While a LinkedIn profile isn’t a requirement for applying for a job, in today’s job market, it’s very likely a recruiter will check out your LinkedIn or an interviewer will browse it before an interview. That means having a polished and up-to-date LinkedIn is important for networking and referrals.
Here’s how you can create a LinkedIn profile that reflects your strengths as a software engineer.
LinkedIn profile vs a resume
A LinkedIn profile and a software engineer resume showcase different strengths and attributes, giving recruiters and hiring managers a more complete picture of who you are as a candidate. If someone comes to your LinkedIn, it’s because they want to get to know you better.
Keep the following in mind as you build your LinkedIn profile:
- Show your personality. Keep people engaged and getting to know you by creating a focused showcase of things that matter to you. Sharing more about yourself can mean blog posts, projects, volunteer efforts, affiliations, and your experience.
- There are no page limit restrictions or highly structured rules. There's no need to begin every sentence with a power verb or keep it all on one page. This means you can be more detailed when introducing yourself, share challenges with more context, and explain your impact in greater detail.
- Optimize for searchability. Your LinkedIn is working for you even when you aren’t actively job-seeking. Build in the right keywords for the most desirable skills in your field of expertise.
How to get the most out of your LinkedIn profile
Here’s how you can make the biggest impact with your LinkedIn profile.
1. Use a professional profile photo
Choose a high-resolution photo that looks friendly and approachable, with your face clear and centered in the image.
2. Don’t leave the cover photo blank
Your cover photo is an opportunity to show your personality, so use it to share something compelling about yourself. You can also use the default LinkedIn cover photos—just don’t leave it blank.
A good cover photo can be:
- From Unsplash (search: nature, cityscape [location where you live])
- A photo you’ve taken of your travels, your pet, your professional hobby
- A graphic you design yourself. Make it 1,584 x 396 pixels to fit perfectly.
3. Write an engaging summary
The best summaries are crafted like stories. Write an introduction that helps readers see you as a human. Explain what motivates you and elaborate on the reasons you continue to dedicate yourself to the craft of software engineering.
Here are some blog posts with helpful examples:
- 5 Templates That'll Make Writing the Perfect LinkedIn Summary a Total Breeze
- 20 Superb LinkedIn Summary Examples (+Writing Guide)
And some strong engineering examples:
- Julia Grace
- Danielle Yasso
- Christopher Choe
- Sara Packman
At the bottom of your summary, include your technical skills so your profile shows up in keyword searches.
Example:
Languages: Python, SQL, HTML, CSS, Bash
Frameworks & Libraries: Flask, Django, Falcon, SQLAlchemy, Git
Databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, AWS S3
Cloud Technologies: AWS, Github, Google Cloud
4. Add a headline
A headline is a quick way to get attention. The simplest headline is the role you want to have. Please avoid a headline that is a statement of needing employment, such as “Looking for work”.
Some common headlines could be:
- Software Engineer
- Frontend Software Engineer
- Fullstack web developer
- Java developer
If you’re currently employed, include the company name in your Headline, like “Software engineer at XYZ Company”
5. Customize your LinkedIn URL
By default, LinkedIn will provide a numerical code combined with your name as your URL. To make it easier to find you and for others to provide easy referrals to your profile, it’s best to customize your LinkedIn URL. In the top-right corner of your profile, you’ll see a link to “Edit public profile & URL,” where you’ll find the ability to personalize the URL for your profile. Select a professional alias, ideally one that you also use for other platforms like Twitter and Github.
6. Set your LinkedIn profile to public
You want recruiters and hiring managers to be able to find you in a search. Go to “Edit My Public Profile Setting” and set it to public. Make sure to do this before you submit your resume or LinkedIn for review.
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