Free LinkedIn Profile Strength Checklist

Professional profile photo

A high-quality headshot with a neutral background gets 14x more profile views. No selfies, group photos, or cropped wedding pictures.

Custom banner image

A 1584x396px banner that reinforces your brand. Profiles with banners get 50% more views.

Keyword-optimized headline (110-180 chars)

Includes your title, value proposition, and 2-3 recruiter keywords. Use our Headline Analyzer tool to check yours.

Headline is not generic

Avoid 'Results-driven professional' or 'Experienced specialist.' Be specific about what you do and who you help.

Complete about section (2,000+ characters)

Tell your professional story: who you help, how you help them, and what results you deliver. 2-3 paragraphs is ideal.

About section includes target keywords

Include role-specific, industry, and skill keywords that recruiters in your field search for naturally throughout your about text.

About section ends with a call to action

Tell readers what to do next: 'Message me about opportunities in...', 'Connect to discuss...', or 'Check out my portfolio at...'

Current position listed with description

2-5 bullet points with metrics and achievements, not just responsibilities. Use numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts.

Past positions listed (at least 2)

Each past role should have 2-3 bullet points showing progression. Even internships and contract work count.

Experience descriptions include metrics

Lead with impact: 'Increased revenue 35% YoY', 'Managed $2M budget', 'Led team of 15'. Numbers grab attention.

Education section complete

Include degree, field of study, school name, and graduation year. Add relevant coursework or honors if early in your career.

15-25 relevant skills listed

Prioritize role-specific skills you want to be known for. The top 3 skills matter most for search ranking.

Top 5 skills have endorsements

Ask colleagues to endorse your key skills. Each endorsement increases your search ranking for that skill.

Completed skill assessments for top skills

LinkedIn skill assessments add a verified badge to your skills. Passing them boosts credibility with recruiters.

3+ recommendations from colleagues

Request recommendations from managers, peers, and clients. Diversify your recommenders for maximum impact.

Featured section has 3+ items

Showcase your best work: published articles, portfolio projects, media mentions, or presentations. This is your highlight reel.

Relevant certifications listed

Include any industry certifications, licenses, or completed courses. LinkedIn reports certified professionals get 6x more profile views.

Custom public profile URL

Change your LinkedIn URL from 'linkedin.com/in/name-12345' to 'linkedin.com/in/yourname'. Clean URLs look more professional on resumes and email signatures.

Clean profile URL used on resume & email

Your resume, email signature, business card, and portfolio should all link to your clean LinkedIn URL. Use our URL Cleaner tool to strip tracking parameters.

Open to Work setting configured

Set your job search preferences (titles, locations, employment types) and choose whether recruiters or all LinkedIn members see your open-to-work badge.

Pronouns added to profile

Adding pronouns is a simple way to make your profile more inclusive and is increasingly expected by modern workplaces.

Profile set to Public

If your profile is private, recruiters can't find you in search results. Switch your profile visibility to Public for maximum discoverability.

Recent activity visible (posts or engagement)

An active profile — recent posts, comments, or shares — signals to recruiters that you're engaged in your industry. Even 1 post per month helps.