Tips for Showcasing Skills on Linkedin

I’ve reviewed 1,000+ LinkedIn profiles over the past 5 years. Here are 8 tips to turn your LinkedIn profile into a job-generating machine: 1. Upgrade Your Profile Picture Like it or not, your profile picture is your first impression. Make it a good one: - Upload your PP to Photofeeler .com - Analyze the feedback - Reshoot/edit your picture based on the data Repeat until your scores are good! 2. Leverage Keywords The right keywords help you show up in more searches. Here's how to find them: - Find 5+ job descriptions for target roles - Paste them all into ResyMatch.io's JD scanner - Save the top 15 skills Weave them into the rest of your profile! 3. Write A Killer Headline I like to use this headline formula: [Keywords] | [Skills] | [Results-Focused Value Proposition] Example for a data scientist: Data Scientist | Python, R, Tableau | I Help Hospitals Use Big Data To Reduce Readmission Rates By 37% 4. Write A Killer About A great About section has 3 parts: - A short paragraph that speaks to your job, years of experience, and value prop. - Five "case study" bullets that showcase specific results. - Your email w/ a CTA for people to connect with you. Include keywords! 5. Leverage Your Featured Section It’s hard to convey your value on a resume or in an About section. This is your chance to show people what you’ve done on your terms. Include things like: - Case studies of your work - Content you’ve created - Posts you’ve written 6. Skills Matter LinkedIn uses profile Skills sections to rank candidates. Here’s how to boost your rank: - Add every keyword from your ResyMatch scan - Choose the top 5 most relevant skills - Ask colleagues, friends, family, & classmates for endorsements (aim for 5) 7. Engage & Support Others Comments can generate tons of profile views! Here’s how: - Find 10+ thought leaders in your target space - Bookmark their post feed - Check their feeds daily - Leave a supportive, valuable comment on each new post Repeat for a minimum of 30 days 8. Create Content! Content is networking at scale. One post can reach more people than your entire connection base. It also allows you to showcase value in your own words, on your own terms. It can feel scary, but only 1% of people do it—and the returns are huge.

If your entire job search strategy is filling out applications, uploading your resume, and then waiting… you’re missing the bigger picture. I can only speak for the software job market, which is an absolute mess for job seekers. Qualified candidates are everywhere, and you must take extra steps to stand out. Marketing yourself to a hiring manager is not a sin. Yes, some companies should change their hiring practices. Yes, I've made a ton of mistakes when hiring people. Just this last week, I accidentally ghosted someone when I had a last-minute family event jump on the calendar. AND YES, this is off the back of my post last week, where I shared why I no longer read resumes and gave tips on how to stand out in the interview process. Most of you loved it (thank you!), but a few strongly disagreed... STRONGLY disagreed. Who knew people would be so passionate about resumes? I get it. People have different perspectives. However, a resume and job application alone aren’t enough to stand out from the crowd. I promised a few in the comments that I would follow up with tips on making your LinkedIn profile stand out. So let's do it. Start with the Headline: Avoid default titles like “Marketing Manager at XYZ.” Instead, showcase your value: “Driving Revenue Growth through Data-Driven Marketing” or “Empowering Teams to Create Scalable Strategies.” Spend Time on the About Section: This is your elevator pitch. Highlight your skills, achievements, and passions in 3-5 paragraphs. Make it you, not just a resume dump. Add Key Achievements to Your Experience Section: This is one of the most effective and least used. Use bullet points that emphasize results and impact. Quantify whenever possible (e.g., “Increased MQLs by 50% through revamped campaigns”). Keep it concise, but USE NUMBERS. Don't Ignore the Featured Section: Add links to your portfolio, blogs, presentations, or standout projects. This is the place to shine a spotlight if you’ve published articles or spoken at events. Keep Your Profile Active & Current: Update your profile with every new role, project, or milestone. Stale profiles give the impression of inattention. Set a calendar block or invite every other month to update your profile. Start there. Your LinkedIn profile is more than a digital resume because who wants to read a resume? It’s your chance to tell your story, highlight your skills, and make someone want to talk to you. Go forth and conquer.

You're making yourself invisible to recruiters. My client just got 2 recruiters reaching out within 24 hours of fixing their LinkedIn profile. Same skills, same experience - just stopped doing what 90% of data professionals do wrong. The truth is: You're competing against thousands of other "Python/SQL/Tableau" profiles that all look identical. Your technical skills aren't the problem - your positioning is. I've placed 50+ data professionals in the last 3 years, had 700+ calls with them, and the pattern is always the same: smart people making themselves invisible because they think being technical is enough. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁. Here's what separates those who get contacted from those who get ignored: 𝟭. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 Stop this: "Data Scientist | Python, SQL, Tableau" Start this: "Data Scientist | Helped hospitals reduce readmission rates by 37% using predictive analytics | Python • SQL • Tableau" See the difference? One shows what you know, the other shows what you accomplish. 𝟮. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 "𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁" 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 Recruiters spend 7.4 seconds scanning your profile. Your opening line either hooks them or they're gone. Try this formula: • Bold opener: "I help fintech startups turn messy data into revenue" • Proof with numbers: "Built classification model that reduced customer churn by 15%, saving $230K annually" • Call to action: "Let's discuss how data can solve your biggest challenges" 𝟯. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 Instead of: "Responsible for data analysis and dashboard creation" Write: "Designed automated dashboard used by 5 departments, reducing manual reporting from 5 hours to 30 minutes weekly." Every bullet point should make them think: "We need someone who can do THAT." 93% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find technical talent. If you're not showing up in their searches, you might as well not exist. 𝟮 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. Stop hoping someone will notice your technical skills and start making it impossible for them to ignore your impact. 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 Jaret André 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥. 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 ↻️

Your LinkedIn profile is a 24/7 inbound job magnet if you set it up right! It's an opportunity to have the hottest companies and hiring managers chasing you rather than you running after them. Impossible? Hell no. It’s how I got my senior product position at Affirm and the same story for VP of product at Apollo. Here’s the complete guide to converting your LinkedIn profile into a job-attracting asset: — 𝟭. 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 Don't use generic headline templates mentioning your job title and company name. ↳ Highlight your expertise or niche. ↳ Mention companies for credibility. ↳ Add a secondary offer; are you a coach, speaker, or consultant? ↳ Example: "Senior Product Manager @ TechCo | Driving B2B SaaS Growth 🚀 | Ex-Google, Ex-Amazon | Product Leadership Coach" — 𝟮. 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗠𝗘 Think of your "About" section as your personal story. ↳ Experience summary showcasing your value. ↳ Use storytelling to highlight your key achievements (don’t forget to mention numbers/results) with a personal touch. ↳ Wrap up by stating what kind of roles or challenges you’re interested in next. — 𝟯. 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗘 How people perceive you depends a lot on how you visually present yourself. Here’s how to do it right: ↳ High-quality and professional headshot. Use AI if you don’t have a good photo. ↳ Don’t use cover photos for vague quotes; use it to highlight your achievements, awards, reviews, your products, etc. — 𝟰. 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 Your experience section is where the real depth comes in. ↳ Go beyond job duties and focus on the specific results and outcomes you achieved. ↳ Use the Situation, Action, Result (SAR) framework to highlight what you did and how it made an impact. (e.g., “Increased customer retention by 25% in 6 months”). ↳ Use industry-specific keywords so recruiters can easily find you in searches. — 𝟱. 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 ↳ Simplify your LinkedIn URL (e.g., linkedin.com/in/YourName) with a custom URL. ↳ Make sure to add a link to your portfolio, website, or a side project directly in your profile. ↳ Regularly review your contact info and make it easy for recruiters to reach out to you. — 𝟲. 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 Think of recommendations as built-in references that add credibility to your profile. ↳ Reach out to people who can specifically highlight your key skills and achievements. ↳ Aim for a variety of recommendations—managers, colleagues, and clients. ↳ Pin your top 2-3 recommendations. — 𝟳. 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗦 The "Skills" section helps you appear in searches and validates your expertise: ↳ Choose skills that define your professional strengths, and pin your top 3. ↳ Take LinkedIn skill assessments to add credibility with “verified” badges. — If you want to dive deeper into how to do it all with real-time examples and breakdowns, check out the guide below in comments.

Your LinkedIn About section is costing you opportunities. And you might not even realize it. As a career coach, I review LinkedIn profiles all the time. I see that most people miss the mark showcasing their value and uniqueness. The About section is often treated as an afterthought, but it is the heart of your profile. Yes, people want to see your Experience section, but they also look to your About section to get to know you. This is where you can show who you are beyond your job titles. But too many of you write About sections that are as interesting as watching paint dry. Here are some tips to make it more compelling: 1) Avoid Buzzwords: Replace "visionary mindset" with specifics like "Led a campaign that increased sales by 35%." 2) Tell a Story: Share a moment highlighting your skills or values. For example, “After noticing declining engagement, I revamped our strategy, resulting in a 20% boost in customer retention.” 3) Share Your “Why”: Share your motivation. For example, “I’ve always loved using data to solve real-world challenges, like helping a client cut costs by 15%.” 4) Add Personality: Start with a line that reflects who you are, like, “Hi, I’m a data nerd who successfully turns insights into actionable strategies.” You can stand out in a sea of uninspiring profiles with a bit of effort. Make YOUR story memorable, and see if it doesn't inspire people to reach out to you. In my latest blog post, I will show you a before-and-after transformation of an About section. Take a look: https://lnkd.in/eeD3ACE8 What’s your biggest struggle with writing your LinkedIn About section? Let’s discuss this in the comments! ----- I am Shelley, a recruiter turned career coach. I help you find a job where you can thrive and not just survive. ♻️If you liked this, why not repost it? ♻️ 🟣Following is great, and ring the 🔔 to know about my new posts 🟪Want to see my other posts? Go to #ShelleySays

All I’m going to say is… WOW! 🤯 Earlier today, I checked my LinkedIn profile views report and saw that 18 recruiters viewed my profile. After the time I spent revamping my “skills” section over the last two weeks, this felt like LinkedIn is finally working for me! And according to my analytics I am NOW showing up for roles that actually make sense to my skills and experience. Here’s exactly what I did to give my profile a boost (and how you can do it too): 1️⃣ Identify relevant skills: I paid close attention to the “Top Skills” listed on job posts or the “Skills added by the job poster” section at the top. I matched those skills to my experience and added them to both my overall profile and the roles I’ve held. 2️⃣ Reorder your skills: Every time you add a skill, LinkedIn automatically sends it to the top of your list. That means it’s up to you to reorder them so your most relevant skills always shows up and stays at the top. (Note to LinkedIn, this is a pain I discovered during this process—please let us choose where new skills show up within our profile and each role while we're adding it. Thank you!) 3️⃣ Optimize by role: I also took the time to reorder the skills listed for each previous employer on my profile. Tailoring your skills for specific roles makes a huge difference. In some roles, you use certain skills more than others, and this is a great way to showcase and diversify your overall experience. 4️⃣ Remove irrelevant skills: I removed old or outdated skills that no longer reflect what I want in my next role. Clean, concise, and focused is the goal. It takes some effort and quite a bit of time, but optimizing your “Skills” section pays off. This visibility is proof that even small changes can make a big impact. Now let's encourage these recruiters to actually send me a DM. 👀 😉 Have you revamped your LinkedIn “Skills” recently? Drop a comment if you have any additional tips or noticed a difference. #LinkedInTips #JobSearchTips #CareerGrowth #PersonalBranding #JobSearchJourney #ProfessionalDevelopment #LinkedInOptimization #MarketingCareers #JobSeekers

35+ Recruiters looked at my LinkedIn profile ...but didn't call me in for an interview. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was making 5 huge mistakes. Here are the changes I made that started landing me interviews: 1️⃣ HEADLINE Your headline is your first impression. Before a recruiter even clicks on your profile, they read your headline. 👉 There's a simple format to write a good one: Target title | Skill #1 | Skill #2 | Skill #3 | Achievement Example 👉 Content Marketing Manager | GTM Strategy | B2B | SEO | Increased marketing-influenced pipeline by 135% in 6 months. 2️⃣ ABOUT & EXPERIENCE This is your chance to tell your story. Your resume should be short (350-550 words) but your LinkedIn should be longer. 💡 Use the "Core 4" About framework: ↳ I am a {title} who... (3 skills) ↳ I launched my career at...(early career story) ↳ I then moved to...(2 mid-career achievements) ↳ Currently I am... (your most recent role) 3️⃣ ACTIVITY Posting on LinkedIn is scary, but it matters now more than ever. That's because LinkedIn shows "active" profiles higher in search results. 💡 To be considered "active" you just have to comment 3x/week (you can start by commenting on this post 😉 ) 4️⃣ KEYWORDS Add keywords throughout your Job Titles AND your skills section. Recruiters don't search for "Chief Happiness Officer" they search for "Director of Customer Success." 💡 Change your previous job titles to reflect what you actually did. You DON'T have to use the title your company gave you. 5️⃣ PHOTO & HEADER Check your privacy settings! Many LinkedIn profiles default to not showing your profile photo publicly. ‼️ A missing photo is a huge red flag to recruiters, make sure yours is set to public! Before you send even one more application, check these 5 parts of your profile. 👉 It's better to do the work up front than to send more applications and getting ghosted "for some reason." 👉 P.S. I just sent my "Guide To The ATS" to everyone who commented on my last post. If you missed it, just follow my profile and drop a comment below and I can send it to you too. _ #resume #hiring