

The essentials

• Photo, a clear, friendly headshot, well lit, plain background, dressed for the role you want. A real face beats no face every time.
• Headline, not the default “Title at Company”. Use the formula: what you do, your key skills, the role or result you want. See headline examples.
• About, first two lines earn the click; then a short, human summary with your keywords and a couple of outcomes. See how to write your About.
• Experience as outcomes, each role led with what changed because you were there, with a number where you can. Not a job description.
• Skills, a full, relevant list drawn from your target job descriptions, top ones pinned. See how many skills to list.

The signals

• Open to Work, on, at least the recruiter-only version, so you appear in the filter for available candidates.
• Location and industry, set and current, because recruiters filter on both.
• Recent activity, the profile should not look abandoned. A little genuine activity reads as a live candidate.

The finishing touches

• Custom URL, set it to your name; it looks far better on a CV and in emails.
• Banner, a clean, relevant image so the profile looks considered.
• Featured, pin your best work, portfolio or a post if you have one.

Want a second opinion on the written sections? The free LinkedIn Score rates your headline, About, experience, skills and completeness, and suggests specific fixes. It reads your profile text only, so your photo, banner, Open to Work setting and recent activity are still yours to check. When you are ready to rewrite, the LinkedIn Makeover does it in your voice.