This document provides tips for optimizing a LinkedIn profile. It recommends spicing up your headline to stand out beyond just your job title. It also suggests updating your profile picture to make a good first impression with a simple solo headshot. Additional tips include writing a brief summary and experience section, including relevant education, asking for recommendations, adding endorsed skills, and turning your profile into a portfolio by including projects, media, and publications. The checklist highlights updating your picture, summary, experience and education as must-do items to optimize your LinkedIn profile.

1. How to optimize your
LinkedIn profile

2. Name & Photo Position/Headline* Location & Industry Education
1. Spice up your headline
 Stand out with your headline
What do you want people to know about you?
Can you think of something to share other than your job title?

3. 2. Update your profile picture
 Photo size: 500x500 pixels
 Best practice: Simple backgrounds, solo shots, from the head up
 What to avoid:
 Selfies
 Vacation photos
 Group photos
 Caricatures
 Cropping other people out
 Family photos
You have one chance to make a good first impression

4. 3. Optimize your background info
 Summary
 Brief description of work experience, skills, and interests
 Show your personality here, it shouldn’t repeat what you already have in the experience section
 Experience
 Include current and past employers that are relevant to your personal brand
 Provide a brief description of the work you did, similar to a resume
 Education
 Make sure to include your College and any graduate school
Looking for a job? Make sure to include any terms or phrases commonly
used in the job descriptions you are interested in.

5. 4. Make yourself relatable
 Recommendations
 Ask for recommendations to help boost your credibility and show
your expertise
 Aim for 2-3 per experience – too many and people will ignore
them
 1 superior
 1 direct co-worker
 1 from a different organization
 Skills
 Your connections will endorse you for the skills you enter
 Only the top endorsed skills will be shown on your profile
 Volunteer Experience & Causes
 This is a great way to build connections with people
 Add as much detail to your experiences as possible

6. Extra Credit: Turn your profile into your
portfolio
 Projects
 Add any special projects that you were part of
 This adds depth to your profile and shows off your skills
 Add media
 Make your profile more dynamic with videos, presentations, and blogs
 This is an easy way to show your work and turn your profile into a portfolio
 Show your publications
 Have you published any papers or books? Call it out!

7. LinkedIn Profile Optimization Checklist
Must Do
 Profile Picture
 Summary
 Experience
 Education
Extra Credit
 Projects
 Publications
7
Nice To Have
 Recommendations
 Skills
 Volunteer Experience