Writing a LinkedIn Summary: Craft a Profile That Gets You Noticed

Your LinkedIn summary—the “About” section of your profile—represents some of the most valuable real estate in your professional online presence. Unlike the structured sections of your LinkedIn profile that mirror your resume, the summary gives you freedom to craft a narrative that captures who you are, what you offer, and where you’re heading professionally.

Yet many professionals squander this opportunity. They leave the summary blank, copy-paste their resume objective, or write dry, third-person descriptions that could describe anyone in their field. These approaches waste a powerful chance to differentiate yourself from the millions of other professionals competing for attention on the platform.

This comprehensive guide will teach you how to write a LinkedIn summary that accomplishes its critical functions: communicating your professional value, showcasing your personality, engaging readers, and prompting action. Whether you’re actively job searching, building your professional brand, or simply maintaining your online presence, these strategies will help you craft a summary that works.

Understanding the Purpose of Your LinkedIn Summary

Before writing a single word, understand what your LinkedIn summary needs to accomplish. This section serves multiple audiences and purposes.

Recruiters and hiring managers scan summaries to quickly assess whether candidates merit further investigation. They’re looking for relevant skills, experience indicators, and signs of professionalism. They often have hundreds of profiles to review and will only spend seconds on yours initially.

Industry peers and colleagues may encounter your profile through networking, content you’ve shared, or mutual connections. Your summary helps them understand your expertise and find connection points for professional relationships.

Potential clients and partners evaluate whether you might help them solve problems or create value. If you’re in a client-facing role, business development, or consulting, your summary functions as marketing copy.

Your future self benefits from a well-written summary when opportunities arise unexpectedly. The professional you’ll be in five years will appreciate that you took time to articulate your value today.

LinkedIn’s search algorithm uses your summary content to determine when your profile appears in searches. Strategic keyword inclusion affects your visibility to people seeking professionals with your background.

Given these varied audiences, your summary must be versatile—professional enough for executive recruiters, personable enough to build connection, clear enough to be understood quickly, and keyword-optimized enough to appear in relevant searches.

The Anatomy of an Effective LinkedIn Summary

Strong LinkedIn summaries typically include several key elements, though the proportions and emphasis vary by individual circumstances.

The Hook

Your first line or two must capture attention. LinkedIn truncates summaries after approximately 300 characters (about 40-50 words), showing a “…see more” link. Everything before that cutoff must compel readers to click and continue.

Effective hooks might:

• Open with a provocative statement or question
• Lead with your most impressive accomplishment
• Present a counterintuitive insight about your field
• State your professional mission compellingly
• Begin with a memorable story opening

Weak hooks:

• “I am a results-driven professional…”
• “With over X years of experience in…”
• “Seeking new opportunities in…”
• Starting with your name and title (redundant—it’s in your headline)

Your Professional Story

The body of your summary should tell a coherent story about your professional journey and value proposition. This isn’t a resume rehash—it’s a narrative that connects dots and reveals meaning.

Elements to potentially include:

• How you entered your field (especially if interesting)
• Your professional evolution and growth trajectory
• What drives your work and passion for your field
• Your approach or philosophy
• Key accomplishments that demonstrate capability
• Problems you solve for employers or clients

Your Unique Value Proposition

Somewhere in your summary, clearly articulate what makes you valuable. This goes beyond job titles to capture the specific impact you create.

Think about:

• What results do you consistently deliver?
• What skills or perspectives are uncommon in your field?
• What do colleagues or clients consistently praise about you?
• What problems do you solve better than most?

Skills and Expertise

While not listing every skill (LinkedIn has a dedicated section for that), weaving relevant skills naturally into your narrative helps both human readers and LinkedIn’s search algorithm.

Approach strategically:

• Include keywords recruiters use when searching
• Mention technical skills relevant to your target roles
• Reference methodologies, tools, or frameworks you use
• Align terminology with your industry’s conventions

Call to Action

End your summary by telling readers what you want them to do next. This guides the relationship forward.

Possible calls to action:

• Invite connection from specific types of people
• Encourage messages about particular topics
• Direct people to portfolio, website, or other resources
• Express openness to specific opportunities
• Invite collaboration on certain projects

Writing Your LinkedIn Summary: A Step-by-Step Process

With the framework established, let’s walk through the actual writing process.

Step 1: Define Your Goals

Before writing, clarify what you want your LinkedIn presence to accomplish:

• Are you actively job searching? In what roles?
• Building thought leadership in your field?
• Attracting clients for consulting or freelance work?
• Networking within your industry?
• Maintaining professional presence for future opportunities?

Your goals shape your summary’s tone, content, and call to action.

Step 2: Identify Your Target Audience

Who do you most want to read your summary? Be specific:

• Recruiters at specific types of companies
• Hiring managers in particular industries
• Potential clients with certain problems
• Industry peers in your specialty area
• Conference organizers or media looking for experts

Understanding your audience helps you choose what to emphasize and what language to use.

Step 3: Gather Your Raw Material

Before writing polished prose, collect the ingredients:

• Your most impressive accomplishments (with numbers if possible)
• Skills and expertise areas most relevant to your goals
• What colleagues and clients consistently praise about you
• Interesting aspects of your professional journey
• What genuinely excites you about your work
• Problems you’re particularly good at solving

Step 4: Write a Messy First Draft

Don’t aim for perfection initially. Write freely, including more than you’ll ultimately use. Answer these questions in your draft:

• What would I tell someone who asked about my professional life at a dinner party?
• Why am I good at what I do?
• What path led me here, and where am I heading?
• What would I want my ideal employer/client to know about me?

Step 5: Craft Your Hook

Return to your opening once you have draft material. Your first few lines need to earn the click to “see more.”

Try multiple approaches:

• Start with impact: “I’ve helped [impressive accomplishment]…”
• Start with passion: “Nothing excites me more than…”
• Start with problem: “Most companies struggle with…”
• Start with story: “My journey into [field] started when…”
• Start with value: “I help [target audience] achieve [result]…”

Test your hook: Would you click “see more” if you read only those first lines?

Step 6: Structure Your Narrative

Organize your draft into a logical flow. Common structures include:

Chronological: Past → Present → Future

• Where you started
• How you’ve evolved
• Where you’re heading

Problem-Solution: Challenge → Expertise → Results

• Problems in your field or that you solve
• Your unique capabilities
• Outcomes you create

Value-First: What you deliver → How you deliver it → Why

• Your impact and results
• Skills and approach
• Motivation and passion

Step 7: Optimize for Readability

Dense blocks of text discourage reading. Make your summary scannable:

• Use short paragraphs (2-4 sentences max)
• Include line breaks between sections
• Consider bullet points for skill lists or accomplishments
• Break up text visually while staying professional

Step 8: Add Keywords Strategically

Research what terms recruiters and others search for in your field. Include these naturally:

• Job titles you target
• Industry-specific terminology
• Technical skills and tools
• Certifications and credentials
• Methodologies and frameworks

Don’t stuff keywords artificially—integrate them into genuine sentences.

Step 9: Refine Your Conclusion and Call to Action

End purposefully. Your closing should:

• Reinforce your value proposition
• Indicate openness to connection or conversation
• Direct readers to take specific action
• Leave a positive final impression

Step 10: Edit Ruthlessly

Cut anything that doesn’t serve your goals:

• Remove redundancies and filler
• Delete vague language; add specifics
• Eliminate jargon that obscures meaning
• Ensure every sentence earns its place

Read aloud to catch awkward phrasing. Have someone else review for clarity and impact.

First-Person vs. Third-Person: Making the Choice

A fundamental decision is whether to write in first person (“I help companies…”) or third person (“Sarah helps companies…”).

First person advantages:

• More personal and conversational
• Creates connection with readers
• Feels more authentic and approachable
• Works well for most professionals

Third person advantages:

• Can sound more formal and prestigious
• Works for very senior executives
• Appropriate when summary might be used as bio
• Conventional in some conservative industries

The general recommendation: Use first person unless you have specific reasons for third person. LinkedIn is a networking platform, and first person creates the conversational tone that facilitates connection.

Tone and Voice Considerations

Your summary’s tone should reflect both your personality and professional context.

Consider your industry: Finance and law often expect more formal tones than marketing or tech startups. Match conventions while still showing personality.

Consider your level: Entry-level professionals can be more casual than C-suite executives, though senior leaders who write authentically often stand out positively.

Consider your goals: Job seekers might be more formal; thought leaders building personal brands might be more conversational.

Find your authentic voice: The best summaries sound like real humans, not corporate communications departments. Let your personality show within professional bounds.

Platforms like 0portfolio.com can help you develop consistent personal branding across your professional materials, ensuring your LinkedIn summary aligns with your resume and other career documents.

LinkedIn Summary Examples and Templates

Different situations call for different approaches. Here are frameworks for various contexts:

For Job Seekers

Structure:

1. Hook: Your value proposition or key accomplishment
2. Professional background: Career journey highlights
3. Expertise: Skills and capabilities relevant to target roles
4. What you’re seeking: Types of opportunities
5. Call to action: Invitation to connect

Example opening: “I turn data chaos into strategic clarity. As a Business Intelligence Analyst, I’ve helped three companies make sense of millions of data points, driving decisions that resulted in measurable revenue growth and operational efficiency…”

For Established Professionals

Structure:

1. Hook: Perspective on your field or role
2. Career narrative: Evolution and accomplishments
3. Current focus: What you’re working on now
4. Philosophy: Your approach and values
5. Call to action: Networking invitation

Example opening: “After 15 years in supply chain management, I’ve learned that the best systems are invisible—they work so well that no one notices them. My career has been dedicated to creating that invisible excellence, most recently as VP of Operations at…”

For Career Changers

Structure:

1. Hook: What draws you to new field
2. Transfer value: Skills and experience that translate
3. Why the change: Authentic motivation
4. Preparation: Steps taken toward transition
5. Call to action: Openness to opportunities in new field

Example opening: “After a decade of success in pharmaceutical sales, I discovered my true passion: the intersection of healthcare and technology. The same skills that made me a top performer—understanding complex products, building relationships, communicating value—now drive my transition into health tech product management…”

For Consultants and Freelancers

Structure:

1. Hook: Problem you solve for clients
2. Expertise: Your specialization and approach
3. Results: Client outcomes you create
4. Credibility: Background supporting expertise
5. Call to action: Invitation to discuss potential work

Example opening: “Companies hire me when their marketing isn’t converting. I diagnose the disconnect between their message and their audience, then design campaigns that actually resonate. Over the past five years, I’ve helped 40+ companies increase conversion rates by an average of 35%…”

For Recent Graduates

Structure:

1. Hook: Passion for field or unique perspective
2. Education: Relevant preparation and achievements
3. Experience: Internships, projects, relevant activities
4. Skills: Capabilities ready to apply professionally
5. Call to action: Eagerness to connect and learn

Example opening: “Sustainability isn’t just a career interest for me—it’s a calling that shaped my entire university experience and the work I want to do for the next 40 years. As a recent Environmental Science graduate, I bring fresh research skills, genuine passion, and a willingness to learn…”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Learn from others’ errors to ensure your summary stands out for the right reasons.

The Buzzword Dump

Filling your summary with terms like “synergy,” “leverage,” “dynamic,” and “innovative” without substantiation makes you sound like everyone else—and slightly robotic.

Fix: Replace buzzwords with specific examples. Instead of “I’m a strategic thinker,” try “I identified a market opportunity that led to a $2M product line.”

The Resume Rehash

Simply restating your job history in paragraph form wastes the summary’s unique potential for narrative and personality.

Fix: Use the summary for what your resume can’t do—tell your story, reveal your personality, explain your motivation.

The Laundry List

Bullet pointing every skill, software program, and certification creates a cluttered, overwhelming summary that no one reads completely.

Fix: Select the most relevant items and weave them into your narrative naturally.

The Humble Brag

Attempts to seem modest while showcasing accomplishments often backfire, coming across as insincere.

Fix: State accomplishments directly and confidently. There’s nothing wrong with saying “I led a team that achieved X.”

The Autobiography

Starting from childhood or providing excessive background details loses readers before reaching valuable content.

Fix: Begin where it becomes professionally relevant. Your summary isn’t your life story.

The Wall of Text

Long, unbroken paragraphs intimidate readers and rarely get read in full.

Fix: Break text into digestible chunks with clear visual separation.

The Missing Call to Action

Ending without direction leaves readers uncertain about next steps.

Fix: Always conclude with a clear invitation to connect, message, or learn more.

Optimizing Your Summary for Search

LinkedIn functions as a search engine, and optimizing your summary increases your visibility.

Keyword Research

Identify terms people use when searching for professionals like you:

• Study job postings for common terminology
• Note how successful peers describe themselves
• Use LinkedIn’s search to see what terms surface relevant profiles
• Include both technical terms and common language

Strategic Placement

LinkedIn’s algorithm gives more weight to certain areas:

• Include key terms in your first few lines
• Repeat important keywords naturally throughout
• Use variations (project manager, project management, managing projects)
• Don’t sacrifice readability for keywords

Skills Alignment

Ensure your summary keywords align with your LinkedIn Skills section for reinforcement.

When and How to Update Your Summary

Your LinkedIn summary isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it element. Regular updates keep it fresh and relevant.

Triggers for Updates

Consider revising your summary when:

• You change jobs or roles
• You acquire significant new skills or certifications
• Your career goals evolve
• Your target audience changes
• It’s been more than a year since you reviewed it
• You notice similar profiles with better summaries
• You’re beginning an active job search

Update Process

When revising:

• Review your current summary with fresh eyes
• Consider what’s changed professionally
• Update accomplishments and current focus
• Refresh keywords based on current job market
• Test the new version’s impact (connection requests, profile views)

Beyond the Summary: Creating a Cohesive Profile

Your summary works best as part of a complete, cohesive LinkedIn presence.

Headline Alignment

Your headline (the text under your name) should complement your summary:

• Use keywords important to your summary
• Create curiosity that makes people want to read more
• Avoid generic titles; be specific and value-oriented

Experience Section

Ensure your experience section provides evidence for claims in your summary:

• Use accomplishment-focused descriptions
• Include quantified achievements
• Tell a consistent story with your summary

Skills and Endorsements

Curate skills that reinforce your summary’s focus:

• Prioritize skills you mention in your summary
• Seek endorsements for key capabilities
• Remove skills that don’t align with your current goals

Recommendations

Strong recommendations provide social proof for your summary’s claims:

• Request recommendations that speak to key themes
• Guide recommenders toward specific accomplishments or qualities
• Display recommendations prominently

Final Thoughts: Your Summary as Living Document

Your LinkedIn summary represents your professional story at this moment in time. It’s not a permanent inscription but a living document that should evolve as you do.

The best summaries balance several tensions: they’re professional yet personable, comprehensive yet concise, optimized for search yet natural to read. Finding this balance takes iteration—expect to revise several times before landing on a version that truly works.

Remember that behind every profile view is a real person trying to decide whether you’re worth their attention. Your summary is your chance to earn that attention, to differentiate yourself from millions of other professionals, and to open doors to opportunities you can’t yet imagine.

Take the time to craft something worthy of your professional identity. The investment in writing an outstanding LinkedIn summary pays dividends throughout your career.