How your LinkedIn profile can help you land your next job, or keep you stuck

Hey Reader,

One of my recent clients, 'S', contacted me for help in her job search. She was in a toxic job with an unsupportive manager and wanted to leave ASAP.

When I reviewed her LinkedIn profile, the problem became clear: it was outdated.

The impressive achievements she shared in our intro call? Missing.

The valuable skills employers were actively searching for? Not even mentioned.

We revamped her LinkedIn profile to highlight her professional story, showcase her best accomplishments, and communicate the unique value she brings to a new employer. Just two days later, she got a message from a recruiter at a Big Tech company, offering her the senior role she’d been searching for.

That’s the power of an optimised LinkedIn profile.

As someone who’s worked inside recruitment teams and coached dozens of high-achieving women in Tech, I see this all the time. Your LinkedIn profile could be the reason recruiters aren’t finding you.

Here’s the thing: Recruiters use specific tools and keywords to find candidates like you, and if your profile isn’t optimised with the right job titles, keywords, and quantified results, you’re basically invisible to them. Yet, many LinkedIn profiles are stuck in the past—outdated titles, minimal context, and no real story that showcases your true value. That’s a huge missed opportunity.

Your LinkedIn profile should be doing some of the heavy lifting in your job search. It’s more than just a digital CV; it’s your chance to tell the story of your career in a way that grabs attention and has recruiters and hiring managers reach out to you for the roles you truly want.

Think about it like this: You’re a Senior Product Manager at Google with a funky internal job title like “Platform Evolution Specialist.” It sounds cool inside your company, but it means nothing to a recruiter at another firm. Standardise that title on LinkedIn to something more widely recognised, like “Product Manager,” so recruiters can actually find you.

Here's how to increase your chances of getting an InMail from a recruiter:

1. Standardise your job titles. Recruiters search with common terms like "Product Manager" or "Sales Manager." If your title is company-specific jargon, it’s time to rethink it.

2. Leverage keywords in your headline and about section. These areas are prime real estate. Use specific, powerful keywords that reflect your skills and results. Think about what impact you’ve made, not just the duties you’ve performed.

3. Quantify your achievements. Numbers speak louder than words. Instead of saying, “Led a team,” say, “Led a team of 10 engineers to deliver a $2M project ahead of schedule.”

4. Engage on LinkedIn. Recruiters use a filter that prioritises 'active profiles'. Comment, share, or like posts a few times a month to boost your visibility. It doesn’t take much time, but it makes a big difference.

5. Set yourself up for success. Use the “Open to Work” feature strategically by enabling it for recruiters only (no need to announce it to the world). This gives you control over who knows you’re looking while making it easier for recruiters to find you.

I’ve been a recruiter, I’ve used these exact tools, and I know how frustrating it is when someone great, like you, isn’t showing up in the search results because their profile is lost in translation.

This isn’t about luck. It’s about positioning yourself to win.

By optimising your LinkedIn profile, you can attract opportunities that align with your values, your skills, and your career goals. Imagine landing your next job in Tech all because a recruiter reached out to you! That’s what’s possible when you stop being invisible.

Ready to make LinkedIn work for you?

Talk to you soon,
Jenn

P.S. Curious about how the THRIVE Method can specifically help you? Drop me a message or connect with me on LinkedIn - I’d love to chat!