As a career changer, it’s critical to make your LinkedIn profile stand out from the competition. Implement these 7 tips to stand out, even above those that have experience in your new field.

Maximize your headline

1. Add keywords in headline.

Don’t just say UX Designer or UX Researcher or [your desired position] in your LinkedIn headline

Use additional keywords; here’s how:

• Review 5–6 job postings of jobs you like
• Determine the top 3 skills needed that you also have
• Include those in your heading

You have 220 characters.

It might look like this:

UX Designer | Committed to designing compelling product experiences based on customer and business needs | Figma expert

UX Designer | Skilled in creating wireframes, prototypes, and user-friendly designs | Enthusiastic about applying research results and best practices to ensure engaging designs

Common mistakes by Career Changers in the About section and what to do to prevent them

2. Focusing on your past experience only.

Instead, include an opening paragraph about your excitement for your new field, and briefly mention how your past experience led you to this new career field. In subsequent paragraph(s), include information on your recently acquired new skillset and relevant projects.

3. Too business-like language

Recruiters want to know you. Your personality. Don’t be afraid to show up in your About section. The rest of your LinkedIn profile is already business-y.

Write your about section as if you were talking with a friend.

4. Lack of keywords related to your new career field.

Recruiters search LinkedIn using keywords related to the positions they are filling. Add relevant keywords for your new position by including a Skills list. Add your recently acquired skills that correlate to your next position.

Show your UX/UI work in your LinkedIn profile

I work with career changers going into UX/UI where it’s crucial to have an online portfolio. But, this is true for other disciplines as well. Add quick links for recruiters to easily see your work. And, show your work by adding visuals to your LinkedIn profile. Here’s how:

5. Don’t hide the link to your online portfolio inside your About section

Show the link to your online portfolio in your heading.

Here’s how:

• Edit your Intro
• At the bottom of the window, enter your website and link text

6. Add media in your experience and education sections

• Edit your Experience or Education
• At the bottom of the window, click Add Media

Result:

Secret: If you add a link without a description, it will immediately jump to the link when clicked (vs opening another window and then clicking on ‘View’)

7. Add the Featured section to show visuals of your work

You can add links to individual case studies in your online portfolio in the Featured section.

Here’s how:

• At top of your profile (below your header info), click ‘Add profile section’
• Click Featured > Links
• Enter the URL to your case study

If you add a link, don’t include a description. That way it is a simple one-click action for the recruiter to see your case study.

TL;DR

1. Add keywords in headline.
2. Share your career journey and show your excitement about this new career in your About section.
3. Write your About section like you’d write to a friend.
4. Include a Skills list in your About section that list your recently acquired skills in your new field.
5. Put a link to your online portfolio in the header section.
6. Add visuals (media) to your Experience and Education sections.
7. Add the Featured section to highlight your individual case studies in your online portfolio.