6 LinkedIn Settings to Optimize for Your Job Search

Your LinkedIn profile is your most powerful marketing tool in today's job search. And yet, most professionals don't realize just how much the platform's settings can influence whether recruiters find (and message) them.

If you're looking for your next role, these are the six settings and sections you need to update now.

1. Open to Work

Toggling on "Open to Work" is a good start, but it's not enough.

The visibility of your profile in recruiter search results decreases over time, even if you're technically still looking for new opportunities.

Fix It: Refresh your "Open to Work" setting once a month. Toggle it OFF for 24 hours and then turning it back ON. This small action signals recent activity to LinkedIn's algorithm and can boost your ranking in recruiter search results.

Bonus Tip: Always select "Recruiters only" to keep your job search private and avoid raising flags with your current employer.

2. Headline

The default LinkedIn headline shows your current job title and employer. This wastes prime SEO real estate. Your headline is one of the most visible parts of your profile and a major factor in LinkedIn's search algorithm.

Fix It: Rewrite your headline using clear, keyword-rich language that aligns with the roles you're targeting and leading with your value.

Example:

❌ Engineering Manager at XYZ Tech
✅ Engineering Manager | Cloud Infrastructure | Building High-Performance Teams

Bonus Tip: Prioritize keywords in the first 50 characters, which show up in most search previews.

3. About Section

Many people either skip this section entirely or use it to write a generic bio. That's a mistake. This is your chance to tell your story, position your value, and frame your experience.

Fix It: Structure your About section like a sales pitch:

✅ Start with a clear value proposition
✅ Highlight 3–5 career accomplishments, ideally with metrics
✅ End with a short "why" statement and a call to action

Example:

I'm a growth-focused engineering leader with 15+ years in fast-scaling SaaS. I've led teams of 30+, implemented cloud systems that doubled user growth, and built cultures that retain top talent. I'm now exploring Director-level roles in backend infrastructure. Want to connect? Email me at...

FREE Resource: Want help writing your value proposition for your About section? Get our free Value Proposition Template! It's designed to help you define your personal brand and tighten your messaging.

📝 Get the template here.

4. Experience Section

Think of this as your proof. Recruiters want to see not just what you've done, but how well you've done it. Listing tasks and responsibilities isn't enough. You need to show business outcomes.

Fix It: Use the SAR method (Situation, Action, Result) to structure your bullets.

✅ Situation: What was the challenge or goal?
✅ Action: What did you do?
✅ Result: What changed? Include metrics if possible.

Example:

Redesigned CI/CD pipeline (Action), reducing deployment time by 60% (Result), for a team struggling with multi-hour release cycles (Situation).

Each bullet should reinforce your value proposition and show how you've driven impact in your roles.

5. Recommendations

Recommendations give credibility to your work. But keep in mind that not all recs carry the same weight. A generic "They were great to work with" isn't very helpful.

Fix It: Ask for targeted recommendations from former managers, peers, or direct reports who can speak to the results you drove while working with them.

When requesting a recommendation, be specific. Say something like:

"Would you be open to writing a short recommendation focused on the project we worked on where we hit 120% of our Q2 goals?"

Bonus Tip: Give a few recommendations yourself. Not only will you be providing value to your network, LinkedIn often surfaces active profiles to recruiters.

6. Banner Image

Your banner image (the background photo at the top of your profile) is a chance to make a visual impression.

Use a clean, professional image that aligns with your industry. This could be:

✅ A branded background with a short tagline or keywords
✅ A quote or visual that reflects your values

Avoid anything cluttered, cheesy, or off-brand. Aim for professional, not promotional.

Why These Settings Matter

LinkedIn's algorithm and recruiter tools prioritize profiles that are:

✅ Active
✅ Aligned with target roles
✅ Keyword-optimized
✅ Structured for readability and impact

If you're applying for jobs without updating these areas, you're leaving visibility and opportunities on the table.

Take the time to make your profile work for you. The right people are looking, you just need to be visible.

With a few intentional updates, you can turn your LinkedIn profile into a magnet for recruiter messages, interviews, and the right roles.

Ready to Optimize Your Profile? We break down each of these six LinkedIn strategies in more detail in our latest YouTube video. If you're in the market for a new role or even just considering a shift, this is the place to start.

🎥 Watch the full video now