Free resource
LinkedIn profile checklist
Recruiters search LinkedIn to find people, then open profiles to check them. This checklist covers both moments.
In short
A strong LinkedIn profile has a headline that says what you do and for whom, a clear recent photo, an About section in the first person with specific evidence, experience that matches your CV, skills chosen for how recruiters search, and Open to Work settings that name the roles you actually want. Check all six areas before you start applying.
By Chanuka Jeewantha · Updated
Recruiters use LinkedIn in two ways: they search it to find people, and they open it to check people who reached them through an application. The first use depends on your headline, job titles, location and skills. The second depends on whether the profile agrees with your CV and adds something to it. This checklist covers both, in the order a visitor sees your profile.
First screen
- Headline states your role, your specialism and one proof point, not only your current job title
- The headline includes the job title a recruiter would type to find someone like you
- Photo shows your face clearly, is recent, and has a plain background
- Banner shows something useful about your field rather than the default image
- Location is accurate; if you are relocating, you say so in the headline or About section
- Custom URL is set, for example linkedin.com/in/firstname-lastname
About section
- Written in the first person, the way you would speak to a peer
- The first two lines make sense on their own, since that is what shows before ‘see more’
- Says what you do, the problems you solve, and the evidence that you solve them
- Uses the key terms of your field naturally, not as a stuffed list
- Ends with what you are looking for, or how to get in touch
- Contains none of: passionate, driven, go-getter, out-of-the-box thinker
Experience
- Job titles, employers and dates match your CV exactly
- Current and recent roles have two to five achievement lines, not a pasted job description
- Older roles are kept short but not deleted, so the timeline has no unexplained gaps
- Media, links or projects are attached where they prove something
- A career break is added as a career break entry rather than left as a silent gap
Skills and recommendations
- Skills lead with what you want to be hired for, not what you used most in the past
- Your most important skills are the ones featured at the top
- Every listed skill is backed by an experience entry that mentions it
- Two or three recommendations from managers, clients or senior colleagues, ideally recent
- Certifications show the issuing body and date
Settings
- Open to Work lists the right job titles, locations and workplace types
- You have chosen deliberately between recruiter-only visibility and the public photo frame
- Public profile visibility is on, so the page can be found from a search engine
- Contact info shows an email address you actually check
- Sharing profile updates with your network is switched off while you make large edits
Consistency and activity
- Nothing on the profile contradicts the CV you are sending
- The profile adds what the CV has no room for: projects, media, recommendations
- Some recent activity, even a few thoughtful comments, shows the account is in use
- Your LinkedIn URL is on your CV and in your email signature
- Spelling and terminology match the market you are targeting
Tips
- Write the headline last. It is easier once the About section has forced you to decide what you are actually offering.
- Search LinkedIn for the job title you want and read the first profiles that appear. Note the terms they share, then check whether yours uses them where they are true.
- A profile does not need to be long. It needs to be specific, current and consistent with your CV.
- Treat the CV as the targeted version and LinkedIn as the fuller public record. They should agree on facts and can differ in tone.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What should a LinkedIn headline say for job seekers?
Your headline should state the role you want to be found for, your specialism and one piece of proof, in words a recruiter would search. For example: Financial Analyst | FP&A and forecasting for retail groups | Built a rolling forecast used across 40 stores. Avoid headlines that only say ‘Seeking new opportunities’, because nobody searches for that phrase.
Should my LinkedIn profile match my CV exactly?
Your dates, job titles and employers should match exactly, because recruiters compare them and a mismatch raises questions. The wording does not need to match. LinkedIn can be more conversational, written in the first person, and can include projects, media and recommendations that a CV has no room for. The facts should agree even where the tone differs.
Does Open to Work hurt your chances?
Not in general. The recruiter-only setting signals that you are available without adding a frame to your photo, which suits most people who are currently employed. The public frame is more visible, and some candidates prefer to avoid it. What matters more is entering accurate job titles and locations, so that the right recruiter searches actually find you.
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