Writing LinkedIn Profiles

I constantly get recruiter reachouts from big tech companies and top AI startups- even when I’m not actively job hunting or listed as “Open to Work.” That’s because over the years, I’ve consciously put in the effort to build a clear and consistent presence on LinkedIn- one that reflects what I do, what I care about, and the kind of work I want to be known for. And the best part? It’s something anyone can do- with the right strategy and a bit of consistency. If you’re tired of applying to dozens of jobs with no reply, here are 5 powerful LinkedIn upgrades that will make recruiters come to you: 1. Quietly activate “Open to Work” Even if you’re not searching, turning this on boosts your visibility in recruiter filters. → Turn it on under your profile → “Open to” → “Finding a new job” → Choose “Recruiters only” visibility → Specify target titles and locations clearly (e.g., “Machine Learning Engineer – Computer Vision, Remote”) Why it works: Recruiters rely on this filter to find passive yet qualified candidates. 2. Treat your headline like SEO + your elevator pitch Your headline is key real estate- use it to clearly communicate role, expertise, and value. Weak example: “Software Developer at XYZ Company” → Generic and not searchable. Strong example: “ML Engineer | Computer Vision for Autonomous Systems | PyTorch, TensorRT Specialist” → Role: ML Engineer → Niche: computer vision in autonomous systems → Tools: PyTorch, TensorRT This structure reflects best practices from experts who recommend combining role, specialization, technical skills, and context to stand out. 3. Upgrade your visuals to build trust → Use a crisp headshot: natural light, simple background, friendly expression → Add a banner that reinforces your brand: you working, speaking, or a tagline with tools/logos Why it works: Clean visuals increase profile views and instantly project credibility. 4. Rewrite your “About” section as a human story Skip the bullet list, tell a narrative in three parts: → Intro: “I’m an ML engineer specializing in computer vision models for autonomous systems.” → Expertise: “I build end‑to‑end pipelines using PyTorch and TensorRT, optimizing real‑time inference for edge deployment.” → Motivation: “I’m passionate about enabling safer autonomy through efficient vision AI, let’s connect if you’re building in that space.” Why it works: Authentic storytelling creates memorability and emotional resonance . 5. Be the advocate for your work Make your profile act like a portfolio, not just a resume. → Under each role, add 2–4 bullet points with measurable outcomes and tools (e.g., “Reduced inference latency by 35% using INT8 quantization in TensorRT”) → In the Featured section, highlight demos, whitepapers, GitHub repos, or tech talks Give yourself five intentional profile upgrades this week. Then sit back and watch recruiters start reaching you, even in today’s competitive market.

I’ve reviewed 1,000+ LinkedIn profiles over the past 5 years. Here are 8 tips to turn your LinkedIn profile into a job-generating machine: 1. Upgrade Your Profile Picture Like it or not, your profile picture is your first impression. Make it a good one: - Upload your PP to Photofeeler .com - Analyze the feedback - Reshoot/edit your picture based on the data Repeat until your scores are good! 2. Leverage Keywords The right keywords help you show up in more searches. Here's how to find them: - Find 5+ job descriptions for target roles - Paste them all into ResyMatch.io's JD scanner - Save the top 15 skills Weave them into the rest of your profile! 3. Write A Killer Headline I like to use this headline formula: [Keywords] | [Skills] | [Results-Focused Value Proposition] Example for a data scientist: Data Scientist | Python, R, Tableau | I Help Hospitals Use Big Data To Reduce Readmission Rates By 37% 4. Write A Killer About A great About section has 3 parts: - A short paragraph that speaks to your job, years of experience, and value prop. - Five "case study" bullets that showcase specific results. - Your email w/ a CTA for people to connect with you. Include keywords! 5. Leverage Your Featured Section It’s hard to convey your value on a resume or in an About section. This is your chance to show people what you’ve done on your terms. Include things like: - Case studies of your work - Content you’ve created - Posts you’ve written 6. Skills Matter LinkedIn uses profile Skills sections to rank candidates. Here’s how to boost your rank: - Add every keyword from your ResyMatch scan - Choose the top 5 most relevant skills - Ask colleagues, friends, family, & classmates for endorsements (aim for 5) 7. Engage & Support Others Comments can generate tons of profile views! Here’s how: - Find 10+ thought leaders in your target space - Bookmark their post feed - Check their feeds daily - Leave a supportive, valuable comment on each new post Repeat for a minimum of 30 days 8. Create Content! Content is networking at scale. One post can reach more people than your entire connection base. It also allows you to showcase value in your own words, on your own terms. It can feel scary, but only 1% of people do it—and the returns are huge.

Advice for women in their 20s “Instagram is cute, but I need you to take LinkedIn seriously.” - Brandon Smithwrick 🧠 Invest in your professional presence. Optimize your LinkedIn profile. 1. Use a Professional Photo Importance: Profiles with photos get up to 21x more views. Action: Choose a recent, professional, and approachable photo. Pro Tip: Set your profile visibility to ‘Public’ to increase reach. 2. Create a Short Profile Post or Video Introducing Yourself Purpose: Introduce yourself in a post or 30-second video. Action: Be conversational, share your story, and highlight your expertise. 3. Craft a Headline That Shows Who You Are Opportunity: Showcase who you are, not just your job title. Action: Highlight your expertise, personality, and what you bring to the table. Pro Tip: Add name pronunciation and pronouns. 4. Turn on Creator Mode to Highlight Your Content Benefit: Access features like analytics, newsletters, and LinkedIn Live. Action: Turn on Creator Mode. 5. Feature Your Best Work in the Featured Section Use: Highlight important work, links, videos, and articles. Action: Select 2-3 pieces of content you are most proud of and showcase them in the Featured section. 6. Write a Compelling About Section Function: Your personal elevator pitch. Action: Summarize your mission, motivation, and skills in a few paragraphs or bullet points. Include key achievements and what drives you. 7. Detail Your Experience with Clear, Concise Achievements Content: Focus on your current role, projects, accomplishments, and impact. Action: Write about specific projects, results, and the value you brought to your roles. Use bullet points for clarity. Pro Tip: Pin work (e.g., videos, presentations) to each experience to showcase your work. 8. Post Valuable, Engaging Content Regularly Content: Share insights, tips, and stories that add value to your audience. Action: Post weekly, using a natural and conversational tone. Use 3-5 relevant hashtags. Pro Tip: Share leadership or career advice with personal stories to make it unique. 9. Engage with Your Network Authentically Engagement: Like, comment, and share posts from your connections. Action: Ask questions, join discussions, and provide thoughtful feedback to others' posts. 10. Build Meaningful Connections Networking: Connect with people in your industry, mentors, and peers. Action: Personalize connection requests and follow up with a message to start a conversation. Your network wants to support you. They want to refer you for jobs and recommend your business. Make it easy for them by having a strong LinkedIn presence. Don’t underestimate the power of LinkedIn in shaping your career. What advice do you have for women in their 20s? Please share in the comments ⬇️ If you found this helpful, follow Caitlyn Kumi and Miss EmpowHer for more personal and professional development content.

Your LinkedIn posts are not getting views. Know why? No one's clicking on the 'see more' button. Only one thing can fix that.. Hooks. Here's how to fix them: 1. Numbers: Specific numbers grab attention.  Instead of saying: "I gained a lot of impressions recently," Try: "I gained 500,000+ post impressions in just one week after applying Jeff Bezos’ writing rules. Or: "Over 141 'no’s' later, here’s what I learned about persistence.” 2. Show you know what you're talking about  Instead of :"I’ve worked with many clients," Try: "Working with over 200 founders taught me this: simplicity wins in video scripts.” Or: "Over 500k followers and 150+ successful clients later, here’s my framework for standing out. 3. Curiosity Triggers: Create a knowledge gap that makes readers want to learn more.  Instead of: "Does your phone listen to you?" Try: "Have you ever found yourself bombarded with ads for something you just mentioned in a conversation? I tested this for 10 days, and here’s what I found." 4. Give clear value: Show readers exactly what they’ll gain.  Instead of: "Here’s why LinkedIn matters," Try: "If you’re only using LinkedIn to find jobs, you’re missing out on $10,000 (minimum) annually. Let me explain how." 5. Unpopular/Contrarian Opinion: Challenge conventional wisdom.  Instead of: "Quality over quantity is important," Try: "We’re conditioned to believe that ‘quality > quantity’ is the right strategy, but when you’re just starting out, that’s the wrong approach." 6. Structural Hooks: Frameworks create instant engagement. Instead of: "I have some tips for you," Try: "6 mistakes that cost me $100,000—and how you can avoid them."  Or: "The 7 rules of writing that gave me 500k+ impressions in one week." 7. Keep it short: Keep hooks concise mostly under 3 lines because only that part is visible to the reader at first. 8. See other people's hooks that worked or went viral and take inspo from it. But keep in mind that your entire post must deliver value. The hook gets them to stop scrolling, but the content keeps them reading. #linkedin

Your LinkedIn profile is a 24/7 inbound job magnet if you set it up right! It's an opportunity to have the hottest companies and hiring managers chasing you rather than you running after them. Impossible? Hell no. It’s how I got my senior product position at Affirm and the same story for VP of product at Apollo. Here’s the complete guide to converting your LinkedIn profile into a job-attracting asset: — 𝟭. 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 Don't use generic headline templates mentioning your job title and company name. ↳ Highlight your expertise or niche. ↳ Mention companies for credibility. ↳ Add a secondary offer; are you a coach, speaker, or consultant? ↳ Example: "Senior Product Manager @ TechCo | Driving B2B SaaS Growth 🚀 | Ex-Google, Ex-Amazon | Product Leadership Coach" — 𝟮. 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗠𝗘 Think of your "About" section as your personal story. ↳ Experience summary showcasing your value. ↳ Use storytelling to highlight your key achievements (don’t forget to mention numbers/results) with a personal touch. ↳ Wrap up by stating what kind of roles or challenges you’re interested in next. — 𝟯. 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗘 How people perceive you depends a lot on how you visually present yourself. Here’s how to do it right: ↳ High-quality and professional headshot. Use AI if you don’t have a good photo. ↳ Don’t use cover photos for vague quotes; use it to highlight your achievements, awards, reviews, your products, etc. — 𝟰. 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 Your experience section is where the real depth comes in. ↳ Go beyond job duties and focus on the specific results and outcomes you achieved. ↳ Use the Situation, Action, Result (SAR) framework to highlight what you did and how it made an impact. (e.g., “Increased customer retention by 25% in 6 months”). ↳ Use industry-specific keywords so recruiters can easily find you in searches. — 𝟱. 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 ↳ Simplify your LinkedIn URL (e.g., linkedin.com/in/YourName) with a custom URL. ↳ Make sure to add a link to your portfolio, website, or a side project directly in your profile. ↳ Regularly review your contact info and make it easy for recruiters to reach out to you. — 𝟲. 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 Think of recommendations as built-in references that add credibility to your profile. ↳ Reach out to people who can specifically highlight your key skills and achievements. ↳ Aim for a variety of recommendations—managers, colleagues, and clients. ↳ Pin your top 2-3 recommendations. — 𝟳. 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗦 The "Skills" section helps you appear in searches and validates your expertise: ↳ Choose skills that define your professional strengths, and pin your top 3. ↳ Take LinkedIn skill assessments to add credibility with “verified” badges. — If you want to dive deeper into how to do it all with real-time examples and breakdowns, check out the guide below in comments.

Your LinkedIn headline is one of the first things a recruiter reads about you. More than that, though, it’s an important part of search results. When a company uses LinkedIn Recruiter to search for candidates, the information in your profile’s headline weighs heavily in search results. Optimizing your headline is like optimizing your entire profile for better placement results when recruiters run a search. My favorite formula for a LinkedIn profile headline is: TARGET JOB TITLE | 3 HIGH-PRIORITY SKILLS | PERSONAL BRANDING STATEMENT Let’s break down each one. First, you want to use your target job title. If I’m a recruiter running a search on LinkedIn for a client services manager, I will use this position title to pull profiles of candidates who are already in this role or have past experience in this position. Second, as a recruiter, I will include specific skills in my search that are critical to success in the role. I might use “customer relations,” “sales,” or “operations.”  This will give me a list of candidates with the relevant experience and skills required for the role. Third, the personal branding statement is your chance to convey value to the hiring manager. It’s what gets them to click on your profile and read it, versus another candidate. It’s your unique differentiation factor. On my profile, I use this personal branding statement: I help executives attract better job offers with personal-brand-focused resumes.   This branding statement communicates who I help (executives), the value I deliver (attract better job offers), and how I do it (with personal-brand-focused resumes). Those three elements combine to create a unique value proposition. When creating your personal branding statement, include who you help, how, and to what end. I used this headline formula to update my husband’s profile last year when he launched his job search. He received a message from a recruiter within 24 hours of his headline update. Melissa, one of my LinkedIn Unlocked course students, saw a 1,277% increase in profile views after updating her headline. Another student, Josh, saw a 2200% increase in profile views after updating his. #Networking #JobSearch #Careers #LinkedInTopVoices

LinkedIn Optimization for Cybersecurity Professionals Whether you're a professional with years of experience in the industry or a beginner just starting out, you should definitely pay attention to your LinkedIn profile and appearance. I have received messages from recruiters, speaking invites, and collaboration opportunities from LinkedIn because I have an optimised profile. Your LinkedIn is your digital CV, and in cybersecurity, where competition is tough, standing out can make all the difference. Here’s how to get started: 🔹 1. Optimize your headline Don’t just write “Cybersecurity Analyst”. Make it clear what you do and make it keyword-rich: 💡 Cybersecurity Analyst | Cloud Security | Skilled in X | Certification. 🔹2. Write a strong “About” section Tell your story. What do you do? What problems do you solve? Where are you headed? What cybersecurity tools and technologies are you familiar with? Make it clear, concise, and engaging. If you’re job hunting, make it clear what you’re looking for. 🔹3. Highlight skills & certifications Add key cybersecurity skills (SOC Operations, Incident Response, Cloud Security, GRC etc) if you have some vendors specific skills, list them as well and certifications (Security+, CCNA, AWS Security, etc.). Recruiters often filter searches by these!! 🔹 4. Engage & share insights You don’t have to be an expert to post. Share what you’re learning, cybersecurity trends, or your take on industry news. Engage in discussions—it builds visibility. Stop leaving comments like "insightful" "thanks for sharing" "very useful" etc and other empty words. Leave thoughtful comments or just react and move on. 🔹 5. Showcase your work • Written a security blog? Share it. • Figured out how to solve a Tryhackme or LetsDefend room? Post it. • Contributed to a project? Add it. • Successfully installed Kali using a new method? Share it. • Earned a cert? Display it. • Spoke at an event? Highlight it. Proof of work makes your profile stand out. The cybersecurity job market is competitive, but visibility creates opportunities. Your next role, mentor, or career breakthrough could come from someone finding your profile. 👉 If you’re looking for inspiration, follow me and check out my profile Jonathan Ayodele. You can also follow these amazing professionals to learn a thing or two: • Confidence Staveley • Dr Iretioluwa Akerele • Segun Ebenezer Olaniyan • Adora Nwodo • Felix Fomengia • Joe Wells Also, follow Musa A. he is a Cybersecurity Recruiter and regularly shares tips on LinkedIn optimization, Cybersecurity CV writing, and cybersecurity job hunting. If you found this helpful, share it so others in cybersecurity can learn too! #CyberSecurity #LinkedInTips #CybersecurityCareerGrowth #PersonalBranding #LinkedInOptimization

Your competitors are turning content into clients. You're still wondering what to post. The difference? They’ve built LinkedIn profiles that convert. Most founders treat LinkedIn like a digital CV. But the smart ones treat it like a landing page. They've optimised LinkedIn like a pro. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻 4 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀. 1. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 = 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 It’s the first thing people see. Use it wisely. ✅ Drop your key value prop in 5–7 words ✅ Use 1–2 core brand colours ✅ Keep it clean, clear and benefits-driven Your banner should answer: “What’s in it for me?” in 3 seconds or less. 2. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 = 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗸 This isn’t your job title. It’s your positioning statement. ✅ Who you help ✅ How you help them ✅ Why they should care Example: “Helping B2B founders turn content into clients" 3. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 = 𝗖𝗧𝗔 Turn this into a lead gen machine. ✅ Showcase 1–3 offers (consult call, newsletter, free guide) ✅ Link to real value, not fluff ✅ Use scroll-stopping visuals Make it ridiculously easy for people to say “yes.” 4. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 = 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 This is where you pitch without sounding pitchy. ✅ Start with a hook ✅ Show you understand their problem ✅ Share how you solve it Short sentences. White space. Clear flow. Most profiles are forgettable. The best ones build authority. Want the full breakdown of how I build content strategy? Drop a “🔥” and I’ll send it your way.

In the last 3 months, I've audited 50+ LinkedIn profiles for founders across industries. The results? Eye-opening. Most founders fall into predictable traps with their LinkedIn presence: 👉 They have professional achievements but amateur presentation 👉 They invest in business operations but neglect personal branding 👉 They know their value but struggle to communicate it effectively After transforming these profiles, here's what actually moved the needle: 1. Strategic Profile Photos We replaced casual selfies and cropped group photos with professional headshots that conveyed approachable authority. This single change increased profile visit-to-connection ratios by 35%. 2. Headline Transformation Generic titles like "Founder at XYZ Company" became strategic positioning statements that instantly communicated what they bring to the table. For example: "Helping eCommerce brands increase AOV by 40% | Founder of ConversionBoost | Ex-Shopify" 3. Banner Optimization This prime real estate is wasted by 90% of founders. We converted these into powerful CTAs with: 🍀 Clear offers 🍀 Specific results 🍀 Ways to connect The founders who implemented this saw a 27% increase in direct messages. 4. Authentic About Sections We completely rewrote these sections to balance personal journey with industry expertise—showing both the "why" behind their mission and the "how" of their solution. The key was weaving authentic storytelling with clear evidence of capability. 5. Custom Content Strategy For each founder, we created 60+ industry-specific content ideas tailored to their unique: 👉 Expertise 👉 Target audience 👉 Business objectives Unlike generic "thought leadership," these strategies focused on connecting with potential clients through problem-solving content. The results were transformative: One SaaS founder received 3 partnership offers within weeks A sustainability consultant was shortlisted for an industry award they didn't apply for A B2B service provider hired their dream CTO after attracting attention My biggest takeaway? Most founders try to implement unfocused LinkedIn "hacks" without a coherent strategy. They generate views but not sales. The founders who succeeded focused on strategic positioning first, engagement second. Your LinkedIn profile isn't just digital wallpaper—it's often the first impression potential clients, investors, and talent have of you and your business.

Your “Open to Work” announcement post is sending the wrong signal. This is the 2026 version. Most do the same 3 things when their careerquake hits: • Go silent because they don’t want to “make a fuss”. • Post a long, emotional goodbye letter. • Write: “Open to new opportunities, any leads appreciated”. All of them feel honest, but quietly make your job harder. Here’s what your network is really thinking in a year where disruption is the default: • I’m sorry this happened. • They seem great, but I’m not sure what they actually do. • If I introduce them and it goes badly, it reflects on me. They’re not thinking, “I must put my reputation on the line because they wrote a heartfelt post”. They’re busy people, and their feeds are full of layoffs and restructures. If you’re the primary income in your household and you’re navigating your own careerquake, here’s how to use LinkedIn differently. 1. Tell the truth without making yourself the victim.    “I lost my job and have no idea what comes next; any help means the world” is a wound.    Better: “After X years at [Company], my role was made redundant as part of a wider restructure. I’m proud of the work we did – especially [specific result]. Now I’m focused on roles where I can do more of that in [space]”.     2. Make it easy for people to understand you, not to “save” you.    “Open to anything in tech / marketing / leadership” is code for “I don’t know what I want”.    Better: “In plain language: I build [type of outcome] for [type of company]. That looked like [one short example with a number] in my last role”. If your network can’t describe you in 1 sentence, they can’t introduce you.     3. Treat engagement as the first door, not the finish line. “Warm intro please” jumps straight to risk. In the post, ask for light actions: “If this sounds like someone your team would benefit from, feel free to like or comment so it reaches the right people. If we’ve worked together and you’re comfortable doing so, I’d appreciate you adding a line about what it was like”.     4. Then move to DMs: “Thank you for engaging with my post – I really appreciate it. Is there one person you think could benefit from a conversation with me about [the kind of work I do]? If yes, I’d be grateful if you connected us or gave me permission to mention your name when I reach out.”     5. Stay on LinkedIn, don’t disappear after one post. Over the next few weeks, your network should see 2-3 posts weekly that show how you think in your domain, plus comments where you add perspective in your space. That’s what makes it easier for someone to say, “Yes, I can put my name next to this person”.     If you’ve been made redundant and your LinkedIn presence doesn’t yet answer that question, that’s the work and the opportunity. It’s what I’m teaching in my next workshop: what to post, how to follow up, and how to turn quiet support into actual conversations without sounding desperate.