Quick Answer
To change the default language of your LinkedIn profile, go to your profile settings and select “Language”. On the “Language” page, choose your desired default language from the drop-down menu and click “Save”. This will update the default language seen across your LinkedIn profile.
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these steps to change the default language of your LinkedIn profile:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile page and click on the “Me” icon at the top of your LinkedIn feed.
- From the dropdown menu, select “Settings & Privacy”.
- On the left sidebar, click on “Language”.
- Under “Default language”, click on the drop-down menu and select your desired language.
- Scroll down and click “Save” to update your default language.
Once you save the changes, your default language will be updated across your entire LinkedIn profile, including your bio, work experience, education, skills, recommendations, and any other sections.
Considerations
Here are some things to keep in mind when changing your LinkedIn default language:
- You can only set one default language at a time on LinkedIn.
- Changing your default language will translate all editable fields of your profile into that language.
- Any content you have written in other languages on your profile will remain in those languages.
- Changing your default language will not affect messages or notifications you receive through LinkedIn.
- The language settings apply separately for LinkedIn web and mobile apps. You need to update it in both places.
- Your profile will appear in the new default language when people view it. But you can toggle back to your original language using the “See translated profile” option.
So in summary, the default language controls the main translation of your profile text. But original text in other languages will remain, and can still be viewed by toggling translations on/off.
Language Options
LinkedIn supports over 30 languages that you can set as your profile default. Here are some of the most popular options:
Language | Language Code |
---|---|
English | en |
Spanish | es |
French | fr |
German | de |
Italian | it |
Portuguese | pt |
Arabic | ar |
Russian | ru |
Dutch | nl |
Indonesian | in |
Customizing Language Visibility
In addition to your default language, you can customize which additional languages are visible on your LinkedIn profile:
- Go back to your profile Languages settings.
- Under “Additional languages”, click “Change”.
- Select which additional languages you want visible on your profile.
- Drag and drop to reorder them.
- Click “Save” when done customizing.
Having multiple languages visible can showcase your multilingual skills and background. Recruiters and connections may be interested to see the range of languages you speak and write.
Just keep in mind that only your default language will show up translated across the main profile. Other languages will only be viewable in the sections you originally wrote them.
Language Tips for Job Seekers
If you’re actively searching for a job, strategically setting your LinkedIn language can improve your chances of getting noticed:
- Set your default language to match jobs you are applying for. This ensures your profile content reads fluently for recruiters.
- But also display secondary languages that are required for positions of interest. Show off multilingual skills.
- Translate your profile headline and summary to reach wider audiences.
- Customize languages for your target countries’ LinkedIn sites.
Curating your profile languages can help attract global opportunities. Tailor them to your target roles, locations, and multilingual expertise.
Pros and Cons
Changing your default LinkedIn language has some advantages but also a few drawbacks to consider:
Pros
- Makes your profile content more discoverable in other languages
- Appeals to international connections and audiences
- Showcases multilingual skills to recruiters
- Increases access and enhances user experience for non-native speakers of your original language
Cons
- Automatic translations may not convey nuanced writing as well
- Having multiple languages can make profile look cluttered
- Skills that rely on specific language proficiency may not be clear
- Not ideal if targeting roles based in one location/language
Conclusion
Switching your LinkedIn default language can expand your professional reach and opportunities globally. But be strategic in choosing languages that make sense for your goals and target audience. Take advantage of translation tools while making customized adjustments to ensure your profile remains compelling and accurate. With the right language settings, you can communicate your background effectively with recruiters and connections worldwide.