LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 722 million members worldwide. As one of the premier platforms for building a professional online presence, LinkedIn profiles include several key sections to showcase one’s background, skills, experience, and goals.
One of the most prominent profile sections had long been the Summary section. Located just below the photo and headline, the Summary section allowed members to provide a brief overview of their professional story and key skills and experience. For many years, it was considered a core component of a strong LinkedIn profile.
The LinkedIn Summary section prior to 2014
Up until 2014, LinkedIn included a dedicated Summary section on member profiles. The Summary section allowed up to 2,000 characters of customizable text where members could share details such as:
- An overview of their professional background and career goals
- A description of their current role and responsibilities
- Their key skills, qualifications, and areas of expertise
- Notable achievements and career highlights
- Industries, topics, and causes they are passionate about
The LinkedIn Summary section gave members a prime opportunity to showcase their professional brand, engage their network, and connect with potential clients or job opportunities. Recruiters frequently looked to the Summary for insight into a candidate’s experience and skills.
Overall, the LinkedIn Summary section was widely considered one of the most valuable real estate areas for articulating one’s professional identity and communicating their career focus. It served as the perfect opening section welcoming visitors to a LinkedIn profile before they scrolled down to view the Experience, Education, Skills and other profile sections.
LinkedIn introduces new Profile section
In 2014, LinkedIn rolled out a major redesign of their platform. One of the biggest changes was the introduction of a new Profile section to replace the previous Summary section.
With the redesign, LinkedIn aimed to provide members with a more dynamic and customizable platform for showcasing their professional brand. The new Profile section expanded the character limit from 2,000 to 3,000 characters and added support for rich formatting options.
Members could now include things like:
- Bullet points
- Numbered lists
- Bold and italicized text
- Hyperlinks
- Embedded media
In addition, the Profile section was now editable through a visual WYSIWYG editor, giving users more control over the formatting and layout. Headlines could be added to help structure the text.
According to LinkedIn, the changes were made to give members more flexibility in crafting their professional story and highlighting the most relevant parts of their background. While essentially replacing the Summary section, the new Profile section was designed to be more dynamic and engaging.
Ongoing debates around the Profile section
The 2014 launch of the new Profile section kickstarted some debates that continue today around how members should ideally utilize this prime real estate on their LinkedIn profile.
Some key questions that emerged include:
- Should the Profile section be written in first or third person?
- What’s the right balance of skills, personality, and achievements to convey?
- How much information is too much for this section?
Additionally, with the increased character count and formatting options, some members crafted very lengthy Profile sections packed with information. This ignited debates around whether recruiters and visitors would take the time to read Profile sections spanning several lengths.
There are merits to both concise and detailed Profiles depending on one’s goals and target audience. However, readability remains vital. Crafting an informative but scannable Profile section is often advisable to ensure key details stand out.
LinkedIn adds About section
In 2019, LinkedIn rolled out another major profile redesign and change to replace the Profile section. They introduced a new About section for members to summarize their professional story and background.
With this update, LinkedIn essentially returned to the original purpose of the Summary section. The About section has a character limit of 2,000 characters and formatting options are more limited compared to the Profile section.
The About section is prominently positioned below a member’s profile photo and headline. The intent is for members to provide an overview of who they are and what they’re seeking in their career. Key details to include in the About section may include:
- Current job title and company
- Overview of career experience and background
- Industries and areas of expertise
- Notable achievements and skills
- Career goals and interests
In addition, members can expand upon key areas of their profile and tell more of their professional story in a new Background section that appears further down the profile page.
So in summary, LinkedIn currently has:
- An About section for a high-level professional overview
- A Background section for detailing experience, skills, and achievements
But there is no longer a dedicated Summary or Profile section. The About section most closely aligns with the original intent of the Summary section historically.
Best practices for using the LinkedIn About section
When crafting your LinkedIn About section, keep these best practices in mind:
- Convey your professional identity and focus. Help visitors quickly understand who you are and what you do.
- Highlight relevant background, skills, goals and achievements tailored to your target audience.
- Use clear, scannable language that is easy to digest. Break content down into concise paragraphs.
- Incorporate relevant keywords to help you come up in searches.
- Add some personality to make your About section stand out while remaining professional.
- Consider writing in first-person language to make the About section more approachable.
- Review your About section regularly to keep it updated as your career evolves.
Avoid extremely lengthy About sections that require excessive scrolling. Present important details upfront and lead with your most relevant credentials.
The About section is valuable real estate for engaging your professional network, attracting opportunities, and making a strong first impression on your profile. With a compelling About section, you can maximize the impact of your LinkedIn presence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the LinkedIn Summary section?
LinkedIn retired the dedicated Summary section in 2014 and replaced it with a new Profile section. Then in 2019, the Profile section was removed and replaced by the current About section. The About section most closely resembles the original Summary section in purpose and character limit.
Is there still a 2,000 character limit on the About section?
Yes, LinkedIn currently limits the About section to 2,000 characters. This aligns with the original limit for Summaries prior to 2014.
Should I include skills and achievements in my LinkedIn About section?
Yes, briefly highlighting relevant skills, achievements, and credentials can strengthen your About section. But avoid inundating it with too much detail. Use keywords sparingly and focus on concise, engaging language that tells your professional story.
Is the LinkedIn About section the first thing people see?
Along with your profile photo and headline, the About section is one of the first components viewers see when visiting your LinkedIn profile. It appears prominently just below the photo and headline, so it offers valuable real estate for making a strong first impression.
How often should I update my LinkedIn About section?
Aim to update your About section at least once a year as your career progresses. When taking on new roles or building new skills, update your About section to accurately reflect your current professional identity and goals.
Conclusion
In summary, LinkedIn no longer has a dedicated Summary section. The About section now serves as the prime space for conveying your professional overview in 2,000 characters or less.
Craft a compelling yet scannable About section that makes your career focus, achievements, and skills shine. Maintain your About section regularly so it accurately reflects your up-to-date professional brand and story.
With an informative and engaging About section, you can maximize the power of your LinkedIn presence to connect with opportunities.
