15 LinkedIn Profile Tips to Get Noticed by Recruiters in 2026

Your LinkedIn profile is often the first impression you make on recruiters, hiring managers, and potential business partners. With over 900 million members worldwide, standing out requires more than just listing your job history. These proven LinkedIn profile tips will help you optimize every section of your profile to attract the right opportunities in 2026.

Optimize Your Profile Photo and Banner

Your profile photo is the first thing people notice. Profiles with photos receive significantly more views and connection requests than those without.

• Use a professional headshot: Good lighting, clean background, and professional attire. Your face should fill about 60% of the frame.
• Smile naturally: Approachable expressions generate more positive responses
• Update regularly: Your photo should look like you do now, not five years ago
• Banner image: Use the background banner to reinforce your brand — include your company logo, industry imagery, or a personal brand statement

Write a Compelling Headline

Your headline appears everywhere — in search results, connection requests, and comments. The default headline is your current job title, but you can do much better.

Headline Formula

Use this structure: [What You Do] | [Who You Help] | [Key Result or Differentiator]

Examples:

• "Senior Data Scientist | Helping Fintech Companies Turn Data into Revenue | Python, ML, AI"
• "Full-Stack Developer | Building Scalable SaaS Products | React, Node.js, AWS"
• "Digital Marketing Manager | Growing B2B Brands Through Content & SEO | 200% Traffic Growth"

Include relevant keywords that recruiters search for. Think about what someone looking for your skills would type into LinkedIn search.

Craft a Strong About Section

The About section (formerly Summary) is your chance to tell your professional story. Most people skip it or write it in third person — both are mistakes.

About Section Structure

1. Hook (first 2-3 lines): This is what shows before "see more" — make it compelling. Lead with your value proposition or a bold statement.
2. Your story: Briefly explain your career journey and what drives you
3. What you offer: Clearly state the value you bring to employers or clients
4. Key achievements: Include measurable results where possible
5. Call to action: Tell people how to reach you or what you're looking for

Write in first person ("I help companies..." not "John helps companies..."). Keep it under 2,600 characters but aim for at least 300 words.

Maximize Your Experience Section

Your experience section should read like an achievement resume, not a job description list.

• Use action verbs: Led, built, increased, launched, optimized, reduced
• Quantify results: "Increased conversion rate by 35%" is stronger than "Improved marketing performance"
• Include media: Add presentations, project links, videos, or documents to each role
• Write for keywords: Include industry terms and tool names that recruiters search for
• Show progression: If you were promoted, show each role separately to demonstrate career growth

Skills, Endorsements, and Recommendations

Skills Section

LinkedIn allows up to 50 skills. Choose carefully:

• Pin your top 3 skills — these appear most prominently
• Include a mix of hard skills (Python, Project Management, SEO) and soft skills (Leadership, Communication)
• Add skills that match job descriptions in your target roles
• Remove outdated or irrelevant skills

Endorsements

Endorsements add social proof to your skills. To get more:

• Endorse colleagues and they'll often reciprocate
• Focus on getting endorsements for your top 3 skills
• Quality matters — endorsements from people in your industry carry more weight

Recommendations

Written recommendations are powerful because they provide specific, personal testimonials about your work. Aim for at least 3-5 recommendations from managers, colleagues, or clients. Don't be shy about asking — most people are happy to help if you provide guidance on what to mention.

Boost Visibility Through Engagement

An optimized profile is just the foundation. Active engagement dramatically increases your visibility:

• Post regularly: Share insights, lessons learned, or industry commentary at least 2-3 times per week
• Comment thoughtfully: Add value to posts in your network with substantive comments, not just "Great post!"
• Share articles: Curate relevant industry content with your own take
• Use LinkedIn features: Try newsletters, polls, carousels, and documents for higher engagement
• Engage with hashtags: Follow and use 3-5 relevant industry hashtags

LinkedIn SEO: Getting Found by Recruiters

Recruiters use LinkedIn's search to find candidates. Here's how to rank higher:

• Keywords throughout: Include target keywords in your headline, about section, experience descriptions, and skills
• Complete your profile: LinkedIn's algorithm favors profiles that are 100% complete (photo, headline, about, experience, education, skills)
• Location matters: Set your location to where you want to work (or "Open to remote")
• Open to Work: Enable the "Open to Work" feature to signal to recruiters. You can make this visible only to recruiters, not your current employer
• Connection count: Having 500+ connections generally increases your search visibility

Common LinkedIn Mistakes to Avoid

• Generic headline: "Professional seeking opportunities" tells recruiters nothing
• No profile photo: Profiles without photos are often skipped entirely
• Empty About section: Missing the best opportunity to tell your story
• Job descriptions instead of achievements: Don't list duties — show impact
• Inactive profile: Last post was three years ago? Recruiters notice
• Connecting without context: Always add a personalized note when connecting

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I update my LinkedIn profile?

Update your profile whenever you change roles, learn new skills, complete significant projects, or earn certifications. At minimum, review your profile quarterly. Even small updates signal to LinkedIn's algorithm that you're active, which can boost your visibility in search results.

Should I turn on "Open to Work"?

If you're actively job searching, yes. LinkedIn offers two options: visible to all (green banner on your photo) or visible only to recruiters. The recruiter-only option is discreet if you're employed and don't want your current employer to know you're looking.

How many connections should I aim for?

Quality matters more than quantity, but having at least 500 connections is generally recommended for search visibility. Focus on connecting with people in your industry, alumni, colleagues, and professionals whose content you find valuable. Always send personalized connection requests.

Does LinkedIn Premium help with getting hired?

LinkedIn Premium gives you InMail credits (to message people you're not connected with), insights into who viewed your profile, and applicant insights showing how you compare to other candidates. It can be worth it during an active job search but isn't necessary for maintaining a strong profile.

Conclusion

Implementing these LinkedIn profile tips can dramatically increase your visibility and attract better professional opportunities. Start with the high-impact changes — a professional photo, compelling headline, and strong About section — then gradually optimize your experience, skills, and engagement strategy. Remember that LinkedIn is not a static resume; it's a dynamic professional platform. The professionals who get the most from LinkedIn are those who treat their profile as a living document and engage consistently with their network. Start optimizing today, and you'll see the results in your inbox.