The complete LinkedIn guide: profile, networking and job search

LinkedIn is the social network for work. Employers look for talent there, business clients check your profile there before signing a contract and professionals write up their experience there.

The main difference between LinkedIn and the others is that the profile matters more than the content. On Instagram you are not seen if you do not post; on LinkedIn, a good profile brings opportunities even without a single post.

LinkedIn at a glance#

Profile sections in order of importance#

1. Profile photo: a clear face on a simple background. A profile without a photo is seen less and taken less seriously.
2. Headline: shown everywhere under your name. Say what you do and for whom.
3. About: a short story of your work, using words employers search for.
4. Work experience: for each role, write the results, not only the duties.
5. Skills: the ones that repeat in job listings in your field.
6. Recommendations: words from a colleague or former manager, an independent form of credibility.

Terms you should know#

• 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree connections: people you know directly, their connections, and their connections' connections.
• Open to Work: a signal telling recruiters or everyone that you are looking for a job.
• Endorsement: someone else confirming one of your skills.
• Easy Apply: applying for a job with your LinkedIn profile, without a separate form.
• SSI: LinkedIn's index of your activity and network quality.

Before you start#

1. Complete your profile, then build a network. Whoever receives your request looks at your profile first.
2. Make your profile URL short and clean so you can put it on your resume and email signature.
3. Quality of connections matters more than count. A hundred people from your own field bring more opportunities than a thousand random ones.
4. Tell one story across your resume and LinkedIn profile. Contradictions in dates and job titles destroy trust.

Articles in this guide#

They are arranged in reading order. Each article becomes clickable here once it is published.

Alongside other platforms#

For a personal brand, LinkedIn and X work well together. If you make educational video content, put your YouTube channel link in the Featured section of your LinkedIn profile.