How to Build a LinkedIn Profile

How to Build a LinkedIn Profile: Observations from a Seasoned Recruiter

LinkedIn Profile Best Practices

As an executive recruiter with decades of experience recruiting for iconic Fortune 500 tech companies like Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Dell, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Cognizant, and Workday, and as a technical recruiter for years before that, I have spent countless hours looking through profiles on LinkedIn.  For most of my career, LinkedIn was my best source of successful candidates, and I am happy to share the following thoughts on what made certain LinkedIn profiles stand out.

Selecting a LinkedIn Profile Picture

Your profile picture is the first impression you make on LinkedIn, so a professional-looking headshot is essential. For most, a clean, simple photo works best, reflecting the seriousness of your career goals. While hiring a professional photographer isn’t necessary, your photo should be sharp, clear, and professionally composed.

Choosing the Right Style for Your Industry

Adding a touch of color can be effective, especially if you’re in a creative industry like marketing, design, or media. Here, a bit more personality and style may be appreciated and could help you stand out. For example, a colored background or slightly more casual setting could be appropriate, allowing for a unique visual while still maintaining professionalism.

However, in more traditional industries, such as finance or law, it’s best to lean toward classic, neutral photos that communicate reliability and focus. It’s always a good idea to “read the room” of your industry and think about what message your picture conveys.

Whether your background is a neutral shade or a pop of color, avoid overly busy or flashy backgrounds. Keep the focus on you, with minimal distractions. Additionally, the “Open to Work” banner can be a useful addition if you’re actively seeking new opportunities, as it signals honesty and transparency. Embrace your authentic self!

Write a Strong LinkedIn Headline

Your headline is a quick snapshot of who you are and what you bring to the table. Use it to highlight your expertise, interests, or career aspirations.

• Be specific and relevant: A headline like “Aspiring Marketing Professional | Social Media Strategist | Student-Athlete” is more engaging than just listing your current role.
• Update regularly: Make sure your headline reflects your latest skills or career focus to showcase an up-to-date and polished online presence. If a headline felt outdated or didn’t reflect a candidate’s current role or expertise, I didn’t necessarily skip their profile, but I made a mental note of the effort– or lack thereof– put into maintaining their online presence. A polished, thoughtful headline communicates professionalism and attention to detail.

How to Write the “About” Section on LinkedIn

The “About” section is another opportunity to be your authentic self. View this section as a free billboard in cyberspace where you can present yourself to the world any way you like.  

Recruiters value creativity and clarity in this section. Profiles with a thoughtfully crafted "About" section often make a stronger impression, helping recruiters better understand the candidate’s passions and career ambitions. A well-written section can be a deciding factor in identifying potential candidates, especially from a culture-fit perspective.

Writing about “Experience” On LinkedIn

For student-athletes and recent grads, the “Experience” section might include internships, part-time jobs, volunteer roles, or team leadership positions.

When reviewing LinkedIn profiles, the "Experience" section was a primary focus. Profiles that provided a high-level overview of roles and responsibilities—offering just enough information without delving as deeply as a resume—were especially appreciated. The approach was typically to start with the most recent position and then work backward, reviewing each role in reverse chronological order to understand the trajectory of the individual’s career. Accuracy and completeness were more important than extensive detail in this section.

For those in the early stages of their careers, this section naturally had a different look. Profiles that included internships, summer jobs, part-time roles, or team involvement, such as being a student-athlete, stood out. Additional details about participation in clubs, project work, or leadership roles in student organizations were also valuable. While highlighting significant high school achievements was acceptable, recent experiences related to professional development were prioritized.

Caution: Incomplete, inaccurate, or overly sparse "Experience" sections were often considered red flags.

If there wasn’t enough information to assess a candidate’s fit for a role, profiles were likely passed over. It’s crucial to ensure this section reflects the key elements of a career path, even if presented concisely.

Add Skills to Your LinkedIn Profile

The "Skills" section of your LinkedIn profile is a powerful tool for highlighting your capabilities. It's your chance to showcase key skills that align with the roles you're targeting. Let's say you're aiming for a job in Project Coordination, consider adding skills that demonstrate your ability to plan, organize, and execute tasks effectively.

As a student-athlete, you already possess a wealth of transferable skills that make you an excellent candidate for such roles. For example:

Skills to Include:

1. Project Management
   • Showcase your ability to manage multiple moving parts, such as balancing academics, training schedules, and competitions.
2. Team Leadership
   • Highlight experience leading a team, such as serving as a team captain or organizing team meetings or events.
3. Communication
   • Emphasize strong interpersonal and written communication skills developed through teamwork, presentations, and interactions with coaches or academic staff.
4. Time Management
   • Demonstrate your expertise in managing strict schedules, balancing practice, schoolwork, and personal responsibilities.
5. Problem-Solving
   • Mention your ability to think critically under pressure, such as devising strategies during a match or adapting plans when faced with unexpected challenges.
6. Organization
   • Focus on your knack for keeping things streamlined and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks—essential for coordinating projects.

Spending time to build out this section can only help from this recruiter’s perspective.  

Hot tip: ask your classmates, teammates, professors, or past colleagues to endorse your skills. A few authentic endorsements can add credibility to your profile and make your skills stand out to recruiters.

How Building a Great LinkedIn Profile Could Change your Life

LinkedIn is the most popular source of candidates for most companies.  Thousands of recruiters are searching through hundreds of millions of profiles every day.  If you invest the time and energy to build a great profile, you might catch the eye of a recruiter looking for someone just like you.

Start with a professional photo, craft an engaging headline, and use the “About” section to showcase your personality and career aspirations. Highlight your experiences in detail, and don’t forget to optimize the “Skills” section—it could be the key to unlocking life-changing opportunities.

At INTENT, we believe in harnessing these opportunities to empower student-athletes transitioning to their next career chapter. Our mission is to create purposeful connections, helping you build a network and access opportunities tailored to your unique skills and drive. Whether you’re advancing your career or building a high-performing team, INTENT is here to support your journey.

Discover how INTENT can connect you to the right opportunities and a community designed to fuel your success.