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We get it. Writing your LinkedIn profile summary isn’t at the top of your to-do list.
You’re not sure what to write. It’s not worth your time. Your profile is complete enough.
[Insert your own excuse here.]
Well sometimes you need a great example — or 10 great examples — to see the
summary’s magic and know how to write your own. Read on and prepare to be
inspired.
Your summary is the text box at the top of your LinkedIn profile, just below your photo.
It’s open-ended space (2,000 characters max) where you give an overview of your
professional life.
Your summary is the one place you define yourself in your own words, free of start
dates and titles. Whether you use it to put career choices in context, highlight your
biggest achievements, or show off your personality, the summary is your chance to
put your best self out there. It strengthens your first impression in a way no other
profile section can.
We put together a handy set of tips based on the best practices above. Follow this
guide and you’ll be on your way to a winning profile summary.
Tips 1-7: The substance of a great LinkedIn profile summary (what to say)
Tips 8-14: The style of a great LinkedIn profile summary (how to say it)
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2. Katrina hooks her readers and then connects the dots in her non-
linear career path
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Uses keyword-rich skills list to show off her progress and intrinsic motivation to
learn.
3. Shanay ties her job to her company’s big picture and shows
pride in what she does
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Knows her value and shows she understands the executives she supports.
Gets personal (talks motherhood) yet keeps it professionally relevant and tied to
her job strengths.
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Puts his career path in context by connecting the dots from his youth.
Has few years of experience yet is mature enough to take stock of his
professional path.
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Nails the opener by succinctly stating what he does and why, and why he’s good
at it.
Organizes his points to read like true introspection and career synthesis, not
jargon.
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7. Katie reveals her expertise and the satisfaction she gets sharing
it via very targeted examples
Conveys she’s not just a real estate agent, but a trusted advisor too.
Uses her interests outside of work to enhance her professional goals and
expertise.
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Describes a current project to explain his role and value. (Not every reader will
follow, but his target audience will.)
Doesn’t just code for money — he codes for fun outside of work.
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Highlights her passion for helping others upfront, making her highly
approachable.
Uses bold language to grab your attention — then makes you smile.
Asks people to tell her what books they’re reading and podcasts they’re listening
to, encouraging them to connect.
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17/4/2021 10 LinkedIn Profile Summaries That We love (And How to Boost Your Own) | LinkedIn Talent Blog
The summaries above have both great substance and great style. Substance is the
“what to say” and comes from the topics you cover. Style is the “how to say it” and
comes from the tone and format of your words. There’s no one right way to tackle
either, but our examples reveal best practices.
Below are seven of the most common topics covered in great summaries. You don’t
need to cover them all, but address at least a few to ensure enough substance.
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Passion is the heart of some of the best summaries. Opening up about what you love
to do adds context to your career. Think about what excites you most professionally
— what drives you besides your paycheck? This is an especially good angle if you’re
younger and don’t have much work experience.
Put your job title aside and describe what you do in simplest terms. Sharing the
problems you solve, for whom, and how, is a great way to demonstrate your skills,
industry knowledge, and/or work style.
You have the freedom to call out what’s important in your job history and to gloss over
what’s not. If you’ve made career pivots or have held seemingly unrelated roles,
connect the dots so they make sense. Better yet, frame the discord as an advantage
and explain why it sets you apart.
Cite the biggest takeaway from your experience section. Look across roles and
combine accomplishments if you can. This is especially applicable if you’re in mid- to
late-stage career.
Choose stories and words that show who you are as a person, not just a professional.
Great summaries hint at traits such as gratitude, humility, and humor. Authenticity is
key, so be honest with yourself. Think of the one trait you’re most known for, and
weave it in.
Round out your identity by sharing a hobby, interest, or volunteer role. Relate your
outside passions to your work if you can. If you share a personal story, be sure it
serves to reinforce your professional strengths.
Sometimes it’s easier to explain your impact or achievement using an image, video,
or an article — don’t be afraid to add media to your profile, and tee it up in your
summary.
The format and tone of your summary matters just as much as the ideas in it. Once
you have your core content, follow these tips to embellish and refine.
Every word matters in your summary, but your first words really matter. If you don’t
hook your audience right away, you’ll lose them. This means NO “Hi, I’m Jane Smith
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and I’m glad to meet you.” and NO “Thanks for visiting!” Don’t waste precious
characters on filler — cut right to the good stuff to pull your audience in.
To improve your search rank on LinkedIn and Google, include keywords that highlight
your top skills. Listing ‘Specialties’ at the end of your summary is one way to pack
them in. Which words? Job descriptions and other relevant profiles are great keyword
sources.
Avoid overused words that have lost meaning, like “strategic,” “motivated,” and
“creative.” Tap a thesaurus for alternatives, or better yet, show you have those traits
with an example or quick story. At a minimum, cross-check your summary with the
most overused buzzwords on LinkedIn profiles.
Think about how you would speak to new contact at a conference, and write that way.
Read your summary out loud so you can check your voice. If you wouldn’t say it, don’t
write it. That also means using the first-person “I” NOT “Jane Smith has 20 years of
experience”. Lay off the special characters and emojis too.
Stories make you memorable. Leading with “When I was 11 years old...” or “My
former boss sat me down one day…” to reveal why you love coding has more punch
than just stating, “I’m passionate about coding.”
People will skim your summary, so help by breaking up the text. Steer clear of long
paragraphs. Don’t use a five-syllable word when a one-syllable word is just as good.
Use bullet points or numbered lists, but make sure they flow — lists aren’t an excuse
for sloppy thinking.
Think about what you want your audience to do after reading your summary. An
invitation to connect is a great way to end, but depending on your goal, you may ask
for something else. Be specific and you’ll be more likely to get what you want.
Whatever you do, write something in your summary section. It’s a strategic piece of
content, so don’t miss the opportunity to have it work for you.
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