8 Ways to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
BY Laina Krisik | 6 MIN READ
Are you making the most of your personal brand? If you are pursuing a graduate degree, looking for an internship or starting a job search, LinkedIn profile optimization should be your goal to increase your visibility to potential employers.
Why Do I Need a Strong LinkedIn Profile?
LinkedIn is the largest professional network, with more than 1 billion members globally. In 2025, 122 million people received an interview through LinkedIn, with 35.5 million having been hired by a person they connected with on the site.
Employers now use LinkedIn as an initial screening tool in recruitment strategies, reviewing candidates’ social media sites, photos and activity to ensure alignment with their resumes and to assess cultural fit. Consider it a social media background check.
If you’re in graduate school or considering graduate school, updating your LinkedIn profile is a great way to set yourself up for future career success. It helps you build a professional network, showcase your work, research potential employers, and stay informed on industry news.
Try these eight LinkedIn profile tips to dramatically increase your chances of getting hired.
1. Create Visual Impact with Your Profile Photo and Banner Image
In a visual-first culture, images matter. Choosing a properly cropped professional photo for your LinkedIn profile is essential. While AI-generated images are acceptable, a real-life image is more authentic. If you’re on a budget, check with your college’s career center for free headshot sessions.
The banner image is part of your personal brand—one of the first things people notice when they visit your profile. Avoid a blank space or generic images; instead, select visuals and text that convey your message and interests. Tools like Canva and Adobe Express can help you design a banner that complements your profile photo and headline.
2. Write a Keyword-rich Headline
Your profile headline is part of your first impression—make it more than a job title. It should be catchy, industry-specific, and reflect your personal brand, along with the competencies and traits that make you stand out.
You have 220 characters, so focus on crafting a headline with impact. The best LinkedIn headline examples include key titles, your major, credentials, years of experience, keywords, and a unique selling proposition (USP). Your USP is a unique skill or accomplishment that sets you apart from other candidates.
3. Maximize the Impact of Your About Section
Use the About section to summarize your background and your goals, including who you are, who you want to help, and what you aim to do next. Tell your story—why you chose your area of graduate study and why you are passionate about it. The goal is to bring your strengths to life and show their importance. Always include a call to action such as, “Feel free to reach out to me for networking and job opportunities at [add your email].”
4. Showcase Your Skills
List five or more core skills relevant to your experience to support the descriptions in your headline and About sections. This also provides a platform for connections to endorse those skills.
Within the Add Profile section, add any licenses and certifications, relevant courses, or projects. For projects, include media such as images, documents, PDFs and presentations to give recruiters and hiring managers more insight into your capabilities.
5. Reach Out for Recommendations
Ask former professors, supervisors and coworkers for recommendations. Recommendations not only provide verification to recruiters but also serve as testimonials of your work ethic and skill set. Aim for at least three recommendations.
To request a recommendation from a LinkedIn contact, click the “More” menu button beneath their profile picture and select the appropriate option.
Write a personalize note to accompany your request, providing key talking points, such as a project you worked on together. This will ensure a unique recommendation that highlights your important accomplishments.
6. Build Your Network
If you’re wondering how to connect on LinkedIn, start building a robust network by uploading your email address book.
Next, take advantage of the alumni tool: Navigate to your school’s LinkedIn page and click the “alumni” button to find others with similar backgrounds and industries.
Customize your connection requests with a personalized note. Remove the generic “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn” message and replace it with your own, highlighting why you want to connect. You have 300 characters and three free notes a month, so be strategic.
7. Join LinkedIn Groups and Engage with Others
Search for and join industry groups by entering a keyword and filtering by “group” to find the best fit for you. Groups are excellent for tracking trends and finding professionals in your industry.
Join LinkedIn groups related to your field of interest, schools you have attended, or specific companies that interest you.
But don’t just join—engage in meaningful conversations, share industry insights, and comment or react to others’ posts.
8. Use LinkedIn’s Job-Search Function and “Open to Work” Settings
Save time by setting up job-search filters to zero in on the right opportunities. Set job alerts to receive notifications each time a job your interest categories are posted.
More than 70 percent of recruiters search for candidates on LinkedIn. Add “Open to Work” preferences to your profile to alert recruiters about your job search.
Don’t wait for recruiters to reach out—contact them as well. Start by searching terms like talent acquisition, recruiters, job titles you are seeking, or target companies. Reach out with a tailored message fitting the company, job, industry, or your interests and goals.
Bonus Tip: Did you know you can record and display your name pronunciation on your profile? This can help others address you correctly. Recording or editing is available through the LinkedIn mobile app.
Build a Foundation for Your Career at Elmhurst
Looking for more than tips? Considering strengthening your expertise to advance your career? Elmhurst University offers more than 20 graduate programs and certificates, with on-campus, online and hybrid formats to give you the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in your field in a way that fits your schedule.
Next Steps
Explore Elmhurst University’s graduate studies program today and take the next step in your career. On LinkedIn, connect with the School of Graduate Studies page. To learn more about the School of Graduate Studies, go to elmhurst.edu/Grad or fill out the form below.
