Insights

Your profile is searched before it is read

For many roles, especially at mid and senior level, recruiters do not wait for applications. They search LinkedIn for people with the right title, industry, location and experience, then decide in seconds whom to contact.

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That means your profile has two jobs. First, it has to appear in the right searches. Second, it has to convince the person who finds you that a conversation is worth their time.

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What a recruiter sees first

Your headline. It appears in every search result. "Experienced professional seeking new challenges" tells a recruiter nothing. "Senior Brand Manager | Oncology | Launch & Market Entry | Ireland" tells them almost everything.

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Your current title and company. Recruiters often filter by job title. If your internal title is unusual, add the market-standard equivalent in the headline or the role description.

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Your location. Searches are usually filtered by location. If you are open to relocating or to roles in another country, say so clearly in your About section.

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Your photo. A clear, professional photo builds trust. A profile without one is easy to skip.

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What makes them reach out

An About section that explains your value. Three short paragraphs are enough: what you do, what you have achieved, and what you are looking for next. Write it in the first person and in plain language.

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Results in your experience section. List two or three concrete achievements per role, not your job description. Product launches, market entries, growth figures, team size and budgets are what senior hiring managers look for.

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The right keywords, naturally used. Include the terms someone hiring for your role would search: therapy areas, channels, markets, tools. Use them in sentences, not as a list.

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A consistent story. Your profile and your CV should match on dates, titles and achievements. Recruiters compare them.

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Should you turn on "Open to Work"?

You can make your interest visible only to recruiters rather than adding the public green banner. For senior professionals, the private option is usually the better choice: it signals availability to the people who need to know without broadcasting it.

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Five quick fixes you can make today

1. Rewrite your headline with your function, specialism and market.

2. Add two or three measurable achievements to your current role.

3. Update your location and your openness to relocation.

4. Add skills that match the roles you want, not the roles you had.

5. Ask two former managers or clients for short recommendations.

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The bottom line

A strong LinkedIn profile works for you even when you are not actively applying. Make it easy for the right recruiter to find you, understand you and contact you.

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Not sure how your profile reads from the outside? I review LinkedIn profiles and CVs from a recruiter's perspective and help professionals position themselves for the roles they want. Book a consultation