Quick Answer
The main differences between the LinkedIn summary and about sections are:
- The summary section is for a short professional bio focused on your current career goals and qualifications. The recommended length is 2-3 paragraphs or 120-150 words.
- The about section is for more detailed information on your career history, education, skills, accomplishments, and other background. There is no length limit.
- The summary section appears at the top of your profile under your name and photo. The about section is further down the page.
- The summary is optimized for keywords to help you get found in searches. The about section enables you to tell your full professional story.
- The summary is essential. Some people skip the about section if they have a lengthy profile.
In summary, the LinkedIn summary is a snapshot of who you are professionally right now, while the about section is an opportunity to provide a more detailed narrative of your career path and achievements. Both are valuable sections to make your profile stand out.
The LinkedIn Summary Section
The LinkedIn summary section is located prominently at the top of your profile, right below your photo and headline. It’s one of the first things people will see when they view your profile.
Here are some key tips for writing a compelling yet concise LinkedIn summary:
- Keep it to 2-3 paragraphs or 120-150 words. You want it to be short enough to read quickly, while long enough to highlight your top skills and goals.
- Focus on your current job target and qualifications. This is not the place for your full career or education history.
- Use simple, clear language to describe your role, industry, skills, and what you’re seeking next. Get to the point quickly.
- Use keywords strategically related to your profession to optimize for LinkedIn search.
- Add some personality to make it engaging. First person writing is fine here.
- You can include a call-to-action such as “Seeking new data analyst roles in the healthcare industry.”
Here are some LinkedIn summary example snippets:
Passionate marketer specializing in digital advertising and social media marketing. Experienced at developing data-driven campaigns and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Seeking a marketing manager role at a consumer brand or agency.
Solutions-focused IT professional with over 10 years of experience leading projects and teams in fast-paced industries. Skilled in agile development methodologies and legacy system migrations. Looking for lead developer roles at mid-size tech companies.
Financial analyst and CPA with expertise in financial modeling, data analysis, forecasting, and risk management. Strong communication, leadership, and organizational abilities. Seeking a senior analyst position in corporate finance or FP&A.
The summary section is prime real estate to quickly communicate who you are, what you do, your abilities, and where you want to go next. Keep it concise, keyword-optimized, and focused on your current career path.
The LinkedIn About Section
While the LinkedIn summary is short and sweet, the about section enables you to tell your full professional story. It appears further down on your profile page beneath the experience and education sections.
The about section gives you an opportunity to:
- Showcase your background, career path, and qualifications in more detail.
- Demonstrate the breadth and depth of your skills and accomplishments.
- Explain career gaps, transitions, or unique aspects of your experience.
- Expand on key achievements, awards, publications, or projects.
- Highlight specialties, thought leadership, or passions.
- Add multimedia like images, videos, presentations, or documents.
Unlike the summary, there is no length limit for the about section. You can write a few paragraphs or multiple pages depending on how much you want to include.
Here are tips for writing an engaging LinkedIn about section:
- Organize it clearly into paragraphs or sections for easy reading.
- Use bullet points, numbers, or bolding strategically to highlight key information.
- Aim for skimmable content by using ample paragraph breaks and whitespace.
- Keep the tone conversational but professional. First person voice is appropriate.
- Focus on career facts, accomplishments, and quantifiable details vs generalities.
- Back up claims with evidence such as stats, awards, testimonials, or examples.
The about section is also less constrained, giving you more flexibility to:
- Show a bit more personality, passion, and what motivates you.
- Tell a story through themes like professional growth, overcoming challenges, or lessons learned.
- Convey company culture and values that indicate how you work.
- Discuss passions and social impact outside of work.
- Close with future goals and how you hope to keep developing.
While the summary markets the professional you of today, the about section tells the story of how you got there. Use it to connect the dots in your career, demonstrate the range of your experience, and show who you are beyond the resume.
Key Differences Between the Summary and About Sections
To recap, here are the 5 main differences between the LinkedIn summary and about sections:
Length
- Summary: 120-150 words or 2-3 paragraphs.
- About: No length limit, can be multiple paragraphs or pages.
Location
- Summary: Prominent spot at the top of your profile.
- About: Further down the page below experience and education.
Focus
- Summary: Concise overview focused on current career situation.
- About: Detailed narrative of your full professional history and background.
Purpose
- Summary: Keyword-optimized section to get found in searches.
- About: Opportunity to showcase the breadth of your experience.
Essentialness
- Summary: Highly recommended section for all profiles.
- About: Optional section, especially if you have a robust profile.
In summary, the LinkedIn summary is a short, strategic overview of your current career focus, while the about section is a more comprehensive professional narrative. Most profiles benefit from having both sections, but the summary is arguably more critical.
Examples of LinkedIn Summary and About Sections
To see how these two sections work together, here are examples of summary and about excerpts for the same profile:
Summary Example
Passionate educator with 10+ years experience developing STEM curricula and implementing technology initiatives for high school students. Seeking opportunities to apply creative instructional approaches and help close the digital divide.
About Example
As a first-generation college graduate and former Pell grant recipient, I understand the transformative impact an equitable education can have. This passion led me to become a high school computer science teacher committed to making STEM accessible and engaging for all students.
Over the past decade teaching in underserved communities, I’ve pioneered the adoption of technologies like 3D printing and robotics into project-based curricula. Seeing students’ creativity unfold as they learn to code and build things has been incredibly rewarding. However, I became concerned that not all children had the same access to tech tools needed for 21st century success.
I felt compelled to change this disparity. That’s why in 2019, I co-founded a nonprofit called Bridging the Digital Divide. Our mission is provide technology access, digital skills training, and ongoing support to low-income students. In just two years, we’ve donated over 500 laptops, launched community coding clubs, and developed a mentorship program between tech professionals and youth.
There is still much work to be done, but I’m proud of the impact we’re already making. My goal going forward is to bring this effort to scale and collaborate with more great educators passionate about digital equity and empowerment.
The summary concisely states her current career focus, while the about section tells the inspirational story behind it with stats and accomplishments. Together they communicate a compelling profile.
Tips for the LinkedIn Summary vs About Sections
To recap, here are some top tips to make the most of the LinkedIn summary and about sections:
For the summary:
- Stick to 120-150 words or 2-3 paragraphs.
- Focus on current goals and qualifications.
- Use keywords relevant to your target role.
- Add some personality to stand out.
- Include a call-to-action statement.
For the about section:
- No length limit, include as much detail as you want.
- Organize into paragraphs or sections for skimmability.
- Quantify achievements and back up claims.
- Share career story, passions, values, and motivations.
- Use multimedia like images, videos, or documents.
For both:
- Maintain a professional tone, but let personality shine through.
- Edit for tight, engaging writing and consistent branding.
- Check for grammar, spelling, and accidental plagiarism.
- Customize for each application if repurposing.
A strong LinkedIn presence can be a key career asset. Invest time perfecting both your summary and about sections to put your best foot forward. Showcase the professional you of today, while telling the story behind it to make a lasting impression.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I include both a summary and about section on my LinkedIn profile?
Yes, it is recommended to utilize both sections if possible. The summary provides a concise overview, while the about section enables you to showcase your background in more detail. They work together to present a well-rounded portrait.
Is the about section required on LinkedIn?
No, the about section is optional, especially if you have a robust profile already filled out with extensive position descriptions. However, it is a great opportunity to highlight accomplishments, so most professionals choose to include it.
Can I rewrite my resume summary as my LinkedIn summary?
You can adapt parts of it, but rewrite it to fit the LinkedIn summary’s 120-150 word guideline. Focus only on current goals relevant to LinkedIn. Remove generalities and elaborate details suited for a full resume.
What if my about section starts to get very lengthy?
LinkedIn does not limit the about section, but very lengthy blocks of text can lose reader attention. If your about section exceeds 1-2 pages, consider dividing it into titled sections on topics like career history, accomplishments, passions, future goals, etc.
Is the about section the appropriate place for hobbies or interests outside work?
The about section is primarily for professional information, but brief mentions of major extracurricular activities, volunteering, causes, or passions help convey well-roundedness. Just keep the focus on your career.
Conclusion
Both the LinkedIn summary and about sections are valuable opportunities to tell your professional story in different formats. The summary is a concise elevator pitch focused on your current moment. The about section enables you to fill in the details on your background.
Invest time perfecting both sections to put your best foot forward. Maintain a professional tone, but also let your personality and what drives you shine through. With a compelling summary and about section, you can make a memorable impression and stand out from the LinkedIn crowd.
