Most people think turning on “Open to Work” is the best way to get recruiter attention. It’s not. In fact, it can work against you. You can optimize your LinkedIn profile using smart LinkedIn SEO techniques to show up in recruiter searches whether you’re actively job hunting or not. The best strategy is making yourself findable at all times, not just when you need a job — and understanding how to optimize your LinkedIn profile is the key to doing that.
The reality is that many strong opportunities come from recruiters finding you, not the other way around. As a recruiter who searches LinkedIn daily, I’m going to show you exactly how to get noticed by recruiters and how to optimize your LinkedIn headline so you consistently show up in recruiter searches, giving you career options even when you’re not actively looking.
How Recruiters Actually Search LinkedIn
Before you optimize anything, you need to understand how recruiters find candidates. We don’t just type a job title into the search bar and hope for the best. Knowing how to optimize your LinkedIn profile starts with understanding LinkedIn SEO from a recruiter’s perspective.
Here’s what actually happens:
Recruiters use Boolean searches with multiple filters. We search by current job title, skills, location, industry, and years of experience. We filter results by candidates who are currently employed, have recent profile activity, and match specific keywords. According to LinkedIn, keeping your profile updated with your most recent experience may help your profile appear in more relevant results— an essential part of getting noticed by recruiters on LinkedIn.
Most recruiters run 3 to 5 different searches before finding the right candidates. We save searches and get alerts when new profiles match our criteria. We’re looking for people who look like they’re thriving in their current role but might be open to the right opportunity, not people who look desperate. Understanding this is the first step in how to optimize your LinkedIn profile effectively.
Take these steps:
- What keywords would someone search to find you?
- Look at 5 job postings in your field and note which terms appear most often
- Make a list of 10-15 keywords relevant to your expertise
- Use these keywords throughout your profile to improve LinkedIn SEO and get noticed by recruiters
Optimize Your Headline So Recruiters Can Find You
Your headline appears in every single search result and it’s the only section that doesn’t get cut off in recruiter searches, making it your most important opportunity to stand out.
Don’t just use your job title. Everyone does that, and it makes you blend in with hundreds of other results. Instead, use this formula: [Role] | [Specialty/Skill] | [Value/Result]. Include 2 to 3 searchable keywords recruiters actually use.
Learning how to optimize your LinkedIn headline is one of the most effective ways to boost your profile visibility.
Examples that work:
| General Headline | Optimized Headline |
| Operations Manager | Operations Manager | Lean Manufacturing & Process Optimization | Driving 20% Cost Reductions |
| Marketing Professional | Digital Marketing Manager | SEO & Paid Media | Scaling B2B SaaS Growth |
| Software Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | Python & Cloud Architecture | Building Scalable Enterprise Solutions |
Take these steps:
- Open LinkedIn and update your headline today
- Use the formula above with your specific expertise
- Set a reminder to update your headline every 2 to 3 weeks (this triggers LinkedIn’s algorithm to refresh your profile in search results, boosting LinkedIn SEO)
The “About” Section: Make It Scannable and Searchable
Recruiters don’t read your entire About section. They skim it in about 10 seconds. Your first 2 to 3 lines are critical because they show up in search previews. Knowing how to optimize your LinkedIn profile includes making your About section both scannable and keyword-rich.
Use this structure:
Opening: Who you are and what you specialize in
Middle: 3 to 5 key achievements with numbers
Keywords: Your core competencies woven naturally into the text
Close: What drives you or what you’re interested in exploring
Example opening that works:
“I’m a supply chain professional specializing in demand planning and inventory optimization. Over the past 7 years, I’ve helped companies reduce carrying costs by 30%, improve forecast accuracy to 95%, and streamline procurement processes across multi-site operations.”
Take these steps:
- Rewrite your About section using short paragraphs or bullet points
- Lead with your expertise and biggest wins
- Include 5 to 7 searchable keywords from your list to improve LinkedIn SEO
- Keep it under 300 words for maximum readability
Experience Section: Quantify Everything
Recruiters skim job descriptions looking for results, not responsibilities. If your experience section just lists what you were “responsible for,” you’re losing their attention.
Format that gets attention:
Start each bullet with a strong action verb. Include numbers: percentages, dollar amounts, time saved, team size managed. Focus on impact and outcomes.
| Responsibility-Focused | Results-Focused |
| Responsible for managing team and improving processes | Led 8-person team to reduce order processing time by 40%, saving $200K annually |
| Handled customer service inquiries | Resolved 50+ customer escalations weekly, improving satisfaction scores from 72% to 94% |
Take these steps:
- Review your last two job descriptions
- Rewrite each bullet to start with: [Action verb] + [What you did] + [Measurable result]
- Add at least one new win every quarter, even if you’re not job hunting (this signals you’re actively contributing)
Skills Section: Choose Skills That Trigger Searches
The skills section feels like an afterthought, but it’s actually one of the most powerful parts of your profile for searchability. Recruiters filter search results by specific skills, so if you don’t have the right ones listed, you won’t appear in their results.
Add 20 to 50 relevant skills (LinkedIn allows up to 50). Prioritize hard skills over soft skills because they’re more searchable. Put your most important skills at the top because only your top 3 show up in search results. Get endorsements from colleagues because they add credibility and help you get noticed by recruiters.
Examples of searchable skills:
- Technical: SAP, Python, Tableau, SQL, AutoCAD
- Certifications: Six Sigma Black Belt, PMP, APICS CPIM
- Industry-specific: Demand Planning, ERP Implementation, Lean Manufacturing
Take these steps:
- Add 20+ skills relevant to your expertise today
- Ask 3 colleagues to endorse your top skills
- Review and update your skills quarterly as your industry evolves
Activity and Engagement: The Visibility Multiplier
Profiles with recent activity rank higher in search results. But you don’t need to become a LinkedIn influencer posting daily content. Even small engagement counts.
Comment thoughtfully on industry posts 2 to 3 times per week. Share relevant articles with your perspective, not just a blank repost. Congratulate connections on promotions or achievements. Even reacting to posts (likes, comments) counts as activity.
Why this matters: Recruiters can see when you were last active on LinkedIn. Recent activity signals you’re engaged in your field and likely a quality candidate-— another way to get noticed by recruiters.
Take these steps:
- Find 2 to 3 posts in your industry and leave thoughtful comments
- Share one article per week with a 2 to 3 sentence take on why it matters
Beyond Profile Optimization: How to Actually Work With Recruiters
An optimized LinkedIn profile gets you found, but knowing how to work with recruiters gets you hired.
We receive messages like this daily:
“Can your company help me? Looking for a job ASAP.”
“Do you have jobs for me?”
These messages are vague and put all the work on the recruiter. They don’t show what makes you valuable or give the recruiter anything to act on.
What you should do instead:
“Hi [Name], I’m a senior data analyst specializing in predictive modeling. I’ve built forecasting systems that improved accuracy by 40%. If you’re ever working on analytics leadership roles, I’d love to stay connected.”
This makes it easy for the recruiter to remember you when the right role appears.
Think long-term, not transactional. Connect with recruiters before you need them. Comment on their posts and stay visible. If they reach out about a role that’s not right for you but you know someone perfect, make the introduction. Recruiters remember people who help them.
Understand that boutique firms don’t always have your exact role open. They work on specific searches for specific clients. Stay connected, and when the right opportunity appears, they’ll reach out.
Respond quickly. When recruiters do reach out, reply within 24 hours, even if just to acknowledge receipt. They work with multiple candidates on tight timelines.
Be Strategic: Make LinkedIn Work for You
Optimizing your LinkedIn profile isn’t a one-time task. It’s an ongoing strategy that keeps you visible and competitive in your field.
Recruiters often track strong candidates for months before the right opportunity appears. Being findable means having options when those opportunities arise. Your LinkedIn profile is your always-on professional presence, working for you around the clock. For more on what recruiters look for in a resume, see What Recruiters Look For In A Resume.
The key is positioning yourself as someone actively contributing to your field. Share insights, engage with industry content, and showcase measurable results. This is how you consistently get noticed by recruiters and fully leverage LinkedIn SEO for career growth. For professionals addressing employment gaps, see How To Explain Employment Gaps.
Investing in your professional development is equally important. For more insights on why continuous learning and career growth matter, see Reasons Why You Should Invest In Your Career Development.
For more practical strategies on advancing your career and positioning yourself for the right opportunities, check out 6 Ways How To Easily Advance Your Career.
Book Recommendation On How To Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
Friddy Hoegener is the Co-Founder and Head of Recruiting at SCOPE Recruiting, a boutique firm specialising in supply chain and manufacturing talent. As a former supply chain professional himself, he now connects companies with the right talent to solve critical operational challenges.
- Friddy Hoegener
- Friddy Hoegener
One Response
This is a fantastic breakdown, Friddy. Your point about the “Activity and Engagement” multiplier is something most people overlook—it’s interesting how the algorithm prioritizes those small interactions. I’ve been trying to apply your SEO tips to help a colleague refine his visibility in the tech sector. Looking at a profile like https://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Denis/Slinkin , do you think having a broad directory-style landing page like this impacts a recruiter’s first impression, or should the focus strictly be on the individual’s direct profile SEO keywords to avoid getting lost in the search results? Would love to hear your take on how to handle visibility when you have a common name!