Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile to Get Hired

Kara Sparkman
Latest posts by Kara Sparkman (see all)

Transitioning to the civilian workforce or changing careers can be challenging. With over one billion users, LinkedIn is a powerful tool for building connections, showcasing skills, and demonstrating readiness for new career opportunities. Every minute, seven people are hired on LinkedIn. Follow this guide to optimize your LinkedIn profile and make a strong impression on recruiters and hiring managers.

Create a Compelling Headline

Your LinkedIn headline is one of the first things people notice. Use this space to attract potential employers by including relevant job titles and key skills. 

    • Keywords related to your desired role are critical. For example, if you’re aiming for a project management role, consider a headline like, “Experienced Project Manager | Navy Veteran | Skilled in Strategic Planning & Team Leadership.”

Optimize Your Summary

Your LinkedIn summary is your chance to tell your story. Provide a brief overview of your experience, highlighting how your military background aligns with your civilian career goals. Focus on leadership, adaptability, and problem-solving—highly transferable skills in any industry.

          Example for a veteran:

“I am a results-driven operations leader with 10 years of military experience managing cross-functional teams and executing strategic initiatives in high-pressure environments. Transitioning to the civilian workforce, I am ready to apply my extensive background in logistics, project management, and team leadership to help organizations achieve their goals.”

          Example for a military spouse:

“I am a highly motivated, passionate professional,  bringing 7+ years of combined experience in career coaching, recruitment, project management, human resources, and administrative support. In my current role as a Transition Specialist, I am fortunate to make an impact in the military spouse community. It is an honor to guide fellow military spouses in their career search by providing resume assistance, mentorship, and resource allocation.”

Translate Your Military Experience

Military job titles and terminology may not be clear to civilian recruiters. Translate your rank and duties into terms relevant to your targeted industry. For instance, if you managed operations and led teams, consider using terms like “Project Manager” or “Operations Manager.” 

    • A valuable resource to aid in this translation is Hire Heroes USA’s Military Skills Translator. This tool can help bridge the gap between military experience and civilian job descriptions, ensuring your profile is accessible to civilian recruiters.

Structure Your Experience

Under each job title, provide a clear and concise summary of your responsibilities and achievements:

    • Summarize Key Responsibilities: Use three to five bullet points to capture your primary responsibilities. Prioritize those that align with your civilian career goals.
    • Highlight Accomplishments: Quantify your impact. For example, “Led a team of 20 in logistics operations, achieving a 95% on-time delivery rate.”
    • Use Action Verbs: Start each bullet with action-oriented verbs like “Led,” “Developed,” or “Coordinated.”
    • Incorporate Keywords: Use industry-specific language to improve your profile’s visibility in searches. 

Your LinkedIn experience section doesn’t need to replicate your entire resume but should provide enough information to engage potential employers.

Focus on Skills and Recommendations

LinkedIn allows you to list up to 100 skills, but quality matters more than quantity. Prioritize skills most relevant to your target role and arrange them strategically, ensuring key skills appear at the top of your headline/profile.

While endorsements for skills add credibility, recommendations are personalized testimonials from colleagues or supervisors providing greater value to your profile. Request recommendations that highlight your strengths in key areas.

Add Relevant Sections

LinkedIn offers numerous additional sections that can enhance your profile.

    • Licenses & Certifications: Add relevant certifications, such as project management or technical skills.
    • Courses and Projects: Share coursework and projects that demonstrate expertise in your target industry.
    • Volunteer Experience: Volunteer experience can be as valuable as paid experience. Highlight skills that showcase your leadership and community involvement.

Make Use of the “Open to Work” Feature

If you are actively seeking a new role, utilize LinkedIn’s “Open to Work” feature to indicate your job preferences, preferred work settings (onsite, hybrid, or remote), and locations. Select up to five job titles you’re interested in, and if you’re currently employed, you can choose “Recruiters only” to avoid alerting your employer.

Set a Professional Profile Picture and Banner

You should appear professional and approachable in your profile picture, ideally in business attire. If using a mobile phone, have someone take the photo rather than taking a selfie. Avoid using a photo in your military uniform if you’re focusing on civilian roles.

For the banner image, consider creating a custom banner that reflects your skills, values, or career aspirations. You can update the LinkedIn banner by clicking the pencil icon and selecting “Change photo.” For a personalized touch, use Canva templates. This image is a valuable piece of “virtual real estate” to reinforce your professional brand. For example, if you’re transitioning to a tech career, a banner featuring keywords like “Innovation” and “Leadership” could be effective.

Connect, Engage, and Share Content

To build your network, start by connecting with other veterans, military spouses, or professionals in your target industry. Engage with others by commenting on posts, joining LinkedIn groups, and sharing industry-related articles. (Join Hire Heroes USA LinkedIn Groups: Junior Enlisted, Serving Spouses and Women Veterans). This activity builds connections and signals to recruiters that you’re an active participant in your industry.

Featuring posts or media, such as articles you’ve written or projects you’ve worked on, can enhance your profile’s appeal by giving it depth.

Avoid Common Pitfalls

Some common mistakes made on LinkedIn as a transitioning service member or veteran include:

    • Overemphasizing Military Achievements: While your military background is essential, focus on how your skills translate to civilian roles.
    • Incomplete Profiles: A missing photo, headline, summary, or key skills can signal to recruiters that you may not be actively engaged in your job search.
    • Lack of Engagement: A passive LinkedIn profile can imply a lack of interest in networking. Sharing content, posting, or engaging with others demonstrates your commitment to professional growth.

Take advantage of the My Premium LinkedIn features if you are active-duty, guard, reservist, veteran, or military spouse. My Premium offers perks and features like AI resume tailoring, guidance on job alignment, and assistance with InMail messages. Make sure to also check out the “More for you” section and explore the LinkedIn Interview Prep Tool, the AI-powered LinkedIn Learning coaching tool, and resume insights. 

Final Thoughts

Your LinkedIn profile is more than just a digital resume—it’s a platform to showcase your unique skills, experiences, and values to prospective employers. By translating military experience into civilian terms, focusing on key skills, and actively engaging on the platform, you’ll create a profile that speaks directly to your potential in the civilian workforce. Remember, your LinkedIn profile is your chance to introduce yourself to new opportunities—make it count! 

Kara Sparkman is the Client Learning Programs Manager at Hire Heroes USA. Access LinkedIn webinars and resources through MyTrak or register at www.hireheroesusa.org to be assigned a Transition Specialist and to gain MyTrak access.