What makes a good LinkedIn profile?
Before diving into specific examples, let's understand what separates exceptional LinkedIn profiles from the average ones:
- Clear professional branding: A consistent message about who you are and what you offer
- Compelling storytelling: Narratives that showcase your journey and achievements
- Strategic keyword optimization: Targeted terms that help you appear in relevant searches
- Visual appeal: Eye-catching media and formatting that enhances readability
- Authentic engagement: Regular, meaningful interaction with your network
Real examples of LinkedIn profiles
Lottie Khan
Lottie’s profile is as sunny as her personality. She tells you exactly what she does - and even when her next LinkedIn post will be.
- The yellow hearts and yellow background nicely complement EY’s yellow stripe, as well as showing her sunny personality
- The yellow hearts give her profile a more personal feel, and make everything less serious, even though she posts about serious corporate topics
- Lottie tells you exactly what she does straight away, with a touch of personality too
- Her About section begins with immediately tell you how you can work with Lottie - and EY - with easy links to follow
- She continues the friendly yellow heart emoji theme in her About section, and also tells you exactly why she’s on LinkedIn
Liam Darmody
Liam’s profile is as hot as the hot sauce he loves. It’s a great reminder to keep your colours consistent, add in some personal details to help people get to know you, and be very clear on what you offer and who you offer it to.
- His tagline immediately tells you what he does
- Personal details like family man and hot sauce aficionado mean you get a bit more of who he is straight away
- Adding one of your favourite skills - like superconnector - is a great way to show people what they'll get from connecting with you straight away, as well as adding more personality to his professional profile
- Liam’s used all of the real estate wisely - he has great reviews, and clear services everywhere - in his tagline, About section, Featured section, and even his Work experience section, licences and certifications
Cel Ileva
Cel’s LinkedIn tagline tells you exactly what she does, with her banner giving you some info on the brilliant brands she’s worked for and spoken for.
- Her link takes you to her TEDx talk, which immediately shows you how brilliant she is as a speaker
- Her profile features photos everywhere, with her brand colors and smiley pictures of her, which makes you feel comfortable and immediately makes Cel likeable
- She’s used every section - her Work experience details lots more about who she speaks for and on what topics
- Cel is a brilliant example of using data to back yourself - her About section is full of useful data on why you need her, with bullet points showing you the results, testimonials, and a link if you aren’t quite ready to work together
Jen Shipley
Jen’s profile effortlessly blends personal with serious - and it doesn’t get much more serious than working in the legal industry.
- Immediately tells you her position, as well as what she specialises in for added context and so you’ll know if working with her is right for you
- Knowing Jen is a content creator makes you much more likely to follow her, so you don’t miss any updates
- Listing an award immediately builds trust with anyone visiting her profile
- Jen’s About section keeps it short and sweet, as well as adding in some personal details
Priscillia Mudiaki
Priscillia is a journalist who now manages the community at LinkedIn. Her profile gives you the heavy hitters straight away - ex. Instagram, and now working at LinkedIn. Plus, you immediately know what she does in her day to day role from the second line in her tagline.
- This is a great example of a LinkedIn profile written in the third person - if you prefer a less formal tone, this can be a good choice
- Background image features a range of different people, showing you she cares about working with experts from all kinds of industries
- Her featured section includes fun group images, to add a friendly tone, and features her tone - if you rely on the written word for your job, demonstrating your storytelling abilities is perfect
- Priscillia’s About section effortlessly takes us through a story of her childhood all the way to her career today. She tells you what she’s looking to get out of the platform, before bringing us back round to some personal details
Richard Moore
Richard gets right to the point. He tells you what you can do if you work with him, who generally works with him, and he includes a cool brand name - Art of Sell.
- No wasted LinkedIn profile real estate. He shows you the cool brands he’s worked with in his banner, and makes sure you know what type of people he works with too
- Richard’s tagline gets to the point - and then pushes you down the funnel, to click the link in his bio immediately, so you aren’t wasting time
- His About section opens with the big problem, and then shows you how he helps with it. There’s also plenty of proof to reassure you how good he is at his job
- His Featured section gives you loads to explore if you aren’t ready to convert yet, and there are lots of ways to get in touch with him too. In short, he very much walks the walk when it comes to creating a LinkedIn profile that sells
Sarah Major
Sarah’s headline is a brilliant example of staying memorable - and on message. The rest of her profile is pretty good too.
- Hooks you in but then immediately tells you what she does, so you know if you want to hire her
- Helps you remember her name by using an excellent pun
- She has a niche - LinkedIn and email marketing - which makes it much more likely you’ll remember her when the time comes to buy what she offers
- Her About section is informal, fun and friendly. Just like Sarah is. It also quickly gets into talking about what her ideal customer needs, rather than simply being about herself
- Sarah’s About section also details what working with her looks like, which makes it much more likely you’ll say yes
LinkedIn profile template
Profile Photo & Background
- Professional headshot: Clear, friendly, professional attire
- Background image: Industry-related or professional setting
Headline (220 characters)
[Job Title] at [Company] | [Key Specialty] | [Value Proposition] | [Certification if relevant]
Example: "Marketing Director at TechCorp | Digital Strategy Expert | Helping B2B Companies Increase Qualified Leads by 35%+ | MBA"
About (2,600 characters)
[Opening hook - interesting fact or statement about your professional approach]
I'm a [job title] with [X years] of experience specializing in [key area of expertise]. My passion is [what drives you professionally] and I've demonstrated this through [brief mention of major achievement].
My professional expertise includes:
[Core skill/specialty 1]
[Core skill/specialty 2]
[Core skill/specialty 3]
Throughout my career, I've [significant career thread or pattern], which has helped me [key professional advantage this gives you].
[Brief story that illustrates your professional approach or philosophy]
My industry expertise spans [relevant industries], where I've [notable accomplishment].
I'm particularly skilled at:
[Technical skill/specialty 1]
[Technical skill/specialty 2]
[Technical skill/specialty 3]
[Call to action - how to contact you and for what purposes]
[Optional: Personal touch that shows your personality but remains professional]
Experience
[Job Title] | [Company Name] | [Dates of Employment]
[Brief context about the role or company situation when you joined]
Key Responsibilities:
[Major responsibility that showcases leadership or expertise]
[Major responsibility with scope - team size, budget, etc.]
[Major responsibility that demonstrates technical skills]
Key Achievements:
[Quantifiable achievement with metrics and percentages]
[Problem you solved and the measurable impact]
[Initiative you led and its outcome]
[Recognition or award received]
Skills Applied: [List relevant skills that match what recruiters search for]
Education
[Degree] in [Field of Study] | [University Name] | [Graduation Year]
[Relevant coursework, honors, or activities]
[GPA if impressive]
Skills Section
List 10-15 skills most relevant to your industry
Ensure top 5 skills are those you want endorsements for
Mix of technical and soft skills
Recommendations
Aim for at least 3-5 recommendations
Include recommendations from supervisors, colleagues, and clients/customers
Ensure they speak to specific skills and achievements
Additional Sections (fill in if relevant)
Certifications
Volunteering
Publications
Languages
Projects
Activity
Set a goal to post or engage with content 2-3 times weekly
Share industry insights, achievements, and thought leadership
Good LinkedIn profile examples by industry
Technology professional example
Sarah Chen, Software Engineering Leader
What makes Sarah's profile exceptional:
- Headline that combines her technical expertise with leadership: Software Engineering Manager | Building scalable cloud solutions | Team mentor passionate about inclusive tech
- About section that tells her coding journey from bootcamp graduate to engineering leader
- Experience entries that highlight both technical achievements and team leadership metrics
- Featured section showcasing her GitHub projects, speaking engagements, and technical blog
- Skills section prioritizing both cutting-edge technical skills and leadership competencies
LinkedIn profile example for Marketing
Marcus Washington, Digital Marketing Strategist
What makes Marcus's profile stand out:
- Visual portfolio in his Featured section showing campaign results with eye-catching graphics
- Headline that specifies his niche: Digital Marketing Strategist specializing in DTC e-commerce | Helping brands achieve 3X ROAS
- Experience section that quantifies campaign results for each role
- Recommendations from both clients and team members that validate his expertise
- Regular posts sharing industry insights and campaign case studies (anonymized appropriately)
Real Estate Agent LinkedIn profile examples
Jennifer Lopez, Luxury Real Estate Specialist
What makes Jennifer's profile impressive:
- Headline that defines her specialty market: Luxury Real Estate Specialist | $50M+ in transactions | Helping discerning clients find their dream homes in Miami
- About section that tells her story of why she's passionate about real estate
- Featured section showcasing her most impressive property listings with professional photography
- Recommendations from satisfied buyers and sellers highlighting her negotiation skills
- Activity section featuring market trend analyses and virtual property tours
- Custom cover photo showing her with a sold sign at a stunning property
Software Engineer LinkedIn profile
Raj Patel, Full-Stack Developer
What makes Raj's profile stand out:
- Headline that highlights his technical stack: Full-Stack Engineer (React/Node.js/AWS) | Building scalable web applications | Open source contributor
- GitHub portfolio link prominently displayed in his Featured section
- Experience section detailing specific technical challenges solved and their business impact
- Skills section organized by front-end, back-end, and cloud technologies
- Certifications section showcasing his AWS and other technical credentials
- Regular activity sharing code snippets and technical articles he's written
Data Scientist LinkedIn profile examples
Elena Nguyen, AI/ML Data Scientist
What makes Elena's profile exceptional:
- Headline that shows off her specialization: Data Scientist specializing in NLP and Computer Vision | Turning data into actionable insights
- About section that explains complex AI concepts in accessible language
- Experience entries highlighting specific business problems solved with data
- Featured section with data visualizations from public projects
- Skills section balancing technical tools (Python, TensorFlow) with business acumen
- Publications section listing her research papers and conference presentations
Business Analyst LinkedIn profile
James Wilson, Business Intelligence Analyst
What makes James's profile effective:
- Headline that bridges technical and business value: Business Analyst turning complex data into strategic business decisions | Power BI Expert
- About section showcasing his approach to translating data into actionable insights
- Experience section highlighting cost savings and efficiency improvements achieved
- Skills section balancing data visualization tools, SQL expertise, and business process knowledge
- Featured dashboard examples (with sensitive information removed)
- Recommendations highlighting his ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
Project Manager LinkedIn profile example
Sophia Rodriguez, Technical Project Manager
What makes Sophia's profile stand out:
- Headline highlighting her methodology and specialty: PMP-Certified Technical Project Manager | Agile Expert | Delivering complex software projects on time and under budget
- About section that outlines her project management philosophy
- Experience entries quantifying project outcomes: budget savings, timeline improvements, and quality metrics
- Featured section with project case studies and team recognition awards
- Skills section highlighting both technical knowledge and soft skills like stakeholder management
- Recommendations from team members across different functions (developers, designers, executives)
Copywriter LinkedIn profile examples
Alex Morgan, Brand Storyteller & Copywriter
What makes Alex's profile compelling:
- Creative but easy to understand headline: Copywriter crafting words that sell | Helping brands find their voice | 200% average conversion increase
- About section written with the same engaging style they promise to clients
- Experience section with specific campaign results and before/after examples
- Featured section with writing samples across different industries
- Skills section balancing creative writing with marketing strategy and SEO knowledge
- Activity section showcasing their analysis of effective advertising campaigns
Data Analyst LinkedIn profile
Omar Hassan, Healthcare Data Analyst
What makes Omar's profile effective:
- Niche-specific headline: Healthcare Data Analyst | Transforming patient data into improved clinical outcomes | SQL/R/Tableau specialist
- About section that connects his passion for healthcare with his analytical expertise
- Experience section highlighting specific healthcare metrics improved through his analyses
- Featured dashboards showing anonymized patient outcome improvements
- Skills section organized by technical tools, healthcare knowledge, and data visualization
- Custom cover image showing a healthcare-related data visualization he created
Graphic Designer LinkedIn profile examples
Mei Lin, Brand Identity Designer
What makes Mei's profile visually stunning:
- Creative headline: Visual Storyteller | Creating brand identities that capture hearts and open wallets
- Custom cover image showcasing a collage of her best design work
- About section with a strong design philosophy and approach to client collaboration
- Experience entries with before/after visual examples of rebranding projects
- Featured section functioning as a visual portfolio with case studies
- Recommendations highlighting her creativity and ability to translate business goals into visual solutions
- Activity showing her analysis of effective brand designs
Sales Director LinkedIn profile example
Thomas Jackson, Enterprise Sales Director
What makes Thomas's profile impressive:
- Results-focused headline: SaaS Sales Director | Building $10M+ client relationships | 135% quota attainment specialist
- About section sharing his consultative sales philosophy and industry expertise
- Experience entries quantifying sales growth, team performance improvements, and market expansion
- Featured section with testimonials from major clients (with permission)
- Skills section balancing sales methodology, CRM expertise, and industry knowledge
- Recommendations from both clients and team members he's mentored
Product Manager profile LinkedIn
Priya Sharma, Senior Product Manager
What makes Priya's profile exceptional:
- Clear value proposition in headline: Product Manager turning user problems into delightful solutions | Launched products used by 2M+ users
- About section outlining her product development philosophy and user-centric approach
- Experience entries highlighting specific products launched, user metrics improved, and revenue generated
- Featured section with product case studies and user testimonials
- Activity showing her product management insights and analysis of successful products
- Skills section balancing technical knowledge, user research methodology, and business acumen
Accountant LinkedIn profile example
Michael Chen, Small Business Accountant
What makes Michael's profile stand out:
- Approachable headline: Local Accountant helping small businesses thrive | Making tax season stress-free for entrepreneurs since 2015
- About section that emphasizes his passion for supporting local businesses and making accounting accessible
- Experience entries highlighting how he's helped small business clients save money, improve financial processes, and navigate tax regulations
- Certifications prominently featured including CPA and QuickBooks ProAdvisor status
- Skills section balancing technical accounting knowledge with small business advisory expertise
- Recommendations from local business owners highlighting his personalized service and clear communication
- Featured section with client success stories and financial education resources for small businesses
LinkedIn Consultant profile examples
Taylor Rodriguez, LinkedIn Profile Strategist
What makes Taylor's profile a perfect example:
- Meta headline that showcases results: LinkedIn Profile Optimizer | Helping professionals get 3X more profile views and 5X more job inquiries | 500+ professionals transformed
- About section that serves as a live demonstration of the compelling storytelling they create for clients
- Experience section with specific metrics on client success stories and career advancement
- Featured section with before/after profile makeover examples (with client permission)
- Recommendations strategically arranged from clients across different industries and career levels
- Activity section showcasing LinkedIn feature updates, tips, and engagement advice
- Custom cover image with a testimonial quote and call-to-action
- Skills section highlighting both LinkedIn technical knowledge and career strategy expertise
LinkedIn profile for HR professionals
Jasmine Williams, People & Culture Director
What makes Jasmine's profile effective:
- Modern HR headline: "People & Culture Director creating workplaces where people thrive | Reducing turnover by 35% through strategic HR initiatives"
- About section sharing her employee-centric philosophy and approach to organizational development
- Experience entries highlighting improved employee engagement scores, successful culture transformations, and talent development programs
- Featured section with employee testimonials and culture initiative case studies
- Skills section balancing traditional HR knowledge with modern approaches to engagement and culture
- Activity showing thought leadership on workplace trends and HR innovation
Executive Assistant LinkedIn profile examples
David Reynolds, Executive Business Partner
What makes David's profile impressive:
- Strategic headline: Executive Business Partner to C-Suite Leaders | Making executives 40% more effective through strategic support
- About section positioning his role as a strategic partner rather than administrative support
- Experience entries highlighting efficiency improvements, major projects coordinated, and executive time saved
- Skills section featuring both traditional EA skills and strategic capabilities like project management and business analysis
- Recommendations from executives emphasizing his proactive problem-solving and strategic thinking
- Activity demonstrating his knowledge of business operations and leadership support
Recruiter LinkedIn profile examples
Samantha Lee, Tech Talent Acquisition Specialist
What makes Samantha's profile recruiter-friendly:
- Specialty-specific headline: Technical Recruiter connecting top engineering talent with innovative startups | 200+ successful placements
- About section that demonstrates her understanding of the tech industry and engineering roles
- Experience entries quantifying successful placements, time-to-hire improvements, and retention rates
- Featured section with testimonials from both placed candidates and hiring managers
- Activity showing her engagement with tech communities and career development content
- Skills section balancing ATS knowledge, technical understanding, and candidate experience
Sales Professional Example
Devon Taylor, B2B Sales Consultant
What makes Devon's profile sales-effective:
- Results-focused headline: B2B Sales Consultant | Helping SaaS companies shorten sales cycles by 30% | 120% quota attainment
- About section sharing his consultative sales approach and industry expertise
- Experience entries quantifying revenue generated, new accounts opened, and retention rates
- Skills section featuring both sales methodology and industry-specific knowledge
- Recommendations from satisfied clients highlighting his problem-solving approach
- Activity demonstrating thoughtful engagement with prospects' posts and sharing valuable insights
Career-Stage LinkedIn profile examples
Student LinkedIn profile
Aisha Johnson, Business Administration Student
What makes Aisha's profile stand out despite limited experience:
- Forward-looking headline: Business Administration Student at Stanford University | Aspiring Marketing Strategist | Campus Brand Ambassador for Apple
- About section highlighting relevant coursework, student leadership roles, and career aspirations
- Experience section maximizing part-time jobs and internships by focusing on transferable skills
- Education section featuring relevant projects, academic achievements, and extracurricular leadership
- Skills section showcasing both academic knowledge and practical tools learned
- Featured section with class projects and competition entries
Recent graduate LinkedIn profile examples
Carlos Mendez, Computer Science Graduate
What works well:
- Growth-oriented headline: Recent Computer Science Graduate | Full-Stack Developer (MERN) | Open to Junior Developer Opportunities
- About section highlighting capstone project and technical strengths
- Experience section featuring internships and relevant part-time roles
- Education section with relevant coursework, coding bootcamps, and hackathon achievements
- Projects section showcasing GitHub repositories and deployed applications
- Skills section focusing on in-demand programming languages and frameworks
- Activity showing his engagement with developer communities and continued learning
Career change LinkedIn profile examples
Miguel Rodriguez, Finance Professional Transitioning to Tech
What works well:
- Headline that bridges past experience with future goals: Finance Professional with Data Analytics Expertise | Transitioning to FinTech
- About section that tells a compelling story about why he's making the change
- Experience section that highlights relevant transferable skills from his finance career
- Featured section showcasing his data projects, certifications, and coding portfolio
- Skills section emphasizing technical skills he's developed alongside his transferable expertise
Executive LinkedIn profile
Lena Williams, Chief Operating Officer
What works well:
- Powerful headline that states her value proposition: COO driving operational excellence and sustainable growth | Transforming startups into industry leaders
- Concise About section focusing on leadership philosophy and major career achievements
- Experience section highlighting company growth metrics and strategic initiatives led
- Strategic recommendations from board members, direct reports, and industry peers
- Thought leadership content shared consistently in her activity section
Bad LinkedIn profile examples
Let's look at a few bad LinkedIn profile examples (with a smile) that you might want to avoid:
The ghost town
Nothing says "I'm just here because someone told me I should be" like a profile with no photo, an empty "About" section, and a job title that simply reads "Professional." LinkedIn thrives on connections and engagement, so an empty profile misses the platform's huge potential.
The oversharer
We've all seen that connection who treats LinkedIn like it's another social media platform, posting vacation selfies or sharing what they had for breakfast. LinkedIn's genius lies in its professional focus - save the brunch photos for Instagram (unless you share business content too).
The keyword stuffer
"Innovative thought leader driving synergistic growth hacking with disruptive paradigm shifts." This reads like someone swallowed a business buzzword dictionary. LinkedIn's powerful algorithm rewards authentic content, not keyword cramming.
The never-ending job title
"Marketing Specialist/Digital Guru/Social Media Wizard/Coffee Enthusiast/Dog Lover." While LinkedIn's flexible format allows for creativity, your job title should clearly communicate your professional role.
The time capsule
A profile last updated during the Obama administration signals you're not taking full advantage of LinkedIn's continuous platform improvements and opportunities.
LinkedIn profile headline examples
Your LinkedIn headline is prime real estate - it's the first thing people see after your name - and it shows up in search results. LinkedIn's 220-character headline space gives you the perfect opportunity to make a powerful first impression. Here are some LinkedIn profile headline examples that really shine:
The clear professional
"Marketing Director at TechCorp | Driving B2B Growth Through Digital Strategies"
This straightforward approach clearly communicates both position and value-add.
The results showcaser
"Sales Executive Who Helped 100+ SaaS Companies Increase Revenue by 40% | Pipeline Development Specialist"
Numbers catch the eye on LinkedIn's busy feed and demonstrate concrete achievements.
The problem solver
"HR Consultant Helping Startups Build Dream Teams | Reducing Turnover by Creating Inclusive Workplaces"
This highlights the specific problems you solve, making LinkedIn's matching algorithm more likely to connect you with the right opportunities.
The Credential Combo
"CPA with MBA | Financial Controller Specializing in Tech Startups | Helped Raise $15M in Funding"
Relevant credentials plus experience creates a powerful LinkedIn headline example.
The passion statement
"Data Scientist Creating AI Solutions for Environmental Conservation | Making Analytics Accessible"
Showing purpose on LinkedIn helps you connect with like-minded professionals on this fantastic networking platform.
LinkedIn profile summary examples
Your LinkedIn summary (or "About" section) is your chance to tell your professional story. With up to 2,600 characters, LinkedIn gives you ample space to showcase who you are beyond just job titles. Here are some of the best LinkedIn profile summary examples that make the most of this platform's fantastic storytelling potential - see which one best suits you:
Take us on a personal journey
"After 10 years in software development, I discovered my true passion: bridging the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders. Today, I help companies translate complex technical requirements into scalable solutions that drive revenue. My unique background in both coding and client relations has helped me deliver projects that are not just technically sound but aligned with business objectives."
Give us the value proposition
"I transform marketing departments from cost centers to revenue generators. By implementing data-driven strategies that connect marketing activities directly to sales outcomes, I've helped SaaS companies increase qualified leads by an average of 37%. My approach combines analytical rigor with creative thinking to find opportunities others miss."
Be mission-driven
"I believe healthcare administration should be invisible to patients. My work streamlining hospital operations has reduced average wait times by 40% while improving patient satisfaction scores. Every process improvement I implement aims toward one goal: allowing healthcare providers to focus on patients, not paperwork."
Make sure you’re a specialist
"For the past 8 years, I've specialized exclusively in cybersecurity for financial institutions. This focused expertise has allowed me to develop deep knowledge of the unique compliance challenges and threat landscapes facing banks and fintech companies. My certifications include CISSP, CISM, and I regularly contribute to LinkedIn's professional community through articles on emerging security threats."
LinkedIn profile experience examples
The experience section is where your LinkedIn profile really shines. This powerful platform gives you the perfect opportunity to showcase your professional journey. Here are some of the most stand-out LinkedIn profile experience examples:
Achievement-focused
Marketing Director | TechCorp | 2020-Present
- Launched company's first ABM program, resulting in 43% increase in enterprise deals
- Rebuilt content strategy to focus on industry pain points, doubling inbound leads
- Managed team of 6 marketing specialists and $1.2M annual budget
- Implemented marketing automation platform that reduced campaign launch time by 60%
This approach uses LinkedIn's format to highlight specific accomplishments rather than just listing responsibilities.
Story-based
Product Manager | FinTech Solutions | 2018-2022
When I joined, our flagship product was losing market share to newer competitors. I led a comprehensive product overhaul by:
- Conducting 50+ customer interviews to identify unmet needs
- Prioritizing feature development based on revenue potential
- Collaborating with engineering to deliver new UI/UX in record time
- Result: 28% growth in user base and 15% reduction in churn within 12 months.
LinkedIn's space allows you to tell the story behind your role and show your problem-solving approach.
Skills showcase
Graphic Designer | Creative Agency | 2019-2023
Specialized in brand identity development for B2B clients in healthcare and finance.
Core competencies:
- Brand style guide creation
- UI/UX design for mobile applications
- Motion graphics for digital marketing
- Client presentation and concept pitching
- Key tools: Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Sketch
This format helps LinkedIn's algorithm match you with relevant opportunities based on specific skills.
Remember, LinkedIn's platform rewards detail and specificity. Each experience entry should give readers a clear understanding of both what you did and how well you did it.
Need more help with LinkedIn? Find out more about our LinkedIn training, or sign up to The Lime One for a LinkedIn CRM that helps you make sales on LinkedIn.