How to write a great personal profile summary  for LinkedIn

A strong personal profile summary will help you stand out from the crowd and get more attention from recruiters, hiring managers, and networking contacts alike. This blog post includes tips on how to write a great LinkedIn personal profile summary so that you can get ahead of the pack.

An Example of a Personal Profile Summary on LinkedIn

Why Do You Need A Good Profile Summary For Linkedin?

Writing an outstanding LinkedIn profile start-to-finish is the simplest method to differentiate yourself from over 700 million other LinkedIn members. Even if you have a great LinkedIn profile photo, a customized headline and filled out your education and work history, you still need a profile summary.

The following reasons explain why it's important to have a great personal profile summary for LinkedIn:

Your Profile Summary Is Your First Impression

Your LinkedIn summary is one of the most important pieces of your profile. This is because it's the first thing that people will see when they search for you. It’s also the part of your profile that will be used in LinkedIn search results. A good profile summary will help you stand out from the competition and will help potential employers or clients learn more about you.

Your Summary is Used for Search Results

The summaries you create for your profile appear in LinkedIn's search results. They can improve your searchability and help you rise above similar candidates, even if they aren't weighted as heavily as your headline or job titles and descriptions in your work experience section.

Your LinkedIn summary may be used to incorporate keywords that a recruiter would type into a search bar including industry terms, job titles or hard skills. 

It’s An Opportunity To Say "Hi"

LinkedIn has a higher level of etiquette and professionalism than other social media platforms. This requirement varies by sector; nonetheless, the profile conclusion area is where you have the greatest chance to add some personality to your profile. Your LinkedIn summary is where you can let potential employers get to know you and what matters to you.

How To Write A Great Personal Profile Summary For Linkedin

Start With A Compelling Statement 

This statement should capture your personality and highlight your strengths.

LinkedIn gives you a limit of 2000 characters to write your profile summary. Only the first three lines of your profile summary are shown to visitors by default. This is about 300 characters in total. You should therefore be able to pique the reader’s interest and invite them to click on “See More” so that they can learn more about you.

Some questions you can answer to help you come up with a strong opening statement include:

• What differentiates you from other people?
• What kinds of talents do you use to get your job done?
• Why do you enjoy your job?
• What have you done that makes you proud?
• How do others describe you?

Use Keywords Relevant To Your Industry

Doing this will help potential employers or clients can find you easily. Usually, recruiters look for a set of job titles, talents, and other keywords to identify suitable applicants. LinkedIn even shows you some of the search queries that were used to locate your profile. Take a look at the dashboard beneath your summary on your profile. You will see one of the stats as "search appearances."

Keep Your Profile Summary Brief

Your goal is to entice the reader, not give them a wall of text. A great rule of thumb is two paragraphs, each one sentence long.

If you can't explain what your professional background is in two sentences, it's too complicated. Consider splitting the content up into multiple sections to make things easier for the reader to digest.

Describe What You Do In Terms Of Results, Not Job Titles

Don't just list your job titles and duties. Talk about what you accomplished in those roles. For example, "Managed a team of five marketers who improved user engagement on Facebook by 90%." rather than "Managed a team of five marketers." or "Improved user engagement on Facebook."



Or, instead of saying "I'm an accountant," say "I help businesses save money on their taxes.

Think about the types of things someone would want to know when they're deciding whether to connect with you. They might be interested in knowing what your skills are, or what type of work you do. They might also want to know what kind of person you are, so they can decide if they'd be compatible with you.

Your profile summary is an opportunity to show off your best qualities and potential connections know what they can expect if they add you.

Be Specific About Your Skills And Experience

Don't just list general adjectives like "hardworking" or "creative." These are nice but they don't tell the reader anything.

Instead, use specific examples to back up your claim of being hardworking or creative. For example, "Worked with a team of engineers to develop software used by millions of people around the world."

Rather than saying you're an experienced manager who's good at coaching employees and managing budgets, talk about what makes you successful in those roles. Make it clear that these skills make you a great candidate for any company looking to hire someone like you.

Give concrete details when talking about volunteer work or interests on LinkedIn as well. Mentioning that you enjoy cooking tells your reader nothing; mentioning that last year's Thanksgiving feast was catered entirely by your homemade meals is more informative.

Avoid Ending Your summary with a request for recommendations

End your summary with a call to action. For example, "If you would like to learn more about my experience and skills, please contact me." or "I would be happy to answer any questions you may have" This will invite potential connections to reach out to you.

This is where many people go wrong when writing their LinkedIn profile summaries. They end it with a request for recommendations or another sales tactic, instead of leaving the door open for potential connections to get in touch with them.

Make sure your summary ends with a call to action that invites people to contact you if they want to learn more about your skills and experience. This will help you connect with more people on LinkedIn.

Conclusion

LinkedIn is a great way to connect with professionals all over the world, but first, you need an interesting and engaging personal profile summary. This is your opportunity to show off your best qualities and potential connections know what they can expect if they add you.

Your profile summary is also a great place to talk about your passions and interests outside of work. This can help potential connections see how well-rounded you are and give them an idea of what it would be like to work with you.

Remember that less is more when it comes come writing concisely - keep everything brief but informative. Your goal with this part of your LinkedIn profile isn't necessarily trying to give them everything they need to know all at once. Don't forget to proofread your summary for spelling and grammar errors, as these could make you seem unprofessional. Use tools like Grammarly to check it over before publishing. 

No one ever got hired because their LinkedIn profile was generic. Make sure your profile is eye-catching and showcases what makes you special. If you can't think of anything to say in your summary, consider using a professional profile writer. They can help capture your unique voice and create a profile that will stand out from the rest.