Leveraging LinkedIn for Job Opportunities

I’ve reviewed 1,000+ LinkedIn profiles over the past 5 years. Here are 8 tips to turn your LinkedIn profile into a job-generating machine: 1. Upgrade Your Profile Picture Like it or not, your profile picture is your first impression. Make it a good one: - Upload your PP to Photofeeler .com - Analyze the feedback - Reshoot/edit your picture based on the data Repeat until your scores are good! 2. Leverage Keywords The right keywords help you show up in more searches. Here's how to find them: - Find 5+ job descriptions for target roles - Paste them all into ResyMatch.io's JD scanner - Save the top 15 skills Weave them into the rest of your profile! 3. Write A Killer Headline I like to use this headline formula: [Keywords] | [Skills] | [Results-Focused Value Proposition] Example for a data scientist: Data Scientist | Python, R, Tableau | I Help Hospitals Use Big Data To Reduce Readmission Rates By 37% 4. Write A Killer About A great About section has 3 parts: - A short paragraph that speaks to your job, years of experience, and value prop. - Five "case study" bullets that showcase specific results. - Your email w/ a CTA for people to connect with you. Include keywords! 5. Leverage Your Featured Section It’s hard to convey your value on a resume or in an About section. This is your chance to show people what you’ve done on your terms. Include things like: - Case studies of your work - Content you’ve created - Posts you’ve written 6. Skills Matter LinkedIn uses profile Skills sections to rank candidates. Here’s how to boost your rank: - Add every keyword from your ResyMatch scan - Choose the top 5 most relevant skills - Ask colleagues, friends, family, & classmates for endorsements (aim for 5) 7. Engage & Support Others Comments can generate tons of profile views! Here’s how: - Find 10+ thought leaders in your target space - Bookmark their post feed - Check their feeds daily - Leave a supportive, valuable comment on each new post Repeat for a minimum of 30 days 8. Create Content! Content is networking at scale. One post can reach more people than your entire connection base. It also allows you to showcase value in your own words, on your own terms. It can feel scary, but only 1% of people do it—and the returns are huge.

I constantly get recruiter reachouts from big tech companies and top AI startups- even when I’m not actively job hunting or listed as “Open to Work.” That’s because over the years, I’ve consciously put in the effort to build a clear and consistent presence on LinkedIn- one that reflects what I do, what I care about, and the kind of work I want to be known for. And the best part? It’s something anyone can do- with the right strategy and a bit of consistency. If you’re tired of applying to dozens of jobs with no reply, here are 5 powerful LinkedIn upgrades that will make recruiters come to you: 1. Quietly activate “Open to Work” Even if you’re not searching, turning this on boosts your visibility in recruiter filters. → Turn it on under your profile → “Open to” → “Finding a new job” → Choose “Recruiters only” visibility → Specify target titles and locations clearly (e.g., “Machine Learning Engineer – Computer Vision, Remote”) Why it works: Recruiters rely on this filter to find passive yet qualified candidates. 2. Treat your headline like SEO + your elevator pitch Your headline is key real estate- use it to clearly communicate role, expertise, and value. Weak example: “Software Developer at XYZ Company” → Generic and not searchable. Strong example: “ML Engineer | Computer Vision for Autonomous Systems | PyTorch, TensorRT Specialist” → Role: ML Engineer → Niche: computer vision in autonomous systems → Tools: PyTorch, TensorRT This structure reflects best practices from experts who recommend combining role, specialization, technical skills, and context to stand out. 3. Upgrade your visuals to build trust → Use a crisp headshot: natural light, simple background, friendly expression → Add a banner that reinforces your brand: you working, speaking, or a tagline with tools/logos Why it works: Clean visuals increase profile views and instantly project credibility. 4. Rewrite your “About” section as a human story Skip the bullet list, tell a narrative in three parts: → Intro: “I’m an ML engineer specializing in computer vision models for autonomous systems.” → Expertise: “I build end‑to‑end pipelines using PyTorch and TensorRT, optimizing real‑time inference for edge deployment.” → Motivation: “I’m passionate about enabling safer autonomy through efficient vision AI, let’s connect if you’re building in that space.” Why it works: Authentic storytelling creates memorability and emotional resonance . 5. Be the advocate for your work Make your profile act like a portfolio, not just a resume. → Under each role, add 2–4 bullet points with measurable outcomes and tools (e.g., “Reduced inference latency by 35% using INT8 quantization in TensorRT”) → In the Featured section, highlight demos, whitepapers, GitHub repos, or tech talks Give yourself five intentional profile upgrades this week. Then sit back and watch recruiters start reaching you, even in today’s competitive market.

Most people go about job searching on LinkedIn the wrong way. They apply through job boards, submit their resume, and wait. By the time they hit “apply,” they’re competing with hundreds of other candidates, and their application gets buried. But there’s a better way to find jobs before they even get posted. Instead of searching for open roles, search for people who are hiring! 1. Go to LinkedIn’s search bar and type phrases like: # We’re hiring a data scientist # Looking for a business analyst # Hiring a marketing intern # Our team is growing, looking for engineers 2. Then, filter by posts. This will show you real-time updates from hiring managers, recruiters, and employees talking about open positions. These are often jobs that haven’t been posted on job boards yet, meaning you have a chance to get in early. 3. Once you find a post that interests you, don’t just send a cold DM. Engage with the post first. Leave a comment, ask a thoughtful question, or add value to the conversation. Then, send a message referencing their post and expressing interest in the role. 4. If you’re applying to a company where you don’t know anyone, look up employees who work there. Find someone in the department and reach out. Instead of asking for a referral right away, ask for insights about the team and culture. People are much more likely to help when you approach them with curiosity rather than just asking for something. This approach works because most hiring happens before a job posting even goes live. The more visible you are and the more proactive you are in engaging with hiring conversations, the better your chances of getting noticed. Have you ever found a job through LinkedIn networking? Would love to hear your experience!

35+ Recruiters looked at my LinkedIn profile ...but didn't call me in for an interview. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was making 5 huge mistakes. Here are the changes I made that started landing me interviews: 1️⃣ HEADLINE Your headline is your first impression. Before a recruiter even clicks on your profile, they read your headline. 👉 There's a simple format to write a good one: Target title | Skill #1 | Skill #2 | Skill #3 | Achievement Example 👉 Content Marketing Manager | GTM Strategy | B2B | SEO | Increased marketing-influenced pipeline by 135% in 6 months. 2️⃣ ABOUT & EXPERIENCE This is your chance to tell your story. Your resume should be short (350-550 words) but your LinkedIn should be longer. 💡 Use the "Core 4" About framework: ↳ I am a {title} who... (3 skills) ↳ I launched my career at...(early career story) ↳ I then moved to...(2 mid-career achievements) ↳ Currently I am... (your most recent role) 3️⃣ ACTIVITY Posting on LinkedIn is scary, but it matters now more than ever. That's because LinkedIn shows "active" profiles higher in search results. 💡 To be considered "active" you just have to comment 3x/week (you can start by commenting on this post 😉 ) 4️⃣ KEYWORDS Add keywords throughout your Job Titles AND your skills section. Recruiters don't search for "Chief Happiness Officer" they search for "Director of Customer Success." 💡 Change your previous job titles to reflect what you actually did. You DON'T have to use the title your company gave you. 5️⃣ PHOTO & HEADER Check your privacy settings! Many LinkedIn profiles default to not showing your profile photo publicly. ‼️ A missing photo is a huge red flag to recruiters, make sure yours is set to public! Before you send even one more application, check these 5 parts of your profile. 👉 It's better to do the work up front than to send more applications and getting ghosted "for some reason." 👉 P.S. I just sent my "Guide To The ATS" to everyone who commented on my last post. If you missed it, just follow my profile and drop a comment below and I can send it to you too. _ #resume #hiring

Your LinkedIn profile is a 24/7 inbound job magnet if you set it up right! It's an opportunity to have the hottest companies and hiring managers chasing you rather than you running after them. Impossible? Hell no. It’s how I got my senior product position at Affirm and the same story for VP of product at Apollo. Here’s the complete guide to converting your LinkedIn profile into a job-attracting asset: — 𝟭. 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 Don't use generic headline templates mentioning your job title and company name. ↳ Highlight your expertise or niche. ↳ Mention companies for credibility. ↳ Add a secondary offer; are you a coach, speaker, or consultant? ↳ Example: "Senior Product Manager @ TechCo | Driving B2B SaaS Growth 🚀 | Ex-Google, Ex-Amazon | Product Leadership Coach" — 𝟮. 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗠𝗘 Think of your "About" section as your personal story. ↳ Experience summary showcasing your value. ↳ Use storytelling to highlight your key achievements (don’t forget to mention numbers/results) with a personal touch. ↳ Wrap up by stating what kind of roles or challenges you’re interested in next. — 𝟯. 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗘 How people perceive you depends a lot on how you visually present yourself. Here’s how to do it right: ↳ High-quality and professional headshot. Use AI if you don’t have a good photo. ↳ Don’t use cover photos for vague quotes; use it to highlight your achievements, awards, reviews, your products, etc. — 𝟰. 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 Your experience section is where the real depth comes in. ↳ Go beyond job duties and focus on the specific results and outcomes you achieved. ↳ Use the Situation, Action, Result (SAR) framework to highlight what you did and how it made an impact. (e.g., “Increased customer retention by 25% in 6 months”). ↳ Use industry-specific keywords so recruiters can easily find you in searches. — 𝟱. 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 ↳ Simplify your LinkedIn URL (e.g., linkedin.com/in/YourName) with a custom URL. ↳ Make sure to add a link to your portfolio, website, or a side project directly in your profile. ↳ Regularly review your contact info and make it easy for recruiters to reach out to you. — 𝟲. 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 Think of recommendations as built-in references that add credibility to your profile. ↳ Reach out to people who can specifically highlight your key skills and achievements. ↳ Aim for a variety of recommendations—managers, colleagues, and clients. ↳ Pin your top 2-3 recommendations. — 𝟳. 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗦 The "Skills" section helps you appear in searches and validates your expertise: ↳ Choose skills that define your professional strengths, and pin your top 3. ↳ Take LinkedIn skill assessments to add credibility with “verified” badges. — If you want to dive deeper into how to do it all with real-time examples and breakdowns, check out the guide below in comments.

I got 90 interviews in 90 days, and it all started with one thing: Looking at my LinkedIn data. When I was starting out, I didn’t fully understand the differences between Data Analyst, Data Engineer, Data Scientist, and Machine Learning Engineer roles. My LinkedIn wasn’t clear either, so I kept getting interviews for all of them.  -> Data Analyst: The role I’d land when I was desperate to just get something. -> Data Engineer: Cool-sounding, but not aligned with my stats degree or career goals. -> Data Scientist/Machine Learning Engineer: These are the dream roles, but my profile wasn’t speaking to them. My LinkedIn wasn’t targeted, so I got mismatched opportunities. That’s when I realized the power of LinkedIn analytics. Here’s what I did:  1, Checked Search Appearances: I looked at which roles and keywords were finding me. 2, Adjusted My Profile: Added terms like “Machine Learning” and “Predictive Analytics” and removed irrelevant mentions of “Data Analyst.” 3, Updated Skills: Added keywords aligned with the roles I wanted, even for skills I was actively learning. 4, Iterated: Made tweaks based on what the data showed me. The result: My profile started attracting the exact roles I wanted. You can do this too!  -> Go to LinkedIn Analytics > Search Appearances. -> Check which roles and keywords are leading people to your profile. -> Align your profile with your target roles — no fluff, no guessing. Your LinkedIn should work for you. If it’s not, it’s time to adjust. If you're ready to level up, let’s position you for the roles you actually want.

I get 400+ connection requests every week. 99% make the same mistakes. Only 1% get it right. Here’s how you can be that 1%. Before I preach: I’ve also made all these mistakes. I’m no exception. But, by now I’ve learned from it. I hope this post helps you avoid them. ❌ SENDING REQUESTS WITHOUT A NOTE. 99% of connection requests I get have no note. By adding no note, you’re asking the other person to spend at least 30 seconds looking at your profile title, understanding what you do, & decoding whether that’s relevant. Sure, they can do it for 10 people. But not 100+. You’re wasting an opportunity EVERY time you send a request without a note. ✅ SEND A NOTE, EVEN IF IT'S 2 SENTENCES. Forget writing detailed & specific notes. Just write 2 sentences. “Hi Pooja! I enjoyed reading your recent post on how to send connection requests. Now, I’d love to follow along your journey and hopefully contribute in a meaningful way.” That’s it. BOOM. You just 5x-ed your acceptance rate. ❌ ASKING FOR A "20-MIN CALL" No, most people don’t have time for a “20-min call.” I don’t have time for a “20-min call.” Because you haven’t convinced me what’s in it for me. Instead, here’s an idea: ✅ ASK, "HOW CAN I HELP?" That’s it. So simple. “Hi Pooja! I enjoyed reading your recent post on how to send connection requests. I also see you publish regularly. I’d love to follow along your journey. Also, if I can help in anyway, just let me know.” I will 1000% accept a request with such a note. Most people would. Build a relationship before asking for more. ❌ SENDING AN ESSAY FOR A REQUEST By sending long essay messages, you’ve made 3 mistakes: - You wasted your time - The other person probably didn’t read it - Your request got lost in the abyss ✅ SENDING A SHORT, SPECIFIC REQUEST WITH A COMPELLING WHY Make it easy for the other person to help you. Keep your message short, specific, and give them a REASON to help you. “Hi Pooja! I’ve read most of your posts on LinkedIn. There’s so much value in them. Thank you. I aspire to publish my book next year. Can you point me to any resources/tools that was helpful for you? If you already have it written down somewhere, let me know. P.S. I can help you compile a post on this if you’d like!” Now, you’ve given me 3 reasons to help you: - You’ve done your homework in reading my posts - You have a clear goal in mind - You already offered value in your “P.S.” I get it. All this is extra work. It takes time. But, these few minutes will make or break your chance to find your co-founder, next job, or even a best friend. If this helped you, please re-share the post and help your network! 👉 And, follow me if you'd like more of this. I publish a resource every day. P.S. Wanna send me a connection request? Now you know how to do it 😉 #writing #freeresources #unshackled #advice #linkedin

If I were a college student today, here's how I'd approach finding and landing a Summer 2025 internship: 1️⃣ Narrow down my job search: A targeted job search will lead to targeted results. Turn your "marketing internships" google search into "[specfic niche] + [industry] + Summer 2025 internships in [city you desire] Example: Influencer marketing Summer 2025 internships in NYC 🔥 Bonus: turn on job alerts for your search on Google and Linkedin There are job boards that are dedicated to exclusively sharing entry level opportunities. Here's a list of them: https://lnkd.in/gQ-x8rsz 2️⃣ Create a resume that tells a story Your resume is arguably the most important part of your resume. Contrary to popular belief, recruiters ARE reading your resume. ⭐ My biggest resume creation advice: → KEEP IT SIMPLE! Pour your energy into making your resume easy to read and review. →Keep your resume 1 page, up to date, and relevant to whatever roles you're applying for! [More information on this HERE: https://lnkd.in/gkWR4xpn] →Your resume bullets should focus on your quantifiable accomplishments in your past roles. BRAG on yourselves! I love utilizing Google's X-Y-Z resume formula: https://lnkd.in/gnMGa9hR → Link your creative portfolio, Linkedin, and other passion projects on your resume 3️⃣ I'm not going to DM recruiters. I'm going to meet them where they are: Whether it's at career fairs on campus or virtual recruitment events hosted on sites such as WayUp, Handshake, or internally by a company, I know that by DMing them, they're most likely going to 1) redirect me to the career page or 2) not respond because they have SO many DMS. I've worked with Fortune 500 companies to plan and execute virtual recruitment events. Not only are they hiring from some of these events, but this is the perfect chance to get insider info on their internship programs and ask questions you may have. ...and if I am going to DM them, I'm going to make sure it's REALLY GOOD. I'll talk more about this in my next post. And, no, it doesn't involve using AI to craft a robotic, generic message. (I'm looking at you AI warriors) 🤭 Check back tomorrow for part 2 where I dive into how to stand out, interview prep and staying organized + motivated during the job hunt 🖥️ Follow Jade Walters for more early career content on your timeline on Linkedin, Tik Tok (https://lnkd.in/gTEAUC9H) + Instagram (@theninthsemester) #earlycareer #internships #entryleveljobs #jobhunting #theninthsemester #summerinternships #earlycareeropportunities

This is how I landed my very first internship interview as a 17-year-old freshman studying CS at a non-target school ➡️ No, this is not clickbait. I did, in fact, land my first SWE internship interview during my first semester at school, studying CSE at the University of Nevada, Reno [with a Cyber Defense Federal contractor that later got acquired by Accenture Federal]. So how did I do it? I optimized my LinkedIn profile, and it helped this recruiter find me. Let me just set the record straight ~ I did NOT have a following or even a good network back then (fall 2020). I think I had about 600 connections/followers at the time. And now's the moment you might be saying, "This isn't new. Everyone says to optimize your LinkedIn profile." You're right, but very few people actually explain *how* specifically for internships. So here are 5 ways to optimize your profile for recruiters on LinkedIn to find you and bring internship opportunities to YOU ~ ✅ Flip that "open-to-work" toggle! I know there is a bit of debate and taboo around the "open-to-work" setting and green banner. It does NOT make you desperate or look desperate. It's telling recruiters you're open to opportunities! ✅ Keyword Optimization If you've ever heard of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), these same principles apply to LinkedIn! Figure out what keywords are relevant to the role you're searching for (i.e. "internship," "product management," "Agile") and splash them all over your profile ~ specifically your About section & Skills section. This is what helped recruiters find me! ✅ Update your headline. Most people have short attention spans, and we'll glance at a LinkedIn profile or a resume in a few seconds. Your headline is the "headline" for a reason. If you're header says "Seeking/Open to SWE Summer '24 Internships," the person will immediately know whether or not you fit the profile of what they're looking for. ✅ Completely fill out your Experiences section. Sit down and take a full inventory of everything work or experience-related you've ever done. Put it all out there! Personal story/example ~ I included my pageant experience as a titleholder for the Miss America Organization. Later, a startup founder who reached out for another internship interview mentioned that was something that caught his attention! ✅ Update your Featured section. Use the Featured section to show off your highlight reel and get recruiters to notice you! You can include your resume, project links, news/press articles, publications, etc in this section! I actually used to put my resume (in .PDF form) in my Featured section, and it worked pretty well for me! #earlycareer #internships #summerinternship #jobsearchtips #jobsearch

Don't just click apply and wait. Submitting your application isn't the end. It's just the beginning. Being proactive is how you really make progress. Here's what else you can do: - Immerse yourself in the company's values, needs, projects and initiatives. Know their journey like the back of your hand. - Build connections on LinkedIn at your target companies. Start conversations with employees, understanding the role's nuances and expectations. - Pinpoint decision-makers or influencers in the hiring process. Utilize tools like Voila Norbert to find their contact details. - Craft an engaging follow-up email. Highlight how you're a perfect fit and your excitement for the position. - Hone your elevator pitch. Be ready to impress in any spontaneous chats or scheduled interviews. - Join the company's webinars or virtual events. Familiarize yourself with their ethos and vision. - Express your gratitude to those who assist or advise. It showcases your professionalism and earnestness. - Tap into alumni groups, professional organizations, or mentorship programs to get an inside track. Applying is just the beginning. Being proactive is how you take control of your job search and direct it the way you want it to go. Which of these strategies have you had success using? #LinkedInTopVoices #jobsearch #careers