Recruiters search LinkedIn like Google. If the right keywords aren't in the right places, you're invisible — no matter how qualified you are.
Your Headline Is Not Your Job Title
The default headline is "[Title] at [Company]." That's what 95% of people have. It tells recruiters nothing about what you actually do or what value you bring.
Better: "Senior Product Designer | Building design systems for B2B SaaS | Ex-Stripe, Ex-Figma"
This tells recruiters: your level, your specialty, your industry, and your pedigree — all in 220 characters.
Your About Section Is Your Sales Pitch
Most people leave it blank or write it in third person like a Wikipedia entry. Wrong. Write in first person. Lead with a hook. Tell your story in 150-300 words.
Structure: Who you are and what you do (2 sentences). What problems you solve (2-3 sentences). Your key achievements with numbers (2-3 bullets). What you're looking for or how to work with you (1-2 sentences).
Experience: Impact, Not Tasks
Wrong: "Responsible for managing a team of 5 designers."
Right: "Led a 5-person design team that shipped the checkout redesign, increasing conversion by 23% ($4.2M annual impact)."
Start every bullet with a strong verb. Include metrics wherever possible. Recruiters scan for numbers — they stand out in a wall of text.
Skills Section: Strategic Keyword Placement
LinkedIn search heavily weights the Skills section. Add the exact terms recruiters search for, not creative variations. "UX Design" not "Design Thinking Facilitator." "Python" not "Programming Enthusiast."
The Photo and Banner
Profiles with photos get 21x more views. Use a professional headshot with a clean background. Your banner should reinforce your brand — your company, your craft, or your mission.
Quick Wins
Turn on "Open to Work" (visible to recruiters only). Customize your URL to linkedin.com/in/yourname. Get 3+ skill endorsements from colleagues. Ask for one recommendation from a recent manager or client.
A well-optimized profile doesn't just get more recruiter views — it gets the RIGHT recruiter views. Quality over quantity.