Building a Standout LinkedIn Profile: How to Make Your LinkedIn Shine

Whether you're looking to return to the workplace after a career break or you're searching for a role that fits around your life, LinkedIn can be a powerful tool to help you get noticed.

At Ten2Two, we speak to recruiters and hiring managers every day—and they do look at LinkedIn profiles when considering candidates. So here’s how to make sure yours is working hard for you, even when you’re not actively job hunting.

1. Add a Friendly, Professional Profile Photo

First impressions matter, and your photo is one of the first things people see. Go for a clear, professional-looking headshot with a smile. It doesn’t need to be taken by a professional—just well-lit and free from distractions.

Good to know: Profiles with a photo are far more likely to be viewed than those without.

2. Make Your Headline Work for You

You don’t have to use your current job title—especially if you’re not in a role right now. Instead, use your headline to highlight your skills and the kind of opportunities you're open to. For example:
- “Experienced PA | Organised, Calm Under Pressure | Open to Part-Time Roles”
- “Marketing Returner | Digital Content | Seeking Flexible Opportunities”

3. Tell Your Story in the About Section

Use this space to tell recruiters a little about you—what you’ve done, what you’re great at, and what kind of role you’re looking for now. If you’ve had a career break, don’t shy away from it. Just be honest and confident.

Here’s an example:

“After a successful 12-year career in HR, I took a career break to raise my children. I’m now excited to return to work in a part-time capacity, bringing with me strong people skills, a calm head, and deep understanding of SME business needs.”

4. Use Keywords Strategically

Think about the kind of roles you’d like and make sure the relevant skills and terms appear in your headline, about, and experience sections. This helps your profile appear in recruiter searches.

5. Show What You’ve Done

Even if you haven’t been in paid employment recently, include freelance work, volunteering, or other relevant activities. You can highlight transferable skills like organisation, project management, and communication.

6. Add Skills and Ask for Endorsements

Choose up to 50 skills that reflect your strengths—especially those aligned with your career goals. Ask former colleagues, clients, or peers to endorse you.

7. Build Your Network

You don’t need to connect with hundreds of people overnight. Start with friends, former colleagues, and people in your industry. Connect with team at Ten2Two too—we love supporting our Ten2Two members!

8. Let Recruiters Know You’re Open

Use the “Open to Work” setting to quietly let recruiters know you’re open to opportunities. You can tailor this so only recruiters see it, or make it public—whatever feels right for you.

💡 Download our LinkedIn Checklist
We've put together a handy, one-page checklist to help you tick everything off as you go. Keep it by your side while updating your profile!

Download the LinkedIn Checklist