Optimize your LinkedIn Profile

Plus: What's going on in the job market? + Google Keyword Planner

March 5th, 2025

🎙️ Did You Know? On this day in 1946, Winston Churchill delivered his iconic "Iron Curtain" speech, marking the start of the Cold War. It’s a powerful reminder that the right words can shape history. Choose your words wisely!

The Weekly Grind

From Bland to Brand
How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is the most important job site right now, and it doesn’t look like that’s changing anytime soon. So, if you want to stand out among the hundreds of profiles, it’s time to give it the attention it deserves – even if the TikTok distraction game is strong.

Here’s why… 

Even if you’re not actively applying on LinkedIn, chances are recruiters are still checking your profile. In fact, 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to vet candidates, and applicants with a strong profile are 71% more likely to land an interview.

Here’s how to optimize your profile with three key pillars: keywords, skills, and search.

The following are our honest suggestions, no affiliate links or kickbacks apply. 

Choosing the Right Keywords

Keywords are the secret sauce to making your profile discoverable. 

How to Find the Right Keywords:

  • Job Descriptions: Scan postings for roles you want. What terms keep popping up?

  • LinkedIn Search Bar: Type in job titles or skills related to your field. See what LinkedIn suggests.

  • Competitor Profiles: Check out profiles of people in similar roles. What keywords are they using?

Where to Use Them:

  • The headline. i.e, “Digital Marketing Specialist | SEO Expert | Content Creator.”

  • The summary section. Write a compelling bio that naturally weaves in your keywords.

  • The experience section. Detail your roles and responsibilities using relevant keywords.

Mastering the Skills & Endorsements Section

This section is your chance to showcase what you’re great at and prove it.

How to Make It Work for You:

  • Add Relevant Skills. Focus on the top 10 skills most relevant to your desired roles.

  • Get Endorsed. Politely ask colleagues, mentors, or classmates to endorse your skills.

💡 Pro tip: Endorse others first; they’ll often return the favor.

How to Use It Effectively:

  • Search for Job Titles. Look up the roles you want and study the profiles of people who have them. What skills and experiences do they highlight?

  • Connect Strategically. Send personalized connection requests to professionals in your field. Mention why you want to connect and how you can add value.

  • Join Groups. Find LinkedIn groups related to your industry. Engage in discussions to boost your visibility and network.

Hey, want us to take a look at your profile? 👀 The RoadMap team can get your LinkedIn profile ready to help you land that interview. Just hit reply and let us know!

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Google Keyword Planner for LinkedIn Profile Optimization

Above, we talked about how to optimize your LinkedIn profile with the right keywords using LinkedIn itself, but how can we take it to the next level and make sure our profile is visible to recruiters? Let's use Google Keyword Planner.

  • Navigate to Keyword Planner: Once you're in Google Ads (it's free, you just need a Gmail account), click on the tools icon in the upper right corner and select "Keyword Planner" under the "Planning" section.

  • Choose Your Tool: In Keyword Planner, select "Discover new keywords."

  • Enter Relevant Keywords: Input keywords related to your industry, job title, and skills. 

  • Review Keyword Suggestions: Look through the list of suggested keywords. Pay attention to the search volume and competition for each keyword.

  • Select Relevant Keywords: Choose keywords that are highly relevant to your desired job roles and have a good search volume. Avoid overly competitive keywords that might be hard to rank for.

Don't look for the recruiters; let the recruiters find you 🙂

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