Every week, I see jobseekers tying themselves in knots over LinkedIn.
They’re told their profile has to be perfect. That it’s the key to being discovered. That a recruiter will reject them because their headline isn’t optimized or they only have three endorsements instead of thirty.
Let me take some pressure off.
Your LinkedIn profile is not the end-all-be-all of your job search. And anyone telling you it is (especially if they’re asking you to pay $500 to “fix” it) should be viewed with some healthy skepticism.
The truth about LinkedIn
Your LinkedIn profile needs to meet a minimum bar.
That bar is:
Professional
Accurate
Somewhat informative
That’s it.
I have never given someone a job because their LinkedIn profile was amazing.
I have eliminated people from consideration because their profile didn’t meet a basic standard of professionalism.
Think of LinkedIn less like a marketing masterpiece and more like a credibility check.
The few things that actually matter
Here’s what I’d focus on if you want your LinkedIn profile to clear that minimum bar.
1. A professional-ish photo of yourself
This does not mean:
Glamour shots
Corporate headshots (though those are fine)
Looking “recruiter hot”
It does mean:
A clear photo of just you
Your face is visible
Reasonably neutral background
You look like someone who might show up to work
Bathroom selfies, group photos, sunglasses, or photos from a wedding three years ago are all unnecessary risks. You don’t need perfection. Just normal and professional.
2. Your experience matches your resume
This is a big one.
Your job titles, employers, and dates on LinkedIn should generally line up with what’s on your resume. They don’t need to be word-for-word identical, but they should not tell different stories.
When they don’t match, recruiters are left wondering:
Which one is accurate?
What else might be sloppy or inflated?
LinkedIn inconsistencies don’t usually disqualify someone on their own, but they do raise quiet questions you don’t want raised.
3. Spell check matters more than you think
This is the least exciting advice and maybe the most important.
Typos, obvious grammar issues, or half-finished sentences signal carelessness—fair or not. Especially in knowledge-based, nonprofit, or professional roles, this can be enough to move someone from “maybe” to “no.”
You don’t need beautiful prose.
You do need clean, readable text.
A few things that matter far less than people say
Let’s also name what you can safely stop obsessing over.
Having the “perfect” headline
Listing every possible skill
Collecting endorsements
Having dozens of recommendations
Gaming LinkedIn’s algorithm
None of these have ever made me think, “Wow, we have to interview this person.”
They might help marginally in certain searches, but they won’t compensate for:
Weak networking
Unclear career direction
A resume that doesn’t tell a coherent story
How I’d suggest using LinkedIn instead
Use LinkedIn as:
A place where someone can quickly confirm you’re legitimate
A tool to stay connected to people you actually know
A way to understand organizations, roles, and career paths
Don’t use it as:
A measure of your worth
A reason to delay applying
A substitute for real human connection
If your profile looks professional, lines up with your resume, and doesn’t raise red flags, then you’re good.
Then move your energy to the things that matter more:
Talking to people
Clarifying what you want next
Applying thoughtfully
Following up like a human
That’s where jobs actually come from.
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