LinkedIn is a powerful platform to boost your career prospects. With the right strategy, your profile can attract recruiters who are actively searching for talent – even for roles that aren’t publicly advertised. The more visibility your profile receives, the more likely you’ll be tapped on the shoulder for your next opportunity.
At Talent Matters, we’ve placed countless professionals who weren’t even actively looking – all thanks to a standout LinkedIn profile. Here’s how you can make yours work harder for you.
1. Use a Professional Profile Photo
Your profile picture is your first impression. Choose a high-quality image where your face takes up around 70% of the frame. Wear professional attire and make sure the photo is just of you — avoid group shots or casual pictures with pets, kids, or partners (save those for other social platforms).
2. Update Your Industry
While LinkedIn users won’t see your chosen industry category, recruiters using LinkedIn Recruiter do. This tool allows them to filter talent by industry. If you’ve recently moved sectors, update this section so you appear in the right searches.
3. Keep Your Current Role Up to Date
Even if you’re not actively job hunting, make sure your current role and company are up to date. At Talent Matters, over 80% of our placements are through proactive outreach — often to professionals who weren’t looking. A complete and accurate profile ensures you don’t miss out.
4. Turn On ‘Open to Work’ (Privately)
You don’t have to announce to the world (or your boss!) that you’re open to new roles. LinkedIn allows you to privately signal to recruiters that you’re open to opportunities, including specifying preferred roles and locations. This significantly increases your visibility in recruiter searches.
5. Customise Your LinkedIn URL
A personalised LinkedIn URL looks professional and is easier to share on resumes, email signatures and business cards. Here’s how to do it:
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Go to your LinkedIn profile
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Click ‘Edit public profile & URL’ on the top right
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Click the pencil icon to customise it
Aim for something simple like:
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www.linkedin.com/in/johndoe -
www.linkedin.com/in/john-doe
There are so many other ways to optimise your LinkedIn profile and if you want more tips, download this LinkedIn guide.