LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform, with over 722 million members worldwide as of April 2022. Given its ubiquity among job seekers and hiring managers, it’s important to have an optimized LinkedIn profile showcasing your skills, accomplishments, and work history.
However, you may encounter issues when trying to add experience to your LinkedIn profile. There are a few common reasons why you can’t add an experience section:
You haven’t met the profile completion requirements
LinkedIn requires your profile to meet certain completion criteria before unlocking certain editing features. To add an experience section, your profile must have:
- A profile photo
- Your industry and location listed
- A minimum of 50 connections
- A customized public profile URL
Ensure your profile meets these requirements, and you should then be able to add an experience section.
Your account is too new
LinkedIn also restricts some profile editing capabilities for newer accounts. You may need to wait several days or weeks after creating your account before you can add an experience section.
This restriction aims to reduce spam and bot-created profiles. Be patient, engage genuinely with other members, and build out other areas of your profile during this waiting period.
You don’t have a premium account
LinkedIn limits some profile customizations like adding multimedia samples or customizing your profile URL to premium account holders as an incentive to upgrade. Free members can still add text-based experiences, though.
As a workaround, you can include multimedia samples in the experience description text, and refer to your professional website if you want a custom URL. Upgrade to a premium account if you require unlimited profile customization.
You haven’t added your education
Bizarrely, LinkedIn requires you to add your education before adding any experience. This requirement catches some new users off guard.
Make sure to add at least one education entry, even if it’s just high school. You should then be able to add professional experience.
There’s a technical issue
Like any platform, LinkedIn can suffer technical glitches that temporarily disable certain features. If you’ve met all expected profile requirements but still can’t add an experience, this may be the culprit.
Check LinkedIn’s help center and Twitter account to see if any current technical issues match your experience. Try editing again later or from a different device.
Your experience violates LinkedIn’s rules
LinkedIn prohibits certain types of work experience being added to profiles. Specifically, you cannot add experience related to:
- Illegal activities
- Adult entertainment
- Drugs and related paraphernalia
- Health and beauty products that require a prescription
- Social media following as a job
- Being an influencer, blogger, or YouTuber
If your experience matches these categories, LinkedIn will restrict adding it. You may be able to include some details on your summary or education sections instead.
Your profile is under review
If LinkedIn suspects your profile violates their terms of service, they may put it under review. This restricts your ability to edit sections like experience until the review completes.
LinkedIn aims to conduct reviews within 24 hours. You’ll receive an email once it’s complete, either saying your profile is approved or requiring changes.
You’re using LinkedIn Job Seeker
LinkedIn Job Seeker is a pared down, job search focused version of LinkedIn. It only allows limited profile editing compared to a standard LinkedIn account.
Switch to a regular LinkedIn account if you want to be able to add and showcase work experience fully.
You’re banned from editing your profile
In rare cases, violating LinkedIn’s terms of service can result in profile editing restrictions. For example, spreading misinformation or harassing other members may lead to temporary or permanent bans.
Appeal the ban if you believe it was unjustified. But typically, you will need to create a new account and be careful to follow LinkedIn’s rules moving forward.
You’re using the wrong profile editor
LinkedIn currently has two different profile editors available:
- Profile editor – The newer, redesigned editor
- Classic profile editor – The original profile editing interface
Experience sections can only be added using the classic profile editor. If you can’t find the option to add experience, make sure to switch to the classic editor under profile settings.
Conclusion
Adding your work history is crucial for a compelling LinkedIn presence, but various requirements and restrictions can complicate the process. By understanding the possible reasons you can’t add an experience section, you can troubleshoot the issue and optimize your profile.
Common fixes include completing your profile, building connections, switching editors, or appealing any restrictions. With some persistence, your career story can be showcased properly.
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Incomplete profile | Add profile photo, industry, location, 50+ connections, custom URL |
| New account | Wait a few weeks and build connections |
| No premium account | Upgrade to premium or use text-only descriptions |
| No education added | Add at least high school education |
| Technical issues | Check LinkedIn’s status pages and try again later |
| Experience violates rules | Exclude prohibited experience types |
| Profile under review | Wait for review completion (usually 24 hours) |
| Using LinkedIn Job Seeker | Switch to a regular LinkedIn account |
| Banned from editing | Appeal ban or create new account |
| Wrong editor | Switch to classic profile editor |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need a certain number of connections to add an experience?
LinkedIn imposed the 50+ connection minimum to curb fake profiles. Requiring connections makes it harder to quickly mass-produce spam or scam accounts.
Can I appeal if LinkedIn incorrectly banned my experience?
Yes, contact LinkedIn customer support if you believe they incorrectly restricted an experience. Be ready to explain why it should be permitted under their rules.
What if I was an independent blogger – can I still add this?
Unfortunately independent blogging and influencer work is still restricted. But you can include a summary of your content and reach numbers in the description for allowed education and positions.
How do I switch back to LinkedIn’s classic profile editor?
On the desktop site, go to your profile settings and look for the option to switch to the classic editor. On mobile, try requesting the desktop site to access this setting.
Can I add experiences during my profile review?
No, you’ll need to wait for the review to fully complete before editing your profile. Use the waiting time to draft experience descriptions offline.
Does LinkedIn Job Seeker cost money like premium accounts?
No, LinkedIn Job Seeker is totally free! It’s limited in capabilities compared to premium accounts, but allows basic profile editing and job searching.
Key Takeaways
- Complete your LinkedIn profile with a photo, details, and 50+ connections to unlock the experience section.
- Be patient if your account is new or undergoing review – editing will be reenabled later.
- Make sure you’re using LinkedIn’s classic profile editor, not the newer version.
- Appeal incorrectly banned experiences or account restrictions.
- Upgrade to premium if you require unlimited profile customization.
