Last Updated on December 9, 2025 by Katie
If you are out of work, changing careers, or stuck in a tiring job search, your LinkedIn profile can quietly work for you every day.
Around 95% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates, and millions of people search for jobs on it every week.
With so many profiles, small tweaks to yours can be the difference between silence and a steady flow of profile views, messages, and interviews.
This LinkedIn Optimisation Guide is built for real life. Recruiters now use AI search, filters, and keyword-based tools to scan headlines, skills, and the Open to Work signal.
The good news is that most people still leave gaps or use vague wording, so you can stand out with simple, focused changes.
This guide will walk you through 7 clear steps, each with a practical pro tip you can use today.
If you are also figuring out your next move after a layoff, pair this with practical tips for navigating unemployment so you have both mindset and tactics covered.
Let’s get your profile working like a quiet recruiter magnet.
Related reading:
- How to use AI to prepare for job interviews
- How to get a job after a long career break
- How to write a cover letter that gets you hired
- 15 common job search mistakes and how to fix them
LinkedIn Optimisation Guide: How to Get Noticed By Recruiters and Get More Job Offers
Are you struggling to get noticed in your job search?
If so, you may not be standing out enough in the sea of millions of others looking for the same job.
Take the time to read through this LinkedIn optimisation guide to make your profile stand out from the competition.
Step 1: Make Your LinkedIn Profile Complete So Recruiters Can Actually Find You
Recruiters move fast. Many skip thin or half-empty profiles because they feel risky and hard to sell to a client or hiring manager.
LinkedIn also rewards complete profiles in search. When you finish key sections, you show up in more recruiter searches and job recommendations.
Make sure these sections are filled out and up to date:
- Professional photo
- Headline
- About section
- Experience and Education
- Skills and endorsements
- Location and industry
- Contact info
- #OpenToWork setting
Pro tip: Turn on #OpenToWork so recruiters see that you are available, but use the privacy setting that hides it from people at your current employer.
Use a professional photo and clear contact details
Your photo is often the first thing people see. A good headshot does not need to be studio-level.
Aim for:
- Good natural light
- Simple background
- Face centred, relaxed, and friendly
Profiles with photos get far more views and messages because they feel real and trustworthy.
Add easy-to-find contact details in the “Contact info” section: a job-search email, portfolio link, or website.
Set the correct city or region, even if you want remote work. Recruiters often filter by location first, then decide who could still be right for remote roles.
Turn on #OpenToWork the smart way
The Open to Work setting is one of the quickest ways to signal recruiters. You can choose up to five target job titles and list preferred locations or “remote”.
Use current titles that match job ads, not only creative ones.
For example, “Customer Success Manager” will show up in more searches than “Customer Happiness Hero”.
You can also control who sees it. Articles like this 4-step Open to Work guide show how to limit visibility to recruiters only, so it does not flash to your current company.
Pro tip: Update your Open to Work titles and locations any time your goals change so you keep drawing in the right kind of roles.
Step 2: Write a Keyword-Rich Headline That Sells Your Value in One Line
The next step in this LinkedIn optimisation guide is to write a keyword-rich headline for your profile.
Your headline follows you everywhere: search results, comments, messages, and people you may know.
Most people only list a job title, which wastes space. Recruiters and LinkedIn’s AI tools scan your headline for job titles, skills, and keywords that match open roles.
A clear, keyword-rich headline can move you up in recruiter searches.
Compare:
- “Customer Service”
- “Customer Service Specialist | Conflict Resolution & CRM | Turning Problems Into 5-Star Reviews”
The second headline tells a story in one line: role, skills, and outcome.
Pro tip: Pull key phrases from several job ads, then blend them into one natural sentence.
Use keywords recruiters actually search for
Spend 15 minutes scanning 5–10 job ads for your target role. Write down the words that repeat:
- Job titles (for example, “Project Manager”, “Customer Success Manager”)
- Skills and tools (for example, “Agile”, “Salesforce”, “HubSpot”, “Python”)
- Methods or areas (for example, “process improvement”, “stakeholder management”)
Then build your headline around them:
“Project Manager | Agile & Stakeholder Management | Delivering On-Time, On-Budget Projects”
You do not need to cram in every word, just the ones that show up often and really fit your background.
Keep your headline clear, human, and easy to scan
Use simple separators like vertical bars (|) or dots (·). Break your headline into short phrases and avoid buzzwords that do not mean much.
Focus on three things:
- Who you are
- What you do best
- The result you help create
For example: “Junior Data Analyst | SQL, Excel, Power BI | Turning Data Into Simple Business Stories”
Pro tip: Try two or three headline versions over a month and watch which one gives you more profile views and recruiter messages.
Step 3: Turn Your About Section Into a Short Career Story That Hooks Recruiters
Think of your about section as a short cover letter that never goes out of date.
Recruiters see the first lines in search and on your profile before they click “See more”, so those first 40 words matter a lot.
Write in the first person, keep the voice warm and clear, and answer:
- Who you help
- How you help
- What results do you create
If you are changing careers, explain it in simple language and tie your past strengths to the new field.
Many career coaches suggest ending with a direct invitation to connect.
Pro tip: Make the first two short sentences keyword-rich, for example, including target role plus 2–3 key skills, so they work as a hook in recruiter search results.
Follow a simple story formula: past, present, future
You do not need to write your life story. Use this easy pattern:
- Past: One or two lines on your background.
“I spent 6 years in retail management, leading small teams and solving customer problems face to face.” - Present: What you do or what you are learning now.
“I’m now focused on customer success and have completed a customer support bootcamp and several CRM courses.” - Future: What you want next.
“I’m looking for remote or hybrid customer success roles where I can reduce churn and improve onboarding for new clients.”
If you have a gap, mention it briefly and calmly, then move on to what you bring now.
Include a clear call to action for recruiters
Close your About section with a direct, friendly line that tells recruiters what to do.
Examples:
- “If you are hiring for entry-level data roles, feel free to message me here on LinkedIn.”
- “For remote content or copywriting roles, you can reach me on LinkedIn or at [your email].”
Pro tip: Keep this last part confident and future-focused, without apologising for time out of work or a career change.
Step 4: Show Results in Your Experience Section, Not Just Job Duties
Recruiters skim your experience section to answer one question: “What did you actually achieve?”
Many profiles just list duties. Instead, turn tasks into outcomes.
Recent guides like this article on optimizing the experience section show that result-focused bullets are far more attractive to hiring teams.
For each role:
- Use a clear job title that people recognise
- Add a 1–2 line summary of the role
- Include 3–6 bullets with results, not only tasks
Add part-time work, freelance gigs, volunteering, and course projects, especially if you are changing careers or rebuilding after a break.
Pro tip: For every duty, ask “So what did this achieve?” and write that as your bullet.
Use easy formulas to turn tasks into achievements
Use this pattern: Action + tool or skill + result.
For example:
- “Handled 40+ customer chats per day using Zendesk, keeping satisfaction above 95%.”
- “Created weekly email campaigns in Mailchimp, increasing open rates from 18% to 27%.”
- “Cleaned and combined sales data in Excel and Power BI, giving managers a simple dashboard for weekly decisions.”
If you do not know exact numbers, use estimates or clear outcomes like “faster”, “higher-quality”, or “reduced errors”.
Add projects, volunteer work, and career change experience
If you are new to a field, show evidence that you can already do the work:
- Bootcamp or course projects
- Hackathons or portfolio pieces
- Volunteer work using the same skills
- Freelance or short-term contracts
You can list these as roles or Projects, as long as you give context and results.
Pro tip: Move the most relevant roles and projects near the top, even if they are not your most recent, so recruiters see the right experience first.
Step 5: Optimise Skills, Endorsements, and Recommendations for Recruiter Searches
LinkedIn now lets you add up to 100 skills. Think of this area as a keyword library that feeds the recruiter search.
Profiles with more targeted, up-to-date skills show up in more searches and are easier for recruiters to filter.
Many hiring guides recommend at least 10–15 strong, relevant skills, with your top three pinned.
Clean out old or random skills and add ones that match your current goal.
Tools like CareerFlow or Jobscan, which you can find in lists of top AI tools to boost your job search, can help you spot missing keywords.
Ask past managers, coworkers, or clients to endorse your core skills and write short recommendations that talk about real results.
Pro tip: Review your skills list every few months and update them to match the roles you are now applying for.
Choose skills that match your next job, not just your last one
Many people treat skills like a long history of everything they have ever done. That can confuse recruiters.
Instead:
- Look at several job ads for your target role
- Highlight skills that appear often
- Add those to your profile and move them near the top
- Remove or lower skills from careers you are moving away from
For example, if you are shifting from teaching to instructional design, focus more on “e-learning”, “curriculum design”, and “LMS tools” than on classroom-only skills.
Ask for focused, specific recommendations
When you ask someone for a recommendation, guide them toward the story you want to show.
Tell them which project you worked on together and which skills you would like them to highlight, such as “problem solving”, “communication”, or “leadership”.
You can send a short message like: what you are applying for, what you appreciated about working with them, and which strengths you hope they might mention.
Pro tip: Ask for recommendations soon after a project ends, when results are fresh and the other person remembers details.
Step 6: Use LinkedIn Activity, Content, and Networking to Stay On Recruiters’ Radar
The next step in this LinkedIn optimisation guide is to stay active on the platform.
A strong profile is your base, but activity is what keeps you visible.
LinkedIn’s own data and networking guides, such as this 2025 networking article, show that active users get more profile views and messages.
You do not have to post every day. Aim for:
- Logging in a few times a week
- Commenting on posts in your field
- Sharing simple insights or questions
- Connecting with recruiters and hiring managers
Thoughtful comments and small posts show that you are current and engaged, which can ease doubts about gaps or a career change.
Pro tip: Post once a week and spend 5–10 minutes most days commenting or replying. Consistency beats volume.
Connect with the right people and personalise your messages
Build a focused network around:
- People in your target roles
- Recruiters in your industry
- Managers at companies you like
When you send a connection request, add one short personal note. Mention what you have in common, how their content helped you, or why their work interests you.
You do not need thousands of random connections. A smaller network that knows your interests is often more helpful.
Share simple content that shows your interest and skills
You do not need to be a “thought leader”. Just show that you care about your field and keep learning.
Easy post ideas:
- One key takeaway from an article, course, or webinar
- A small win from a project or job search step
- A short question about a tool or trend you are exploring
If you are using AI tools for your search or content, guides like this article on using ChatGPT for job search strategies can help you keep your posts and messages sounding like you, not a robot.
Pro tip: Aim for helpful, honest posts, not perfect ones. Recruiters often care more about your curiosity and attitude than about polished writing.
Step 7: Fine-Tune Settings, Links, and Details So Recruiters Can Reach You Easily
The last layer of this LinkedIn Optimisation Guide is all about the “small stuff” that quietly helps recruiters feel sure they have found the right person.
Check these details:
- Custom LinkedIn URL
- Up-to-date email and other contact options
- Correct location and industry
- Pronouns and name pronunciation if you want to use them
- Links to portfolio, website, or work social media
If you have a portfolio, GitHub, writing samples, or social accounts you use only for work, link them in your contact info.
In crowded fields like design, writing, and marketing, this can set you apart.
Pro tip: Check your profile visibility settings so your photo, headline, About, Experience, and Skills are visible to recruiters.
Create a clean custom URL and add relevant links
A custom URL looks far more professional on your resume and in emails. Edit your public profile URL to use your name or a clear version of it, not a random string of numbers.
If you work in creative or online roles, consider linking to:
- A simple website or portfolio
- A blog or content hub
- A work-only social media account, such as a separate Twitter or Instagram for your professional work
You can also explore alternative remote paths, including Pinterest remote careers for beginners, and link any related portfolio work to show your skills.
Check your privacy and visibility settings
Recruiters need to see enough of your profile to quickly judge if you might fit a role.
Review your settings so at least these are visible:
- Photo
- Headline
- About
- Experience
- Skills
You can keep some details limited to connections while still letting recruiters view your profile when they use tools like LinkedIn Recruiter or AI search features.
Pro tip: Recheck your privacy settings every time you move city, change roles, or start an active job search.
LinkedIn Optimisation Guide Conclusion
This LinkedIn optimisation guide has walked you through seven focused steps to make LinkedIn work harder for you.
You do not have to fix everything in one long session. Tackle one step each day or each week, and your profile will slowly turn into a recruiter-friendly asset instead of a static online resume.
Your next role could start with a single change: a clearer headline, a stronger first line in your About section, or turning on Open to Work with the right titles.
Keep your profile active, honest, and aligned with your current goals, and let LinkedIn bring more of the right opportunities your way.
Need more help?
Check out these essential resume tips to get more interviews.
The post LinkedIn Optimisation Guide: How to Attract Recruiters & Land More Job Offers appeared first on Remote Work Rebels.
* This article was originally published here
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