10 Ways to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stand Out
Imagine two people with similar qualifications applying for the same role. On paper, they look equal. But click over to LinkedIn, and one profile immediately tells what the person does, what they can offer, and what they’re looking for next. The other is basically just an online resume, listing job titles and responsibilities. That difference can change how recruiters see you.
You don’t need fancy buzzwords or a sterile corporate voice to stand out on LinkedIn. Your profile just needs to answer three things: who you are, what you do, and why someone should connect with or hire you.
The tips below will help you highlight the parts of your profile that matter most and make your experience easier for recruiters to understand.
Key takeaways
- Write a clear LinkedIn headline and About section that explain who you are, what you do, and what you’re looking for next.
- Highlight achievements, skills, and examples of your work instead of simply listing job responsibilities.
- Use relevant keywords throughout your profile to help recruiters find you in LinkedIn searches.
- Keep your profile complete, professional, and up to date so it creates a strong first impression.
10 ways to make your LinkedIn profile stand out
Every part of your LinkedIn profile—from your headline to your experience section—helps shape how others perceive your background. Here are the key areas to focus on to make your profile stand out.
1. Add a professional profile photo
Your photo is often the first personal detail a recruiter sees, so it plays a role in the first impression your profile creates. A missing photo or an overly casual picture can make your profile feel less complete.
Use a recent image where your face is clearly visible and the style matches your industry. The goal isn’t to look corporate—it’s to make your profile feel trustworthy, approachable, and up to date.
2. Write a headline that goes beyond your job title
After your name and photo, people will scan your headline. If it only lists your job title, you’re missing the easiest place to show what you specialize in. Give visitors immediate context about your actual day-to-day expertise.
- Marketing Manager
with:
- Marketing Manager | B2B content strategy | Demand generation | Brand growth
The second version gives recruiters more context and includes terms they may use when searching for candidates. Use your headline to highlight your expertise, industry, or the type of opportunities you’re interested in—not just your current position.
3. Turn your About section into a clear professional story
Your About section (also called your LinkedIn summary) gives you space to tell your professional story and show a bit of personality. Focus on what you do, the problems you help solve, and the direction you want your career to take— but explain it in a way only you can, rather than simply rehashing your resume.
Keep the opening lines especially strong. LinkedIn only shows part of your summary before readers click “See more,” so the beginning should give them a reason to keep reading.
4. Focus on achievements, not just responsibilities
A list of tasks tells people what was on your to-do list. Achievements show what changed because of your work.
- “Managed social media campaigns”
Try to add context:
- “Developed a social media strategy that increased engagement by X% over six months.”
Not every achievement needs a number, but whenever possible, show outcomes: improved processes, successful projects, audience growth, cost savings, or other measurable results.
5. Make your experience section relevant to your next step
Many people optimize their LinkedIn profile based on their past roles, but you shouldn’t stop there. Your profile should help recruiters understand how your background connects to the roles you are interested in.
Look at job descriptions for the type of position you want and identify recurring skills, tools, or areas of expertise. Then highlight relevant examples from your own experience.
The goal isn’t to copy job descriptions or add keywords that don’t fit. It’s to make the connection between your past work and future direction easier to see.
6. Use keywords naturally throughout your profile
Recruiters often search LinkedIn using specific job titles, skills, industries, and tools. Including the right terms can make it easier for your profile to appear in relevant searches.
Add keywords where they naturally belong:
- your headline
- About section
- experience descriptions
- skills section
You don’t need to turn your profile into a list of search terms. Instead, try to weave them into your professional story. If your writing sounds unnatural, it can work against you.
7. Show your work with the Featured section
The Featured section gives you a chance to back up your experience with real examples. Instead of simply describing what you do, you can highlight articles, portfolios, presentations, projects, or other work that demonstrates your skills.
Choose a few samples that reinforce the story you want your profile to tell. A designer might feature selected projects, while a writer could highlight published work or campaigns they contributed to.
8. Highlight the skills that matter most
The Skills section gives recruiters a quick overview of your expertise, but a long list of unrelated skills won’t make your profile stronger.
Prioritize skills that match your experience and the roles you want. Include both technical abilities and interpersonal skills where relevant, but make sure they are supported by examples elsewhere in your profile.
A skill listed without context is just a claim anyone can make. A skill demonstrated through your experience is much more convincing.
9. Add recommendations from people you’ve worked with
Recommendations provide something your profile cannot: someone else’s perspective on your work.
A strong recommendation can highlight how you collaborate, solve problems, or contribute to a team. Ask people who know your work well and, when possible, suggest a specific project or strength they could mention.
Choose quality over quantity. A few detailed recommendations are usually more valuable than collecting as many as possible.
10. Keep your profile active and updated
You don’t need to post every day or comment on everything you see on your feed to stay visible. However, being active on LinkedIn signals that you are involved and offers recruiters and potential contacts a glimpse into the topics you are interested in.
Sharing relevant updates, commenting on industry discussions, or adding new work examples can help keep your profile current.
Before sharing an update on LinkedIn, use Quillbot’s Grammar Checker to catch errors, improve clarity, and make sure your message is easy to read.
How recruiters search for candidates on LinkedIn
Many recruiters don’t wait for candidates to apply. They actively search LinkedIn for people who match specific roles, skills, and experience levels—including people who aren’t currently applying for jobs.
This means your profile needs to do two things: appear in relevant searches and quickly show why your background is a good match.
Recruiters typically look for:
- Relevant job titles and skills: Recruiters search using keywords related to the roles they’re hiring for, so your headline, About section, and experience descriptions should reflect the terms that match your expertise.
- Clear career direction: A profile that shows what you do and what type of opportunities you’re interested in helps recruiters understand where you might fit.
- Evidence of experience: Specific achievements, projects, and examples of your work make it easier to evaluate your background.
- A complete, up-to-date profile: Missing information or outdated sections can make it harder for recruiters to understand your current experience.
A recruiter may only spend a short time deciding whether to explore your profile further. Make it easy for them to understand your experience, achievements, and professional direction. Treat your profile as something that evolves with your career and not as a static page you complete once and forget.
Frequently asked questions about how to stand out on LinkedIn
- How often should I update my LinkedIn profile?
-
Update your LinkedIn profile whenever something important changes, such as a new role, project, certification, or skill. It’s also useful to review it every few months to make sure your headline, About section, skills, and experience still reflect your goals.
Think of your profile as an evolving professional portfolio, not a page you complete once and forget.
Quillbot’s LinkedIn Templates can help you create LinkedIn banners, posts, and carousels that showcase your expertise and ideas.
- Should I turn on Open to Work on LinkedIn?
-
The Open to Work feature is a bit debated. It can help recruiters and your network know you’re available, but some professionals avoid the public badge because they worry it may make them seem too eager or put them in a weaker position during salary discussions.
LinkedIn offers two options:
- Recruiters only: Your status is visible to recruiters but hidden from your wider network. This is a good choice if you want to explore opportunities discreetly.
- Public Open to Work badge: The green banner on your profile photo increases visibility and may lead to more referrals, but it also makes your job search public.
If you’re unsure, the recruiter-only setting is a good place to start. Have more questions about your LinkedIn profile or job search? Use Quillbot’s AI Chat to explore your options.
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