That’s a given.
But if you’re looking to land some newer, more exciting job offers or––better yet––secure that coveted board position you’ve been eying? Your LinkedIn profile needs to go beyond the basics and stand out from the proverbial crowd.
Here are some ideas for how you can optimize your LinkedIn profile to catch the attention of recruiters, hiring managers, and board selection committees as you embark on a new year.
Operation: “Scale Up in 2025” begins in three, two…
#1 Transform “Experience” into Impact
Your LinkedIn “Experience” section is more than just a run-of-the-mill list of past jobs; it’s quite literally the story of your career. In other words: It lets readers know exactly how you’ve made an impact in your industry.
As such, your “Experience” copy should position you as a candidate who’s left an indelible mark throughout your work history.
Help convey impact and revive your all-important “Experience” section by diving deeper on:
- Responsibilities: What were you tasked with achieving at your past and present organizations? How were you held accountable?
- Accomplishments: What palpable results were you able to deliver?
- Quantifiable Successes: How did you measure these results? (Note: Numbers will resonate more than words here. Instead of “I improved team performance,” try “I increased team productivity by 25% over two quarters.”)
#2 Choose Keywords Carefully and Strategically
Sometimes it’s useful to think of LinkedIn as a search engine: one where recruiters and board committees leverage highly specified keywords to weed out the perfect candidate.
To take advantage of this strategy and ensure your profile “ranks” during these searches, you can:
- Review job postings for ideal roles and take note of recurring keywords featured in each description.
- Incorporate these keywords into your LinkedIn profile organically, especially when it comes to your “Skills” section (FYI: LinkedIn now allows up to 100 skills per profile!).
- Sprinkle specialized keywords into other segments of your profile, including the headline, “About,” and “Experience” sections.
#3 Call Out Relevant Honors, Publications, and Projects
If you’ve earned any prestigious industry awards, published thought leadership pieces, or led significant company initiatives, make sure you highlight them. The Honors & Awards, Publications, and Projects sections are often overlooked, but they can be powerful tools for demonstrating credibility and influence with profile viewers.
Don’t let these sections collect digital dust on your profile. Keep them edited, up to date, and engaging so your achievements can garner the necessary “pop.”
#4 Showcase Your Personality
In today’s more enlightened social landscape, cultural fit is just as important as professional qualification. Your profile should therefore reflect who you are as a worker, a leader, and––most critically––a human being.
To expand on your personal qualities, try:
- Sharing your internal values alongside your leadership philosophy. One way to do this is by recounting a memorable lesson from your early career and describing how it changed you emotionally as well as professionally.
- Avoiding generic corporate jargon and tired terms like “elevate” and “curate.” Instead, aim for a tone that’s authentic and unique to you.
- Crafting a compelling “About” section that sets you apart by revealing who you are, what interests you, and what it’s like to interact with you on daily basis. (This way, you not only set yourself up as someone with the right credentials, you also present as a genuine, 3D human being people actually want to work with.)
#5 Polish Your Visuals
Depending on the context, your LinkedIn profile may be your one and only chance to make a first impression. To ensure a sleek, modern, and thoroughly professional aesthetic, remember to:
- Choose a recent headshot taken by an experienced photographer for your profile photo.
- Update your header image with something applicable to the role you want, such as a photo of you speaking at a conference or a brightly lit cityscape reflecting the vibrant dynamics of your industry.
- Enhance your “Featured” section by posting your latest podcast interviews, recent articles you’ve written (or been quoted in), and/or any reputable business lists that’ve mentioned your name over the past five years.
#6 Embrace the Personal Touch
When you’re treading water in a sea of qualified executives, making waves is key. Luckily, a few quirky, well-placed details can help turn the dial on your profile from “boring” to “seismic.”
Examples of such details include:
- Hobbies that align with your leadership style (e.g., “avid chess player who applies strategic thinking to corporate governance as well as knight moves”).
- Personal mantras or favorite books that shaped your private and professional philosophies.
- Volunteer experiences that expanded your worldview, strengthened your knowledge base, or boosted your teambuilding and collaborative skillsets.
Spotlighting these characteristics can raise your relatability factor and help flag your profile for top-tier decision makers.
#7 Remember: Profile Optimization Is Just the Beginning
There’s no doubt a polished, eye-catching LinkedIn profile is an essential tool for generating interest and widening your reach. But bear in mind an optimized profile is only part of the equation. To remain top of mind within your network (and beyond), you need to stay active.
Kickstart your engagement this January by dedicating at least 15 minutes a week to:
- Commenting on posts from connections.
- Sharing your latest insights and updates.
- Posting photos from conferences, retreats, or any other industry-relevant events.
When you keep your profile current and dynamic, you increase your visibility and help position yourself as a committed thought leader who’s ready to assume new responsibilities and tackle new tasks.
Curious About Next Steps?
To further upscale your LinkedIn presence, it’s a good idea to develop a strategic content plan.
Not sure how to get started? Not a problem. Our expert team can design and deploy a posting strategy carefully calibrated to your personal needs and professional goals.
Get in touch with me on LinkedIn today or schedule a brief chat to begin building a LinkedIn persona that earns you bigger and brighter opportunities in 2025.
Happy New Year!