How to add LinkedIn to resume: A complete guide

The LinkedIn profile has become an essential tool in the modern business world, helping professionals showcase their skills, experiences, and accomplishments. In today’s digital age, it is becoming increasingly important for job seekers to leverage online professional networks like LinkedIn to enhance their job applications.

One effective way to bridge the gap between a printed resume and a professional online presence is to include your LinkedIn profile on your resume. This guide will walk through the process of how to add LinkedIn to a resume and why it’s beneficial.

Why add LinkedIn to your resume?

Before diving into the steps on how to add your LinkedIn profile to your resume, it’s important to understand why this is valuable. LinkedIn provides additional context and depth to your job application, offering hiring managers insights that are often hard to include in a one-page resume. Here are a few reasons why adding LinkedIn to your resume is beneficial:

1. Expanded information

A resume is typically a concise document that summarizes your career highlights. However, LinkedIn offers more room to elaborate on your skills, certifications, project details, and recommendations. By including your LinkedIn profile, you provide recruiters with access to a more detailed version of your professional story.

2. Showcases recommendations and endorsements

On LinkedIn, you can display endorsements from colleagues and recommendations from supervisors. These give potential employers third-party validation of your skills and work ethic, something that a traditional resume lacks.

3. Highlight additional content

LinkedIn allows users to attach work samples, articles, presentations, and other multimedia files that demonstrate your abilities. This added dimension can make your application stand out, especially in creative or technical fields.

4. Demonstrates an active professional online presence

Having a professional LinkedIn profile demonstrates to employers that you’re engaged in your field, up-to-date on industry trends, and actively network with others in your domain.

How to add LinkedIn to my resume

Now that you understand the importance of including LinkedIn, you might wonder how exactly to place it on your resume. The general consensus is that your LinkedIn profile link should be displayed clearly alongside your contact information. This can be done in several ways:

1. Add LinkedIn to the contact section

The most common place to include your LinkedIn profile is in the contact section at the top of your resume, where your name, phone number, and email address are listed. Be sure to use a professional, custom LinkedIn URL (more on that below).

Example:

javaCopy codeJohn Doe  
(555) 123-4567  
johndoe@email.com  
linkedin.com/in/johndoe

2. Add LinkedIn to a separate section

If you prefer, you can dedicate a separate section to social media or online presence. This section can include your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or professional blog if they are relevant to your career.

Example:

makefileCopy codeProfessional Online Presence  
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johndoe  
Portfolio: johndoeportfolio.com

How to customize your LinkedIn URL

When adding your LinkedIn profile to your resume, it’s crucial to make sure your URL is clean and professional. LinkedIn automatically generates a URL for each profile, but it often contains random numbers and letters, which can look cluttered. To make your profile URL easier to read and more professional, you should customize it.

Steps to customize your LinkedIn URL:

1. Log into your LinkedIn account and click on your profile picture to go to your profile.
2. In the top-right corner of your profile, click on the option to Edit public profile & URL.
3. Under the Edit your custom URL section, click the pencil icon next to the URL.
4. Enter your preferred custom URL. Most people use their first and last names (e.g., linkedin.com/in/johndoe). If that’s already taken, try adding a middle initial or a profession-related keyword (e.g., linkedin.com/in/johndoedesign).
5. Click Save.

Customizing your LinkedIn URL not only look more professional, but also makes your profile easier to share and remember.

Best practices for adding LinkedIn to your resume

When including your LinkedIn profile on your resume, you want to ensure that it adds value and does not appear redundant. Here are a few best practices to consider:

1. Keep your LinkedIn profile updated

Before adding LinkedIn to your resume, make sure that your LinkedIn profile is up to date and reflects your most recent job experience, skills, and accomplishments. The profile should align with the information on your resume but also offer additional details that a traditional resume cannot.

2. Avoid repetition

It’s important to remember that LinkedIn should supplement your resume, not duplicate it. While some information will naturally overlap, use LinkedIn to expand on your roles, add multimedia content, and showcase endorsements that don’t fit your resume.

3. Use a professional profile picture

If you haven’t already, add a professional photo to your LinkedIn profile. First impressions matter, and a high-quality, professional headshot can help create a positive impression with recruiters and hiring managers who visit your profile.

4. Highlight key accomplishments

LinkedIn allows you to list more than just job titles and dates. Be sure to include specific accomplishments, projects, and results in your LinkedIn experience section. You can also attach work samples, presentations, or portfolio items to your profile.

5. Add skills and endorsements

Make sure to add relevant skills to your LinkedIn profile and seek endorsements from colleagues or industry peers. Endorsements and recommendations add credibility to your profile and can act as mini-references for hiring managers.

Why recruiters check LinkedIn profiles

Recruiters often use LinkedIn as a tool to gain more insights into a candidate’s professional background. Here are a few reasons why they check LinkedIn profiles:

1. To verify information

Recruiters may check your LinkedIn profile to verify the information provided in your resume. Ensuring that your resume and LinkedIn profile are consistent and accurate is essential.

2. To gauge professional activity

Recruiters also look at LinkedIn profiles to see how active a candidate is within their industry. Engaging with content, joining industry-specific groups, or sharing relevant articles can show that you’re an active participant in your field.

3. To check connections and recommendations

LinkedIn allows recruiters to see mutual connections, professional endorsements, and recommendations from peers or supervisors. These elements help provide additional context about your work ethic and expertise.

Final thoughts

Including your LinkedIn profile on your resume is a powerful way to expand on your professional experience and provide employers with a more comprehensive view of your qualifications. By customizing your LinkedIn URL, placing it strategically on your resume, and ensuring that your profile is up to date, you enhance your chances of making a strong impression with potential employers.

In today’s competitive job market, leveraging all available resources, including LinkedIn, can set you apart from other candidates and provide you with a distinct advantage in your job search. Make sure that your LinkedIn profile is aligned with your resume, showcases your achievements, and highlights the value you can bring to prospective employers.