Tired of searching through dozens (or even hundreds) of job postings, tweaking your CV for each one, and just hoping that yours will get noticed? Try upgrading your LinkedIn profile: it’s a powerful job-search tool that saves you time.

My name is Oksana Yefimenko, I’m a recruiter with 7.5+ years of experience (including in IT and GameDev), so I know all the hacks for successful hiring. During my time at MOJAM, a properly filled-out LinkedIn profile has often become a “golden ticket” to a job offer. That’s why I’ve gathered key tips on how to level up your LinkedIn page so recruiters can’t scroll past it.

Level 1. Grab attention with your header

The header is the short line right under your name in the profile — it’s the first thing that catches the eye when someone opens your LinkedIn. Think of it like a username in a game: it makes you stand out among other players, in this case — candidates. That’s why it should be short, sharp, and relevant.

❌ Say “No” to:

• Repetition. A common mistake many people make is simply duplicating their job title: Frontend Developer, Project Manager, QA Engineer. It sounds dry and says nothing about your uniqueness.
• Irrelevant details. Candidates often put company or project names in their header that are unfamiliar to most people. Think about whether it really makes sense to highlight experience that might not resonate with a recruiter.

✅ Say “Yes” to:

• Creativity. Don’t be afraid to show personality. Writing “Digital Marketing Jedi” is better than the bland “Professional Marketer.”
• High-profile expertise. Worked at Google? Don’t hesitate to put that in your header! Experience with well-known companies can be a magnet for recruiters.
• Important numbers. For every company, past results speak louder than promises. You can mention the number of deals closed, successful projects, conversions, funds raised, etc.
• Your values. Consider yourself an IT evangelist and want to push niche projects in digital? Don’t be afraid to declare your beliefs — it will definitely make you stand out among other profiles.

Level 2. Optimize the “About” Section

The next step is to briefly and convincingly “sell” your experience and skills in the About block. This part determines whether a recruiter will want to explore your profile further.

❌ Say “No” to:

• Copy-pasting your CV. Recruiters will check the Experience section separately, so there’s no need to duplicate it here.
• Empty epithets. Phrases like “goal-oriented team player with deep expertise in the field” say nothing about your unique skills or real experience and will only turn off potential employers.

✅ Say “Yes” to:

• Facts. Write who you are, how many years of experience you have, what roles you’ve worked in, and what you consider your strongest skills. Be sure to mention specific achievements: numbers, results, process optimizations, etc. — briefly and to the point.
• Skills overview. Highlight specific soft and hard skills that help you in your work. Mention completed programs, courses, leadership experience, and more.
• Contacts. If you don’t check your LinkedIn inbox often, add an alternative way to reach you — your Telegram, email, or any other convenient method.
• Storytelling. Your About section doesn’t have to be a dry summary. Humor, creativity, emotional tone, and wit can definitely impress a recruiter.

Level 3. Take Care of Visual Presentation

Yes, even on LinkedIn people judge by appearance first and by expertise later. That’s why it’s important to make your account visually appealing — starting with your profile photo and background image.

❌ Say “No” to:

• Facelessness. Everyone has a favorite superhero or anime character, but LinkedIn is not the place for them as your profile picture.
• Unprofessional photos. Vacation shots or elevator selfies are unlikely to present you as a top candidate.
• Group photos as an avatar. Don’t make recruiters guess which person in the picture is you.
• Default banner. If you leave the standard background that appears automatically after creating a profile, you risk blending into the gray mass of other accounts.

✅ Say “Yes” to:

• Approachability. A photo with a light smile in a casual-professional setting presents you as open and approachable. (At MOJAM, we call our teammates PROs — because being PRO is one of our core values.)
• Good quality. A clear, high-resolution photo makes a positive impression of your professionalism at first glance.
• Customization. Use your background image as an opportunity to showcase past work experience, your professional field, key achievements, or personal brand. Try using online tools like Canva — it’s a convenient way to create a great banner in just a few clicks.

Level 4. Showcase All Sides of Your Experience

The Experience section is the most important block of your profile and your ace in the job-offer game. It’s your chance to demonstrate your growth as a PRO. Use storytelling: what you did, what you achieved, and what your personal contribution was. You are the main character of the story, and your career path is your lore.

❌ Say “No” to:

• Generalities. Phrases like “responsible for product development” or “worked on game creation” don’t say anything about you personally.
• Walls of text. If information isn’t structured logically and concisely, chances are high nobody will read it.
• Quantity over quality. Don’t just list duties without results — it’s better to show the impact you had. Also, avoid listing every possible skill if they’re not relevant.

✅ Say “Yes” to:

• Results. Numbers are your superpower in this section. If you can back up your achievements with specific metrics, do it! Shortened release time by 30%, increased active users by 20%, reduced client onboarding time — all of this proves you’re PRO.
• Honesty. Had career breaks? That’s absolutely fine. Write about them openly: share if you studied, freelanced, worked on personal projects, or something else — it will help you avoid unnecessary questions during the interview.

Level 5. Use Recommendations to Stand Out

LinkedIn recommendations are real proof that you’re not making up your achievements — they’re backed by colleagues and managers. No certificate carries as much weight as a few warm, genuine reviews from people you worked side by side with.

❌ Say “No” to:

• Dishonesty. Recruiters can often tell at a glance if a recommendation was written on demand.
• Clichés. Phrases like “a wonderful person” or “my favorite colleague” don’t highlight your expertise in any way.
• AI. Short, dry statements with no valuable details often reveal that the recommendation was simply generated.

✅ Say “Yes” to:

• Real feedback. Genuine, personal comments — even brief ones — are valued more than generic claims like “the best specialist of all time.”
• Details. Ask colleagues to share what projects you worked on together, what you achieved, and how you supported each other.
• Recommendation moderation. You can control which recommendations are shown on your profile. And remember: if you remove a contact, their recommendation disappears too.

Level 6. Complete Your Profile

Listing basic career information is only the beginning. Share more about yourself so that potential employers can form a positive impression.

❌ Say “No” to:

• Dry facts only. Recruiters are looking for a personality who fits the company culture, not just a robot without interests or background.

✅ Say “Yes” to:

• Languages. Mention which languages you know and at what level.
• Education. Provide details about your university, major, courses, licenses, skill assessments, etc. Don’t forget to include thesis projects, conferences, events, or other activities.
• Volunteering. Highlight values that matter to you and share how you contribute to the world around you.
• Awards. Showcase recognition you’ve received during your studies or professional career.

Level 7. Stay Active on the Platform

LinkedIn isn’t just a place to store your CV. It’s a living professional network. If you want to get noticed, you need to stay active: add new contacts, reply to recruiters’ direct messages (even when you’re not job-hunting), comment on posts, and share your own thoughts and experiences.

❌ Say “No” to:

• Inconsistency. One post per year won’t boost your appeal as a candidate.
  
• Toxicity. Aggressive comments, a condescending tone, or public criticism without constructive feedback leave a negative impression. Be the kind of person others want to work with.

✅ Say “Yes” to:

• New connections. Add recruiters and specialists from your field to your network.
• Communication. Respond to cold messages, even if you’re not currently interested in offers. The world changes quickly, and it’s better to have useful contacts in advance. Commenting on others’ posts is also a great way to meet new people and increase your visibility.
• Personal brand. Post about projects, books, ideas, share your perspective on trends, and talk openly about both failures and wins. The more useful and authentic content you share, the more your audience grows.
• Publications. Contribute to Collaborative Articles and share your own short articles on your profile to highlight your expertise.
• Side gigs. Showcase work outside your main job and passion projects.
• Active job search. If you’re looking for a new company, use all the platform’s tools. LinkedIn offers two modes:
  1. Public mode — activate the “Open to Work” frame on your photo and make a public post.
  2. Private mode — only recruiters see that you’re open to opportunities.
     Don’t forget to clearly state your desired position, location, work format, type of employment, and availability date.

PRO Tips to Boost Your Profile

• Optimize your profile URL. Make sure it looks professional. It’s best to include only your full name and position. For example: www.linkedin.com/in/o-yefimenko-recruiter.
• Create multiple language versions of your LinkedIn profile. Go to your profile, click “Add profile in another language,” translate all your information, and save it — this makes your profile more appealing to international recruiters.
• Get verified on LinkedIn. Take the time to confirm your identity using biometrics. This reassures recruiters that your account belongs to a real person, not a bot or fake profile.

Finish Line: What I Personally Pay Attention To

LinkedIn is your mirror in the professional world. Don’t be lazy — make sure to highlight your strengths, engage with the community, and be original. Keep in mind, however, that every recruiter has their own top priorities when evaluating a candidate’s LinkedIn profile. Here’s what I personally focus on 👇

• Work Experience. I care whether a candidate clearly lists years, employers, and achievements (bonus points for numbers showing real results of their collaboration).
• About Section. Does the profile catch my attention? Can the person concisely and vividly present key information about themselves?
• Skills and Languages. It’s valuable when a candidate understands their strengths and specifies language proficiency levels.
• Volunteer Experience. A big plus if someone has a social stance and wants to positively impact the world — definitely a cultural match.
• Interests Section. Follow LinkedIn pages of companies that inspire you, stay up to date on industry news, and get information about relevant job openings. This helps potential employers understand your professional interests.

Even if you’re not actively job-hunting right now, treat LinkedIn as a magnet for career opportunities. Approach the task of leveling up your profile with enthusiasm to win this round of the game. And one last small reminder: you’re choosing the company too, not just the other way around.