How to Update Your LinkedIn Profile for Career Growth
Key Takeaways at a Glance:
An optimized LinkedIn profile can attract recruiters, collaborators, and opportunities, even when you’re not actively job hunting.
Focus on the top of your profile: banner image, headshot, name/credentials, and byline. Many people won’t bother reading the rest.
Create a compelling About section with a concise introduction, notable achievements, and a touch of personality.
Polish the remaining sections, but start small and optimize your profile incrementally to avoid getting overwhelmed.
Has your LinkedIn profile gone untouched for years? Is it starting to look like a long-lost relic from your professional past?
Many people don’t update their LinkedIn profiles until they’re actively looking for work. For some, LinkedIn only serves as a hub for annual work anniversary notifications, not as a valuable contributor to their professional growth.
But your LinkedIn profile isn’t just an online resume — it’s also your professional storefront, providing recruiters and networkers with an overview of your career arc. Even if you’re not ready to leave your current job, optimizing your LinkedIn profile can have a direct impact on your professional growth.
When professionals have optimized LinkedIn profiles, those profiles essentially act as sales reps for their skill sets. Here are some tips that should get the connection requests flowing into your inbox!
[Before we get started, I’ll point out that you can easily manage your LinkedIn account settings by tapping the “Me icon” on the top taskbar in desktop view.]
Start Above the Fold
The top of your profile is prime real estate. It’s the first thing people see without scrolling — in many cases, it’s the only part they’ll look at carefully. Focus on these four key elements to maximize this valuable area.
Banner Image
Use this space intentionally to signal what’s most important to you. Some people showcase the businesses they own, books they’ve written, or quotes that resonate with them. You can also use photos from outside your professional life to add personality.
Headshot
Profiles with photos get much more engagement than those without. Close-ups work best for profile photos, as research shows that people come across as being more approachable if they’re smiling and clearly showing their eyes and teeth.
Name and Credentials
If you have professional certifications, degrees, or designations, add them to the name field to build credibility.
Byline
Use this powerful section to tell people who you help, how you help them, and what results it has in the world. Take my byline as an example:
Former Chief of Staff on a mission to elevate the role — showing the world that it’s a high-level strategic executive, not a glorified assistant.
Author | Podcast Host | Leadership Junkie | Aspiring Superhero
It’s part resume, part personal brand statement. Plus, it helps with LinkedIn’s search algorithm, bringing more traffic to my profile.
Craft a Strong About Section
The About section provides additional context, but many readers won’t click on the “...see more” button near the bottom. This means that you should focus on making an impact with relevant content in the first few lines. Lead with a clear, concise statement about who you are, sharing your unique point of view.
If someone does expand this section, make it easy to read. Avoid walls of text and break up any long paragraphs into shorter sentences. Use bullet points, emojis, or headers to grab readers’ attention. Consider including:
A one-line description of your current professional focus.
A selection of notable achievements or unique skills.
A sentence about your personal interests or hobbies.
Adding a little personality to your profile is usually a good thing. Hiring managers and recruiters want to know what you’ve done professionally, but they also want to know what you’re like as a person.
Polish and Refine the Remaining Sections
There’s no “unimportant” aspect of your LinkedIn profile. That said, the further you get down the page, the fewer readers are still engaging with your content. Spend enough time on these sections to polish them up, but don’t obsess over them.
Featured
This section is where you can highlight work samples, publications, or interviews. This is your digital portfolio — what do you want people to know about your professional accomplishments?
Activity
This section displays your most recent posts, comments, videos, images, and documents. Regularly posting thoughtful content or commenting on popular industry trends demonstrates that you’re active and insightful.
Experience, Education, Certifications, and Skills
Earlier, I said that “your LinkedIn profile isn’t just an online resume.” Well, these sections essentially are, in fact, just an online resume. Be clear and concise, and add context when necessary. Highlight your specific achievements and areas of expertise, and address any short tenures with a brief clarification (i.e., “Part of company-wide layoffs in 2025”).
Recommendations
This section is the modern equivalent of a reference letter. Don’t be afraid to ask former managers, colleagues, or clients to write one for you. Try to get a mix of perspectives, and always offer to return the favor and write recommendations for others.
Start Small and Don’t Get Overwhelmed
Optimizing your LinkedIn doesn’t need to be a massive project that you tackle in one fell swoop. Start with the top section, refining your banner, photo, headline, and the first few lines of the About section — it’s a great way to knock out the most important parts without getting overwhelmed.
Looking for help optimizing your LinkedIn profile? Schedule an intro call with me today and we can discuss proven methods for improving engagement on LinkedIn!
About The Author
Emily Sander is a C-suite executive turned leadership coach. Her corporate career spanned Fortune 500 companies and scrappy start-ups. She is an ICF-certified leadership coach and the author of two books, An Insider’s Perspective on the Chief of Staff and Hacking Executive Leadership.
Emily works with early to senior executives to step into effective leadership with one-on-one coaching. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach.