Your LinkedIn ‘About’ section should invite conversation, connection, and collaboration.
Why is a LinkedIn Summary (About) Section Important?
Your LinkedIn summary (or ‘About’ section) is one of the most important parts of your profile. After your name and headline, explored in part 1 of our LinkedIn Mastery series, it’s the first section people see when they click to view your profile.
This section provides the perfect opportunity to expand on the promise, themes, and keywords in your headline but in a more conversational and engaging way.
While the headline quickly grabs attention and sets the tone with industry-relevant keywords, the summary builds on that by presenting a deeper, more compelling narrative that allows readers to learn more about you—who you are, what you offer, and your strengths, ambitions, and personality.
Both sections should strategically use keywords to improve your profile’s visibility in search results and get you found for the right roles or opportunities.
Key Differences: LinkedIn Summary vs. Resume Summary
Both your LinkedIn and resume summaries aim to introduce you professionally, but in different ways.
Audience and Tone:
LinkedIn is designed to reach a broad audience, including recruiters, potential employers, colleagues, and other professional connections. It’s more casual and personal, allowing you to express yourself and invite people to connect with you.
Your resume summary targets a more specific audience: recruiters and hiring managers. It’s more like your marketing pitch for a specific role, highlighting your key qualifications and other unique value by speaking the language of the job posting.
Length and Depth:
LinkedIn’s 2,600-character summary gives you room to dive deeper into your career story, motivations, and leadership style and share insights beyond your resume, such as your aspirations and passions.
In contrast, your resume summary is short and focused—typically 3-5 lines of text or 2-3 bullet points. It’s designed for recruiters to scan quickly and is more job-specific.
Keyword Optimization:
LinkedIn’s search functionality and algorithm rely heavily on keyword optimization. Recruiters use industry-specific keywords to find candidates.
A well-optimized summary improves your visibility, ensuring you show up in the right searches that align with your career goals.
Keywords are also essential for resumes but in a more narrow way. They must mirror the language of the specific job posting and keywords programmed by the employer in their applicant tracking system (ATS).
Personal Story and Narrative:
LinkedIn encourages storytelling! You can share details about your career path, values, and what makes you tick, with the ultimate goal of crafting a compelling narrative that resonates with a wide audience.
On your resume, though, personal stories take on more of a “just the facts” approach, focusing more on the impact you delivered through your actions and contributions, including quantifiable metrics (if applicable) that speak to the role you’re applying for.
Call to Action:
A strong LinkedIn summary typically ends with a call to action, inviting readers to connect with you, initiate a conversation, or read your profile further to learn more about your work. The goal is to spark engagement and prompt further action.
A resume doesn’t usually need a call to action because its purpose is clear—it’s part of the job application process. A cover letter essentially serves as your call to action by inviting the reader, typically a recruiter or a hiring manager, to take the next step in the hiring process (calling you for an interview).
Tips for Writing Your LinkedIn ‘About’ Section
Using “I” and “me” makes your summary more approachable and authentic. It helps convey your personality and humanize your experience. Your opening line is crucial since people only see the first 350 characters before they click “See more.” Make it count by grabbing attention and drawing them in. Online readers tend to skim. Use short paragraphs to ensure your content is easy to digest and visually appealing, with plenty of white space. Avoid using “resume language” and rigid structure. While bullet points and sub-headings can help, focus on writing in an engaging, conversational way. Share your career journey, motivations, and what excites you. This section is a chance to show who you are beyond your professional journey. Feel free to use words like “love,” “passionate,” “excited,” or other words that resonate with you as they add energy and personality to your profile.
What Should You Include in Your LinkedIn Summary?
There's no one-size-fits-all formula for a great "About" section. The goal is to create content that resonates with you and your audience while underscoring your key strengths and future aspirations.
Some examples can include, but are not limited to, the following:
After writing and polishing your LinkedIn summary content, ask yourself the following:
Need Inspiration?
Check out a few summaries of previous Scientech clients:
👉🏻 Executive Technology Leader
You can also check out my summary for additional inspiration.
What's Next?
Your LinkedIn summary is a chance to make a lasting impression. A strong summary not only boosts your visibility but also opens the door to meaningful connections that can advance your career.
Make it count. You never know where your next connection might lead!
Your LinkedIn summary sets the stage, but your Experience section brings your career story to life. In part 3, we will cover how to structure your work history, highlight key accomplishments, and make each role stand out without making it a copy-and-paste of your existing resume.
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Want to Learn More?
Check out the previous posts in our LinkedIn Mastery series:
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