Optimising your LinkedIn profile for recruiters

Recruiters do not browse LinkedIn the way you do. While you might scroll through your feed looking for interesting articles or updates from friends, recruiters use the platform as a massive database. They use specific search terms, filters, and algorithms to find candidates who match their open roles. If your profile is not optimised for these searches, you are effectively invisible.

To get headhunted, you need to think less like a candidate and more like a marketer. You are the product, and your profile is your landing page. Here is how to tweak your settings and content to ensure you appear in the right searches.

Turn on the right signals

The easiest win is often the one most people forget. LinkedIn has a dedicated feature that signals to recruiters that you are open to new opportunities. You can find this in your privacy settings or directly on your profile dashboard. You can choose to share this status only with people using the LinkedIn Recruiter tool, which prevents your current employer from seeing it, provided they are not using that specific enterprise tool to search for their own staff. This puts a digital flag on your profile that prioritises you in recruiter search results.

Your headline is your billboard

Your headline is the only thing a recruiter sees alongside your name in a search result list. If it just says your current job title, you are wasting prime real estate. Recruiters search for skills and value, not just generic titles. Instead of just writing Marketing Manager, try something that highlights your specific expertise, such as Marketing Manager | B2B Tech & SaaS | Lead Generation Specialist. This includes the keywords they are likely searching for and gives them a reason to click on your profile over someone else's.

Write for the algorithm

The skills section is not just a list; it is a vital part of the search algorithm. LinkedIn allows you to add up to 50 skills, and you should use as many as are relevant. Recruiters often filter candidates by specific hard skills. If you are a project manager, do not just list Project Management. Add specific methodologies like Agile, Scrum, or Waterfall, and any relevant software like Jira or Asana. The more specific you are, the more likely you are to match a niche search.

The first three lines of your summary

When a recruiter lands on your profile, they see the first three lines of your About section before they have to click to read more. You need to hook them immediately. Do not waste this space with a generic introduction about being a hard worker. Use it to summarise your years of experience, your key industries, and your biggest achievements. Think of it as your elevator pitch. If those first few lines are compelling, they will read the rest of your profile. If they are dull, they will click away.

Activity equals visibility

Finally, the LinkedIn algorithm favours active users. You do not need to post an article every day, but liking, commenting, and sharing relevant industry content helps to keep your profile active. It shows recruiters that you are engaged in your sector and makes your profile more likely to pop up in their feed. Even a small amount of activity can significantly boost your visibility compared to a dormant profile.