Viewing your public LinkedIn profile allows you to see how you appear to other LinkedIn members. Your public profile is an important part of your professional brand on LinkedIn, so it’s essential that you know what your profile looks like to others.
Why View Your LinkedIn Public Profile?
Here are some key reasons why you should view your LinkedIn public profile regularly:
- Ensure your profile is complete – Viewing your public profile lets you see if key sections like your summary, experience, skills etc. are filled out.
- Check for errors or typos – You can catch any mistakes in your profile that may portray you unprofessionally.
- See what your connections see – Viewing your public profile shows you the same information visible to your 1st degree connections.
- Monitor profile views – LinkedIn shows you who has viewed your public profile in the last 90 days.
- Assess how you portray your brand – Your profile is a snapshot of your professional brand, so reviewing it ensures you’re projecting the right image.
Keeping tabs on your public profile is a best practice for managing your LinkedIn presence. With over 740 million members, your profile can make a major impact on your career and opportunities.
How to View Your LinkedIn Public Profile
Here are step-by-step instructions for viewing your public LinkedIn profile:
- Log into your LinkedIn account on desktop or mobile.
- Click on your profile photo in the top right corner.
- In the dropdown menu, select ‘View profile’. This will open your public profile.
- You can also find the ‘View profile’ link under your name on your Profile page.
- On mobile, tap on ‘Me’ at bottom, then ‘View profile’.
When viewing your profile, make sure you are signed out of LinkedIn to see the fully public view. You can sign out using the dropdown menu from your profile photo.
What is Visible on Your LinkedIn Public Profile?
These core sections of your profile comprise your public view on LinkedIn:
- Profile photo
- Headline
- Summary
- Experience
- Education
- Skills
- Recommendations
- Accomplishments
- Interests
- Groups
- Contact info
Customized public profile URLs and customized background photos are also public. Your list of connections is visible to 2nd & 3rd degree connections.
Personal vs. Public Profile Settings
It’s important to understand the difference between your personal profile view and public profile view on LinkedIn:
- Personal profile – What you see when logged into your account. Shows all info and full connections list.
- Public profile – Limited view visible when not logged in. Controls what the public sees about you.
Adjust your profile visibility settings to manage what sections are visible to your network vs. public viewers. You can find these options under the ‘Visibility’ tab in your Profile settings.
Optimizing Your LinkedIn Public Profile
When reviewing your public profile, keep the following tips in mind to create the best possible impression:
Profile Photo
- Use a professional headshot – no selfies, group shots, or casual photos.
- Show your face clearly by avoiding sunglasses and hats.
- Dress professionally as you would for an interview.
- Smile to appear approachable and friendly.
- Have a simple, solid background that isn’t distracting.
Headline
- Summarize your current role and industry clearly.
- Use relevant keywords recruiters may search for.
- Craft a unique headline that stands out.
- Limit to 120 characters – too long will get cut off.
Summary
- Engage readers with a warm, approachable introduction.
- Communicate your value proposition and strengths.
- Explain what motivates you and your career goals.
- Use concise, descriptive sentences focused on achievements.
- Avoid jargon, cliches, or repetitive points.
Experience
- Spotlight 3-5 of your most relevant positions.
- Emphasize impact and quantify accomplishments with numbers.
- Use concise, action-oriented bullet points starting with power verbs.
- Customize job titles and descriptions for keywords.
- Exclude irrelevant or outdated roles to sharpen focus.
Education
- List your highest degree first followed by other degrees.
- Only include degrees and certifications that add credibility.
- Omit high school once you have higher education.
- Add relevant coursework or academic projects if lacking experience.
- Specify your grade point average or honors if above a 3.0 GPA.
Skills
- Prioritize skills that align with your target roles.
- Maximize your top 10 skills with keyword research.
- Include skills mentioned in job postings you want.
- Ask colleagues to endorse you for key skills.
- Remove outdated or irrelevant hard and soft skills.
By optimizing each section of your profile, you can make your public profile memorable, impactful, and effective at getting you noticed by recruiters.
Quick Fixes to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile
Give your public profile an instant boost by making these quick updates:
- Add your LinkedIn profile URL or customized URL to your resume, email signature, and business cards.
- Personalize your LinkedIn background photo with an appropriate landscape, cityscape, or texture.
- Showcase projects, publications, patents, courses, volunteer work and other content via the Featured and Media sections.
- Publish long-form posts to establish thought leadership and expertise.
- Join targeted LinkedIn Groups where you can engage with your industry peers and potential clients.
With regular maintenance and fine-tuning, your LinkedIn profile can yield big results in expanding your professional network and opportunities.
| Section | Optimization Tips |
|---|---|
| Profile Photo | – Professional headshot – Face clearly visible – Appropriate attire – Pleasant expression – Simple background |
| Headline | – Concise job title & industry – Relevant keywords – Unique & memorable – 120 character limit |
| Summary | – Warm introduction – Communicate value – Share motivations – Achievement focused – Avoid jargon/cliches |
| Experience | – Spotlight 3-5 relevant roles – Quantify accomplishments – Use power verbs – Customize job titles/descriptions – Omit irrelevant roles |
Conclusion
Viewing and optimizing your LinkedIn public profile is a valuable investment in managing your professional brand and presence. By regularly checking your profile as others see it, you can maximize the impact of your #1 networking tool. A strong public profile elevates your credibility, demonstrates your achievements, connects you with opportunities and shows you are a thoughtful leader invested in your career.
