Photo and headline
A clear, well-lit head-and-shoulders photo, and a headline that names the role you want plus your top two skills.
Careers
LinkedIn & Personal Branding
Build the profile international recruiters search for, and let opportunities find you.
Introduction
What this covers
LinkedIn is where most international recruiters search for candidates. A complete profile works for you continuously, including while you sleep.
Personal branding here is not self-promotion. It is making it obvious, in five seconds, what you do and what you are looking for.
Why it matters
- Recruiters search by skill, job title and language — fields you control.
- A public profile lets people verify you before replying to an application.
- Featured links let you show real work even without formal experience.
Step by step
How to do it, in order
Write the About section
Three short first-person paragraphs: what you do, what you have done, what you are looking for. End with how to reach you.
Fill in skills and languages
Add up to 50 skills, prioritising the ones that appear in your target job adverts. List every language and its level.
Add proof in Featured
Link your portfolio, GitHub, published articles, certificates or project write-ups.
Set Open to Work
Turn on "Open to work" with your target titles, remote preference and locations.
Be visible weekly
Comment thoughtfully on two posts a week in your field. Visibility compounds over months.
Common mistakes
- An empty About section and a headline that only says 'Student'.
- A private profile that recruiters cannot open.
- Connection requests with no message.
- Dates and job titles that contradict your CV.
Best practices
- Customise your profile URL to your name.
- Ask two colleagues, teachers or clients for a recommendation.
- Follow the organisations you want to work for and their staff.
- Update the profile the same day you finish a course or project.
Free tools & templates
Use these while you work
Recommended videos
Watch and learn
Verified external resources
Trusted organisations only
Next steps
What to do after this page
1
Copy your CV achievements into your LinkedIn experience section.
2
Send three thoughtful connection requests this week.
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