LinkedIn has become an invaluable tool for recruiters looking to find qualified candidates for job openings. With over 740 million members worldwide, LinkedIn offers recruiters access to the world’s largest professional network to search for potential hires.
One of the most effective ways recruiters utilize LinkedIn is through keyword searches. Knowing what keywords recruiters are searching for can help job seekers optimize their profiles to increase their chances of being discovered for jobs they are qualified for.
Why Do Recruiters Use Keywords on LinkedIn?
Recruiters rely on LinkedIn keyword searches for several reasons:
- Keywords help recruiters search LinkedIn profiles much more efficiently compared to browsing profiles one at a time.
- Specific keywords allow recruiters to target candidates with the exact skills, qualifications, and experience they are looking for in a new hire.
- Keywords surface profiles of passive candidates who aren’t actively job searching but may be open to new opportunities.
- Searches based on keywords provide recruiters with a larger pool of potential candidates beyond those who have applied directly for a role.
In short, LinkedIn keywords are an essential tool that enables recruiters to quickly discover qualified candidates that match their hiring criteria.
Most Sought-After Keywords By Recruiters
So what specific keywords should you focus on to catch the eye of recruiters on LinkedIn? Here are some of the top keywords recruiters are searching for:
Hard Skills
Technical skills and qualifications that are required to perform a specific job role are highly sought after by recruiters on LinkedIn. Some top hard skills keywords include:
- Programming languages: Java, Python, JavaScript, C++, etc.
- Software & tools: Salesforce, SAP, SQL, Tableau, etc.
- Cloud computing: AWS, Azure, GCP
- Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Six Sigma, Lean
- Certifications: PMP, CPA, CFA, etc.
- Technical skills: HTML, Photoshop, CAD, etc.
The more technical hard skills you have listed (and ranked highly) on your LinkedIn profile, the more likely you are to show up in recruiters’ searches for those must-have qualifications.
Soft Skills
While technical skills are very important, soft skills are also highly sought after by recruiters on LinkedIn. Some top soft skills keywords include:
- Communication skills
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
- Leadership
- Work ethic
- Creativity
- Flexibility
- Collaboration
- Decision-making
- Time management
Highlighting these soft skills on your profile lets recruiters know you have the critical interpersonal and organizational abilities needed to thrive in the workplace.
Job Titles
Listed job titles are highly searched for by recruiters on LinkedIn. Some top examples are:
- Software Engineer
- Project Manager
- Accountant
- Marketing Manager
- Sales Representative
- Human Resources Manager
- Administrative Assistant
- Customer Service Representative
Titles give recruiters a good snapshot of your level of experience and area of expertise.
Companies
Recruiters also look for candidates who have worked for certain reputable companies by entering company names into LinkedIn’s search. Some companies that catch recruiters’ attention include:
- Apple
- Amazon
- Microsoft
- IBM
- Oracle
- General Electric (GE)
- Meta (Facebook)
Seeing these brand name companies on your profile indicates you have experience working at competitive and successful organizations.
Keywords to Use Throughout Your LinkedIn Profile
Now that you know the types of keywords recruiters search for, here are some tips on optimizing different sections of your LinkedIn profile with relevant keywords:
Headline
Your LinkedIn headline appears right below your name and is one of the first things recruiters see when viewing your profile. Use your headline to summarize your professional identity in a few words using power keywords. For example:
- Software Engineer | Java | Python | Agile
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) | Financial Reporting | Auditing
About Section
Flesh out your professional summary in the About section by elaborating on your top skills, achievements, and expertise. Use keywords naturally within sentences to describe your background. For example:
- Finance professional with 5 years of experience managing audits, preparing financial statements, and maximizing tax efficiencies for clients.
- Creative graphic designer skilled in Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator), typography, branding, and UI/UX design.
Experience Section
When listing your work experiences, incorporate keyword-rich phrases describing your position’s responsibilities and accomplishments. For example:
- Led team of 10 developers in rapid Agile development of cloud-based mobile apps with 99% uptime.
- Increased customer retention 25% by implementing new CRM system and social media engagement strategies.
Skills Section
Ensure your skills section accurately represents your strongest hard and soft skills. Break down multi-word skill phrases like “Project Management” and “Data Analysis” so the individual keywords are easily searchable.
Accomplishments Section
Recruiters look at the Accomplishments section for tangible examples of the impact you achieved in your previous roles highlighted in keywords. For example:
- Reduced turnaround time by 50% for order fulfillment department by streamlining workflows.
- Recognized as top national sales performer in 2017 for exceeding $3M in annual product revenue.
How to Identify the Best Keywords to Include
Not sure which keywords to focus on for your industry and target roles? Here are some tips:
- Research job descriptions for roles you are interested in and note commonly used keywords related to skills, qualifications, and responsibilities.
- Check LinkedIn profiles of professionals in your target field or position and see what keywords they emphasize.
- Use LinkedIn’s skills section to find the most endorsed skills for your industry.
- Take note of keywords that frequently come up in recruiter job searches and messages.
- Use LinkedIn’s keyword suggestion tool for your profile to see terms you may be missing.
- Ask colleagues in your network what keywords they use that get traction from recruiters.
How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile With Keywords
Here are some best practices for incorporating keywords into your LinkedIn profile:
- Use keywords naturally within context. Don’t just include a laundry list of keywords or force them in unnaturally.
- Repeat important keywords in different sections of your profile for reinforcement.
- Include keywords that are relevant to the jobs or roles you want. Leave out extraneous or unrelated keywords.
- Prioritize keywords in top profile sections that recruiters typically skim through first.
- Use keywords that match the standard terminology in your target industry.
- Highlight soft skills in your profile through keywords as they relate to your achievements.
Don’t Overdo It on Keywords
While keywords are very important for discovery by recruiters, there can be too much of a good thing. Avoid these pitfalls:
- Overstuffing your profile with an excessive number of keywords will look spammy and clumsy.
- Using inflated titles with keywords that don’t match your actual experience comes across as dishonest.
- Focusing too much on keywords may cause you to overlook presenting your professional brand and qualifications cohesively.
- Excessive use of niche skills keywords irrelevant to the roles you want can actually hide your profile from recruiters.
Finding the right balance through relevant, high-quality keywords used judiciously will make you stand out in recruiter searches.
Track Your Keyword Optimization Results
To see if your keyword optimization efforts are working, track these metrics on LinkedIn:
- Profile Views: Are more recruiters viewing your profile over time? Keyword optimization should draw more profile views.
- Search Appearances: Check if you appear in more LinkedIn Recruiter search results for your target keywords.
- Messages: See if relevant keyword optimization causes an uptick in recruiter InMail messages.
- Recommendations: Relevant keywords can lead to more profile recommendations by recruiters.
Continuously refine your keywords based on these metrics to attract the right opportunities.
Conclusion
Optimizing your LinkedIn profile with strategic keywords targeted to recruiters will significantly increase your chances of being discovered for job opportunities. Focus on including relevant keywords throughout your profile, especially in sections like your professional headline, skills, experience summaries, and accomplishments. Avoid keyword stuffing your profile artificially. Track key metrics to see if your keyword usage is driving recruiter interest and engagement. With the right keywords highlighting your top qualifications, you can compellingly showcase yourself to recruiters on LinkedIn.