The One LinkedIn Fix Every Job Seeker Skips

How to optimize your LinkedIn profile

The LinkedIn fix most people skip is the About section: rewrite it in plain language covering what you do, who you do it for, and one result you're proud of. Recruiters search LinkedIn like a search engine, so the words in your About section are what get you found.

Many About sections just repeat the job title. That's a wasted opportunity. Recruiters and hiring managers use it to answer one question fast: what does this person actually do well, and would I want them on my team?

Rewrite yours in plain language. What do you do? Who do you do it for? What's one result you're proud of? Skip the buzzwords like "results-driven synergy" and just talk like a person.

This one fix matters just as much for a new grad building their first profile as it does for a VP being scouted for board seats. Recruiters search LinkedIn like a search engine, so the words you use are the keywords that get you found.

Give it 20 minutes this week. It's the highest-leverage edit on your whole profile.

Want a second set of eyes? CareerMuv offers a LinkedIn Audit.

FAQ

Q: How long should my About section be? Three to five short paragraphs is plenty. Clear beats long every time.

Q: Should I write it in first or third person? First person reads as more human and is generally recommended.

Q: What keywords should I include? The exact job titles and skills recruiters search for in your field; check a few job postings you'd want to be found for.

About The Author

Keji Ogunnaike is a Calgary-area Strategic Career Consultant and Author. She's one of the few professionals globally certified as an Ethical AI Career Practitioner (EAI-C). She holds the Certified Career Success Coach (CCSC) and Certified Resume Analyst (CRA) designations from Career Directors International, as well as a Prosci Change Management certification. Creator of the M.U.V.E.R. Framework™, her books include The Global Ascension and Command the Room. Through her practice, CareerMuv, she helps mid-career to executive professionals, including immigrant professionals building new careers abroad across Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and beyond, move forward with a deliberate strategy for what's next.