LinkedIn can help you accelerate your career – but only if you use it well. Primarily a platform for type: entry-hyperlink id: 7F1p7x0z4q9WnCU0OtJHjW, it's a fantastic tool for helping you to type: entry-hyperlink id: 12XwmAC7UCMGKwGPWN9PV2. In this guide, we’ll take a look at how you can use it to its best advantage, including how to put LinkedIn on your CV. 

Why does LinkedIn matter?

First up, let’s talk about why LinkedIn matters. The professional social network has fast become integral to modern working life. The latest stats show that over 44.4 million people in the UK are LinkedIn users. However, many of those accounts will be static and, frankly, inactive. 

If you want to make the platform work for you, you need to keep it up to date. That means making sure that your type: entry-hyperlink id: DLTjTjCorenTdsDKysMuJ aligns with your application, showing off your career highlights very well. That way, when a recruiter takes a peek at your online account, they’ll have a clear overview of your career, including your key skills and type: entry-hyperlink id: 6HtVU7ULyKpsytS7qIXTm. Additionally, you should also learn how to put your LinkedIn details on your CV. 

Should your CV match your LinkedIn?

As we go about learning how to include LinkedIn on your CV, remember that your online profile should “complement” – which doesn't translate to “copy” – your CV. When something complements another, it means that it contributes extra features in a way that improves its quality.

That said, don't just copy and paste your CV onto your LinkedIn page. It looks sloppy and lazy. Like tailoring your CV for each job you apply for, you should construct your LinkedIn page accordingly. You can upload your CV to your LinkedIn page as a link, but don't just dump your CV content onto it.

Does LinkedIn count as a CV?

The simple answer is no! While your LinkedIn and type: entry-hyperlink id: 1Y3k8P3ut6tTIgAPKQTDcE are both job application tools, they’re not the same thing. type: entry-hyperlink id: 4os7Ox2sBlgsRVJ5lvXdoB require very distinct sections and approaches. You should treat them differently, while making sure that the information on each one is accurate. 

Your CV serves as your main application document. That’s why the words you use here vary from the words you might use on your LinkedIn. As you should type: entry-hyperlink id: 7sQx2KVnTDXdThe0ASqbWc to the vacancy at hand, you’ll need job-specific keywords and phrases to create an type: entry-hyperlink id: 50l6AtsSO9Z0XJ3v5DoWW7 that can get past the recruiter’s pre-screening software. While you can add more features to your LinkedIn profile – as we’ll cover below – keywords are not as relevant here as they are in your CV. 

First things first: create a stellar LinkedIn profile

Before we take a look at how to add your LinkedIn to your CV, make sure that your profile is up to date by following our pointers below: 

Start with a punchy headline 

For starters, you'll need to create a dazzling headline. Punchy and pithy, this should reflect and summarise your key skills while also stating your career goals – another bonus of a LinkedIn 

profile that isn't on a CV.

Write a strong summary

You'll also want to approach the type: entry-hyperlink id: 5k2LANxyHokGpKJNTCUlYE in a distinctly different way from your type: entry-hyperlink id: rOODyJrj4gXQkqCfhUnnI. Written in the first person, the summary on LinkedIn is much more informal. It's a place where you can show off your personality and other value-added information not required on a CV, such as fascinating hobbies or volunteer positions, to make your page stand out from others.

Include a professional photo

Details that aren't recommended on your CV, such as a photo, can also be added to your LinkedIn profile. Just make sure that your type: entry-hyperlink id: GxHYDWF5qJjY7dw7Mj4gF is a recent, professional headshot that's just of you – not with your children, dogs, or from that party five years ago!

Get endorsements 

Persuade colleagues, managers, and type: entry-hyperlink id: ZZRC9Tr7gMk9SVMOi1MsY to vouch for you and your work in the “Recommendations” section. As this sort of information isn't included on CVs, it's worth taking the time to badger those who value your work into putting that into print. This then shows you off as even more impressive to someone taking the time to look at your LinkedIn page.

Post relevant content 

If you’re looking to boost your public profile on LinkedIn, posting relevant content is the answer. Share information that adds value to your connections. For example, you may want to share industry-related advice, tips, and news. Doing so shows that you’re well-informed and engaged in your field. It also gets your name out there in front of influential people such that when the right professional is looking to hire people, your name is more likely to spring to mind.

How to put LinkedIn on your CV

Now that you’ve smartened up your LinkedIn, it’s time to uncover how to put it on your CV. Get it right from the start with these tips:

1. Shorten your LinkedIn URL 

First up, keep your URL snappy. You can go for something simple and professional like “www.linkedin.com/in/yourname,” for example. 

To type: entry-hyperlink id: 15dH8hItm1vjwsO9xxqhKM, go to your profile and click on “Public profile & URL” then “Edit your custom URL.”  If your name is taken, add initials or a middle name. 

2. Add the link to your CV

Next, add the link to your document using an anchor text or image. You can use “LinkedIn” or insert the LinkedIn logo into your document. Highlight the text or area then press Ctrl + K to link your LinkedIn URL on your CV.

3. Bonus: include the URL in your signature

If you want to draw more attention to your LinkedIn page, you can include the URL (or link) in the signature of your cover letter. That way, the hiring manager will see your profile page instantly, saving them the hassle of searching for your LinkedIn profile themselves. 

How detailed should a LinkedIn profile be?

While there’s no set standard CV length (two pages is the optimum length for most jobs though), LinkedIn does have restrictions on the number of characters it allows for each section. This can be a good thing, as it means you can't waffle on forever about a role you did 20 years ago. And realistically, who's going to read that anyway?

The different sections within LinkedIn allow you to add details on projects, presentations, conferences, and test scores, and more, without each section looking so text-heavy that it overwhelms the reader at first glance. Just make sure to add value here.

Another great asset to a LinkedIn page, as opposed to a CV, is the ability to include web links to showcase your work, such as visual projects or an art type: entry-hyperlink id: 26l8HxTd1TgOvwVpgB6NPj. If you want people to view that tunnel you built as a Civil Engineer, or digest the cartoon you published in Private Eye, here's your chance. 

Key takeaway

Viewing your LinkedIn page as an extra tool in the job market is the best way to go. type: entry-hyperlink id: 5PEcmnPuuLhl8wq0zQUiQS are still very relevant today, despite the disrupted recruitment sector, and you'll be a real force to be reckoned with once you've learned how to effectively write your LinkedIn to support your application. Get yours ready and follow our advice on how to add your LinkedIn to your CV now. 

Still unsure how to use LinkedIn to complement your CV? Let our professional CV writers help. Get started with our free CV review or check out our LinkedIn profile services.

This article was originally written by Elizabeth Openshaw and has been updated by Charlotte Grainger.

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