Your LinkedIn profile has become an essential part of your professional presence and personal branding. With over 722 million users worldwide, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network and an invaluable tool for job seekers. Mentioning your LinkedIn profile on your resume is a great way to showcase your professional brand, expand on your skills and experience, and allow recruiters to learn more about you.
In this article, we will look at some best practices on how to effectively mention your LinkedIn profile on your resume.
Should You Include Your LinkedIn Profile on Your Resume?
Yes, you absolutely should include your LinkedIn profile on your resume. Here are some key reasons why:
- It allows recruiters to verify and expand on your resume details
- It demonstrates your professional online presence
- It shows you are leveraging professional networking platforms
- It gives recruiters a glimpse into your connections and credentials
- It makes you stand out compared to candidates who don’t include LinkedIn
In a job market that is increasingly digital, failing to include your LinkedIn profile could mean missed opportunities. Your profile provides added value and insight into your candidacy.
What LinkedIn Details to Include on Your Resume
When adding your LinkedIn profile to your resume, you should aim to provide recruiters with your unique profile URL. You do not need to list any other LinkedIn details. Here are some recommendations on what to include:
- Custom LinkedIn profile URL (e.g. www.linkedin.com/in/yourname)
- Optional: LinkedIn public profile badge
Avoid listing your LinkedIn profile overview, connections, group memberships or recommendations. You want recruiters to visit your profile, not read every detail on your resume.
Where to Include Your LinkedIn Profile on Your Resume
The most appropriate place to include your LinkedIn profile URL is in the contact information section of your resume. This section is typically located at the very top of your resume, underneath your name and contact details.
Here are some examples of how to list it:
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourname
- LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/yourname
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yourname
This allows recruiters to instantly identify and click through to your profile. As the contact information section is often the first part of your resume read, it ensures your LinkedIn presence is highlighted from the outset.
How to Format Your LinkedIn Profile Link
When adding your LinkedIn profile URL to your resume, follow these formatting best practices:
- Hyperlink the URL for easy clickability
- Use blue text to match LinkedIn styling
- Always keep the URL live and updated
- Use a professional link naming convention
- Make the URL stand out on the page
Recruiters should be able to clearly identify your link and access your profile with one simple click. Avoid tiny URLs or hiding it amongst your contact details.
Examples of LinkedIn on a Resume
Here are two examples of how to effectively add LinkedIn to your resume contact information section:
Example 1
Jane Doe
123 Any Street
City, State 12345
Phone: 555-123-4567
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/janedoe
Example 2
John Smith
456 Some Lane
City, State 67890
Phone: 555-987-6543
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/johnsmith
Tips for Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile
To maximize the impact of including your LinkedIn profile on your resume, make sure your LinkedIn presence is optimized. Here are some top tips:
- Customize your profile URL – edit it to be LinkedIn.com/yourname
- Have a professional profile photo
- Write complete and detailed profile sections – about, experience, education etc
- Showcase your skills, achievements, certifications
- Highlight volunteering, causes, interests
- Get endorsements and recommendations
- Establish an industry relevant network of connections
Take the time to build an appealing and comprehensive LinkedIn profile that sells your personal brand and value as a candidate. This will maximize impact when recruiters click through from your resume.
Should You Include LinkedIn on Other Job Application Documents?
Beyond your resume, it can also be appropriate to reference your LinkedIn profile on other job application documents. Here are some examples:
- Cover letter – Add your LinkedIn profile to your cover letter sign-off
- Online job applications – Include profile when asked for any websites
- Portfolio – Reference your LinkedIn URL if showcasing a professional portfolio
- Email signature – Adding your LinkedIn profile to your email signature
Any job search interactions or documents viewed by recruiters represent an opportunity to highlight your LinkedIn presence. Include your profile link whenever relevant.
Can You Only Include Your LinkedIn Profile if it is Robust?
It is fine to include a LinkedIn profile on your resume even if your profile is sparse or incomplete. The key is having an established profile that recruiters can visit and engage with. Avoid mentioning LinkedIn if you do not have a profile at all.
Some tips if your profile is sparse:
- Fill out your profile header with a photo, background image, contact info
- Complete the About section detailing your background and skills
- Showcase at least one position in your Experience section
- Join some industry related LinkedIn groups
- Follow relevant company pages
Even with a barebones profile, providing your LinkedIn URL delivers value and gives recruiters part of the picture to work with. You can then keep building out your profile presence over time.
Do You Need a Paid LinkedIn Account?
A paid, premium LinkedIn account is not necessary to include your profile URL on your resume. Your public profile and custom URL will be accessible to recruiters even with a free account. Premium paid features provide benefits like:
- Seeing who has viewed your profile
- InMail messages
- Expanded network and search filters
- Professional branding and content options
While a premium account can maximize your LinkedIn presence, it is not required for a resume. The key is making sure recruiters can view your profile and engage with your candidacy.
Should You List Other Social Media Profiles?
In most cases, avoid listing your profiles from other social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram on your resume. LinkedIn is intended for professional networking and career development versus purely social purposes.
The exception is if you have an industry-relevant and strictly professional presence on sites like GitHub, Behance, Dribble etc related to tech, design or other fields. Tailor any other profiles listed based on your profession.
Conclusion
Adding your LinkedIn profile to your resume is an impactful step to showcase your professional online presence and capabilities. Be sure to:
- Include a customized LinkedIn profile URL
- Optimize your LinkedIn profile completeness and content
- Hyperlink your profile for easy clickability
- List it prominently in your resume contact section
- Keep your profile up-to-date
With LinkedIn an essential tool in the job seeker toolkit, integrating your profile effectively on your resume can give you an advantage and exposure during the hiring process.
