LinkedIn Profile Tips After Getting Laid Off

LinkedIn is where recruiters find candidates. After a layoff, your profile needs to be optimized to attract the right opportunities. This comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to update your profile, engage strategically, and position yourself for your next role.

Should You Announce Your Layoff on LinkedIn?

This is one of the first questions people face after a layoff, and there's no universal answer. The decision depends on your personal brand, industry, and comfort level.

Pros of Announcing

• Activates your network to help: People genuinely want to support you. A well-crafted post can mobilize dozens of connections to share opportunities, make introductions, and offer advice.
• Shows transparency and confidence: Being open about your situation demonstrates emotional intelligence and removes the stigma some people feel about layoffs.
• Can generate leads and opportunities: Many people have landed jobs directly through layoff announcement posts, as connections tag relevant hiring managers or share openings.
• Many people respect the vulnerability: In today's work culture, vulnerability is increasingly valued. Authenticity can strengthen your professional relationships.
• Controls the narrative: If people will find out anyway, you can frame the story on your own terms rather than leaving it to speculation.

Cons of Announcing

• Becomes part of your public record: Once posted, it's permanent (even if deleted, people may have seen or screenshotted it).
• Some (wrongly) associate layoffs with poor performance: Despite layoffs being business decisions, unconscious bias exists. Some recruiters or hiring managers may make unfair assumptions.
• May attract unwanted messages and spam: Career coaches, insurance salespeople, MLM pitches, and other solicitations often target people who post about layoffs.
• Can feel uncomfortable: Not everyone is comfortable with public vulnerability, and that's completely valid.
• Potential for pity rather than respect: Depending on how you frame it, people might feel sorry for you rather than viewing you as a strong candidate.

Our Recommendation

You don't have to announce publicly. You can conduct an effective job search without posting about your layoff. Instead:

• Turn on "Open to Work" (visible to recruiters only)
• Reach out to your network privately through direct messages
• Let your optimized profile speak for itself
• Focus your public content on your expertise and value, not your employment status

If you do choose to post about your layoff, keep it professional, brief, and forward-looking. Here's a template:

"After [X] years at [Company], my role was eliminated as part of a restructuring. I'm proud of what we accomplished, including [1-2 specific achievements]. I'm now exploring [job title] opportunities where I can [value you bring]. If you know of roles that might be a fit, I'd appreciate you reaching out. Thank you for being part of my network."

Keep it under 150 words, focus on your accomplishments and future, and avoid negativity about your former employer.

Update Your Profile: Step by Step

1. Profile Photo

Your profile photo is the first thing people see, and profiles with photos receive 21 times more profile views and 36 times more messages than those without.

Requirements:

• Professional headshot: Doesn't need to be expensive, but should be clean and high-quality
• Face takes up 60-70% of frame: Make sure you're easily recognizable
• Neutral or simple background: Avoid busy patterns that distract from your face
• Good lighting: Natural light or soft professional lighting works best
• Friendly, approachable expression: Smile naturally—think "confident and approachable"
• Recent photo: Within the last 2-3 years so you're recognizable
• Professional attire: Match the dress code of your target industry
• High resolution: At least 400x400 pixels, clear when zoomed in

Don't use:

• Cropped group photos (awkward angles, visible arms around you)
• Vacation or casual photos (beach, hiking, parties)
• Photos with sunglasses, hats, or filters
• Old photos that don't look like you anymore
• Selfies (usually poor lighting and angle)
• Photos with other people
• Low-resolution or blurry images

Pro tip: If you can't afford a professional photographer, ask a friend to take photos with a smartphone in natural light. Stand near a window, use portrait mode, and take 20-30 shots to choose from. Dress professionally and use a plain wall as your background.

2. Background Banner

The banner image spans the top of your profile and is prime real estate that most people leave as the default blue pattern. Replace it with something relevant:

Good options:

• Industry-related image: Relevant to your field (tech, healthcare, finance visuals)
• Company-neutral professional image: Cityscapes, workspace images, relevant iconography
• Solid color with simple text: Your personal tagline or value proposition
• Cityscape of your location: Shows where you're based and adds personality

Banner dimensions: 1584 x 396 pixels

Free resources: Canva has free LinkedIn banner templates that you can customize in minutes. Unsplash and Pexels offer free professional photos you can use.

What to avoid: Company logos (you don't work there anymore), personal vacation photos, anything controversial or overly creative that might not align with professional norms in your industry.

3. Headline (Most Important)

Your headline is the most critical element of your LinkedIn profile. It appears in search results, next to every comment you make, and at the top of your profile. You have 220 characters—use them strategically.

Why your headline matters:

• Appears in every search result
• Visible in all your comments and posts
• Influences whether recruiters click on your profile
• Helps LinkedIn's algorithm understand what you do
• First impression for anyone who sees your name

Bad headlines:

• "Seeking New Opportunities" — Generic and passive
• "Open to Work" — Wastes valuable keyword space
• "Unemployed Professional" — Negative framing
• "Looking for My Next Challenge" — Vague and cliché
• "[Job Title] at [Old Company]" (when no longer there) — Outdated and confusing

These headlines waste valuable real estate, sound desperate, or fail to showcase your value.

Good headline formulas:

Formula 1: [Title] | [Key Skill] | [Value Proposition]

Senior Product Manager | B2B SaaS | Launching products that drive revenue growth

Data Scientist | Machine Learning & AI | Turning data into business insights

Software Engineer | Full-Stack Development | Building scalable web applications

Formula 2: [Title] helping [audience] achieve [result]

Marketing Director helping tech companies build demand generation engines

HR Leader helping startups scale culture and talent acquisition

UX Designer helping fintech companies create intuitive digital experiences

Formula 3: [Title] | [Industry] | [Specialization]

Financial Analyst | Healthcare | M&A and Valuation Expert

Operations Manager | E-commerce | Supply Chain Optimization

Account Executive | Enterprise SaaS | Strategic Partnership Development

Formula 4: [What you do] for [who] | [Key differentiator]

Building cybersecurity solutions for financial institutions | CISSP & CISM certified

Scaling revenue operations for high-growth startups | Expert in Salesforce & HubSpot

Keywords matter: Include specific terms recruiters search for. Look at job descriptions for roles you want and incorporate those exact phrases. If every job description mentions "Agile methodology" or "stakeholder management," include those terms.

Pro tip: Check out headlines of people in similar roles at companies you admire. What keywords do they use? How do they position themselves? Use this research to craft your own unique headline.

4. About Section

Your About section (formerly "Summary") is your elevator pitch in written form. This is where you tell your professional story and showcase your value. You have 2,600 characters—use them.

Structure:

1. Hook (1-2 sentences): What you do and who you help
Start with a compelling statement that immediately communicates your value. Don't start with "I am a hardworking professional with..." Instead, lead with impact.

2. Experience (2-3 sentences): Your background and expertise
Briefly summarize your professional journey. How many years of experience? What types of companies or industries? What's your core expertise?

3. Achievements (3-4 sentences): Specific wins with numbers
This is the most important part. Provide concrete examples of impact with quantifiable results. Use numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts whenever possible.

4. Your approach (2-3 sentences): How you work
What's your methodology? What makes your approach unique? What do you believe about your field?

5. What you're looking for (1-2 sentences): Optional, if actively job searching
Be specific about the type of role, industry, or companies you're targeting. You can also leave this out and let your profile speak for itself.

6. Call to action (1 sentence): How to reach you
Make it easy for people to contact you. Provide an email or invite them to message you on LinkedIn.

Example for a Marketing Leader:

I help B2B SaaS companies turn marketing into a revenue engine.

With 10+ years leading demand generation and growth marketing teams, I've built programs from scratch and scaled them to drive millions in pipeline. My experience spans early-stage startups to public companies in the enterprise software space.

At [Company], I grew marketing-sourced revenue from $2M to $15M in three years while maintaining a 3:1 ROI on marketing spend. I built a 12-person team, implemented a full marketing tech stack, and established our content marketing and SEO programs that now drive 40% of inbound leads. Previously at [Startup], I launched the demand generation function that contributed to a successful Series B raise.

My approach combines data-driven strategy with creative execution. I'm equally comfortable building attribution models in SQL and writing compelling copy. I believe the best marketing balances analytical rigor with authentic storytelling that resonates with your audience.

I'm currently exploring senior marketing leadership opportunities at growth-stage B2B companies where I can build and scale marketing programs. I'm particularly interested in product-led growth companies and open to remote roles or positions in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Let's connect: [email] or message me here on LinkedIn.

Example for a Software Engineer:

I build scalable backend systems that power products used by millions.

As a Senior Software Engineer with 8 years of experience, I specialize in distributed systems, microservices architecture, and cloud infrastructure. I've worked primarily in fintech and e-commerce, solving complex technical challenges at scale.

At [Company], I architected and led the migration to a microservices architecture that reduced system downtime by 95% and improved response times by 60%. I built distributed systems handling 100,000+ requests per second and mentored 5 junior engineers. At [Previous Company], I optimized database queries that reduced infrastructure costs by $400K annually while improving application performance.

I'm passionate about writing clean, maintainable code and believe that good engineering is as much about communication and collaboration as it is about technical skill. I thrive in environments where I can both contribute technically and help shape engineering culture.

I'm exploring senior and staff engineer roles where I can tackle challenging technical problems and continue growing as an engineering leader. Open to discussing opportunities in fintech, healthcare tech, or infrastructure/platform roles.

Feel free to reach out: [email] or DM me here.

Writing tips:

• Write in first person ("I" not "he/she")
• Be specific with numbers and achievements
• Show personality while remaining professional
• Use short paragraphs for readability
• Include keywords naturally throughout
• Update it regularly as you gain new achievements

5. Experience Section

Update your Experience section like you would your resume—achievement-focused, metric-driven, and keyword-rich.

For each role, include:

• Clear job title
• Company name
• Employment dates (Month Year format)
• 4-6 bullet points focused on achievements
• Specific metrics and outcomes
• Relevant keywords for your field

Current role handling:

Option A: Keep it listed with accurate dates
Simply list your most recent role with the end date. There's no need to write "laid off" or explain the departure in your Experience section.

Marketing Manager
Tech Company Inc.
Jan 2022 - Nov 2024

Option B: Add a brief note (optional)
Some people add a subtle note in the description, but this is entirely optional:

Marketing Manager
Tech Company Inc.
Jan 2022 - Nov 2024
Note: Role eliminated during company restructuring

Option C: Create a transition entry (less common)
Some people add a "Career Transition" or "Professional Development" entry, but this can draw unnecessary attention to your unemployment status. Generally not recommended unless you're using the time for consulting, freelancing, or significant upskilling.

Writing achievement bullets:
Use the CAR method (Context, Action, Result):

• Context: What was the situation or challenge?
• Action: What did you do?
• Result: What was the impact? (Use numbers)

Example:
Instead of: "Managed social media accounts"
Write: "Grew LinkedIn following from 5,000 to 50,000 in 12 months, generating 30% of marketing-qualified leads through organic social content"

6. Featured Section

The Featured section appears prominently on your profile and lets you showcase your best work. This is prime real estate that most people ignore—don't make that mistake.

What to include:

• Articles or blog posts you've written
• Case studies or white papers
• Presentations or slideshows
• Media coverage or press mentions
• Portfolio items or project samples
• Videos of talks or presentations
• Links to products you built or launched
• Research papers or publications
• Podcast episodes where you were a guest

How to add content:
Click "Add featured" on your profile and choose between posts, articles, links, or media. You can add up to 9 items.

Pro tips:

• Choose items that demonstrate your expertise
• Update regularly to keep content fresh
• Add descriptions to each item explaining its relevance
• Prioritize content with metrics or outcomes
• If you don't have public work samples, write a LinkedIn article

If you don't have content to feature:
Write 2-3 LinkedIn articles on topics in your field. They don't need to be long—500-800 words sharing insights, lessons learned, or industry commentary. This demonstrates thought leadership and gives you something to feature.

7. Skills Section

LinkedIn allows you to list up to 50 skills, and recruiters often search by skills. This section directly impacts whether you appear in search results.

Maximize this section:

• List all relevant skills (aim for 40-50)
• Put your most important skills first (top 3 appear on your profile)
• Include exact keywords from job descriptions
• Get endorsements from connections (adds credibility)
• Pin your top 3 skills to feature them

Skills to include:

Technical/Hard Skills:

• Software and tools (Salesforce, Python, Adobe Creative Suite)
• Technical methodologies (Agile, Six Sigma, financial modeling)
• Certifications (PMP, AWS Certified, CPA)
• Languages (Spanish, Mandarin, SQL)

Functional Skills:

• Project management
• Strategic planning
• Budget management
• Data analysis
• Process improvement

Industry-Specific Skills:

• SEO and SEM (Marketing)
• M&A (Finance)
• Clinical trials (Healthcare)
• Supply chain management (Operations)

Soft Skills (include sparingly):

• Leadership
• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Team collaboration

Research relevant skills:

• Look at job descriptions for roles you want
• Check profiles of people in similar positions
• Note what skills appear repeatedly
• Add those exact terms to your profile

Getting endorsements:
Endorse 5-10 connections for their skills. Many will reciprocate and endorse you back. You can also directly ask close colleagues: "Would you mind endorsing me for [specific skill]? Happy to reciprocate."

8. Recommendations

Recommendations are social proof that validates your abilities. Profiles with recommendations are viewed as more credible and trustworthy.

Who to ask for recommendations:

• Former managers (most valuable)
• Direct reports (shows leadership)
• Colleagues on your team
• Cross-functional partners
• Clients or customers (if appropriate)
• People you mentored

How to ask:
Make it easy for them by being specific about what you'd like them to mention:

"Hi [Name], I'm updating my LinkedIn profile and wondered if you'd be willing to write a brief recommendation based on our work together at [Company]? I'd really appreciate it if you could mention [specific project] or [specific skill].

If you're short on time, I'm happy to draft a few bullet points to make it easier for you. And of course, I'd be glad to reciprocate with a recommendation for you.

Thanks for considering!"

Aim for 3-5 quality recommendations that cover different aspects of your work: technical skills, leadership, collaboration, and specific achievements.

What makes a good recommendation:

• Specific examples (not just "great to work with")
• Mentions concrete outcomes or projects
• Describes what makes you unique
• Written by someone credible
• 100-200 words (not too brief, not too long)

When to ask:
Right after completing a successful project together, when leaving a company (while relationships are fresh), or when you've helped someone with their career. Don't ask everyone at once—space out requests over a few weeks.

Turn On "Open to Work"

LinkedIn's "Open to Work" feature signals to recruiters that you're actively job searching. It's an essential tool when used correctly.

How to Enable It:

1. Click the "Open to" button on your profile (below your banner image)
2. Select "Finding a new job"
3. Fill in your detailed preferences:
   • Job titles: List 5-10 relevant titles you're interested in (be specific)
   • Location: Add multiple cities or select "Remote"
   • Start date: Usually "Immediately" or "Within 1 month"
   • Employment type: Full-time, contract, part-time, internship
   • Work location: On-site, hybrid, or remote
   • Job function: Select relevant categories
4. Click "Add to profile"

Visibility Options:

"Recruiters only" (Recommended)

• Only visible to recruiters using LinkedIn Recruiter (paid accounts)
• Your current company's recruiters won't see it (LinkedIn blocks them)
• No green banner on your photo
• More discreet while still signaling availability
• You'll appear in recruiter searches as "Open to opportunities"

"All LinkedIn members"

• Green "#OpenToWork" frame around your profile photo
• Everyone who views your profile sees you're job searching
• Can generate more inbound, but also more noise
• Higher visibility but potentially looks desperate
• May attract spam and unqualified opportunities

Our Recommendation

Start with "Recruiters only" unless you want to publicly broadcast your job search. This gives you the benefits of being discoverable by recruiters without the potential downsides of the public frame.

When to use "All LinkedIn members":

• You're in a high-demand field and want maximum visibility
• You've already publicly announced your layoff
• You're comfortable with everyone knowing you're job searching
• You want to leverage your network to find opportunities

Optimizing Your Open to Work Settings:

Be specific about job titles: Don't just put "Marketing Manager." Include variations like "Senior Marketing Manager," "Growth Marketing Manager," "Demand Generation Manager," and "Marketing Director" to appear in more searches.

Location strategy: Add multiple locations you'd consider or select "Remote" if you're flexible. Recruiters filter heavily by location.

Update regularly: Refresh your Open to Work settings every 2-3 weeks. This moves you up in recruiter search results since LinkedIn prioritizes recently updated profiles.

LinkedIn Networking Strategy

LinkedIn is a networking platform first, job board second. Building and leveraging your network effectively is crucial to your job search success.

Who to Connect With:

Priority connections:

1. Recruiters in your industry: Search for "[your field] recruiter" and connect with 20-30 relevant ones
2. Hiring managers at target companies: Find people with "Director," "VP," or "Head of" titles at companies you're interested in
3. Former colleagues: Reconnect with people from previous companies
4. Alumni: Search for people who went to your university or worked at your past companies
5. Industry peers: People in similar roles at other companies
6. Thought leaders: Influential people in your field (though they may not accept)

How many connections to aim for:

• 500+ connections gives you credibility (LinkedIn shows "500+" after that)
• Quality matters more than quantity
• Aim for 50-100 new relevant connections per month while job searching

Personalizing Connection Requests:

Never send the default "I'd like to add you to my professional network" message. Personalize every request:

Template 1 - Former colleague:

"Hi [Name], great to see you here! I enjoyed working with you at [Company] and would love to reconnect and stay in touch."

Template 2 - Recruiter:

"Hi [Name], I'm a [job title] with experience in [specific area], currently exploring new opportunities in [industry]. I'd love to connect and stay on your radar for relevant roles."

Template 3 - Target company employee:

"Hi [Name], I've been impressed by [Company]'s work in [specific thing]. I'm exploring opportunities in [your field] and would value connecting and learning more about your experience there."

Template 4 - Industry peer:

"Hi [Name], I came across your post about [topic] and found your perspective on [specific thing] really insightful. I work in [similar area] and would love to connect."

Keep it under 300 characters (LinkedIn's limit) and make it about them or a genuine commonality, not just about what they can do for you.

Leveraging Your Network:

Informational interviews:
Once connected, request 15-20 minute conversations with people at target companies:

"Hi [Name], thanks for connecting! I'm currently exploring [job title] opportunities and would love to learn about your experience at [Company]. Would you have 15 minutes for a brief call? I'm happy to work around your schedule."

Asking for introductions:
If you see a connection is connected to someone at a company you're interested in:

"Hi [Name], I noticed you're connected to [Person] at [Company]. I'm really interested in opportunities there and would love an introduction if you feel comfortable making one. Happy to provide more context if helpful!"

Reactivating dormant connections:
Reach out to people you haven't spoken to in years with a warm, no-pressure message:

"Hi [Name], it's been a while since we worked together at [Company]! I've been thinking about our [specific project or memory]. I'm currently exploring new opportunities in [field] and wanted to reconnect. Would love to catch up if you have time."

Content Strategy for LinkedIn

Staying active on LinkedIn increases your visibility, demonstrates expertise, and keeps you top of mind for your network. You don't need to be a thought leader or go viral—consistency matters more than perfection.

Daily Engagement (15-20 minutes):

What to do:

• Like posts from connections, especially those sharing career wins or valuable insights
• Comment thoughtfully on 5-10 posts (not just "Great post!"—add value)
• Congratulate connections on new roles, work anniversaries, or achievements
• Respond to comments on your own posts or profile
• Share job postings that might help others in your network

Why it matters:

• Increases your visibility in the LinkedIn algorithm
• Builds relationships with your network
• Shows you're active and engaged (recruiters notice this)
• Keeps your name appearing in people's feeds

Commenting strategy:
Add value in your comments. Instead of "Great post!" try:

• "This resonates with my experience at [Company] where we..."
• "Interesting perspective. I'd add that..."
• "Thanks for sharing. The point about [specific thing] is especially relevant because..."

Weekly Posting (1-2 times per week):

You don't need to post about your layoff. Instead, share content that positions you as knowledgeable in your field:

Post ideas:

1. Industry insights and trends:
"Three trends I'm seeing in [your industry] right now..." or "What [recent news] means for [your field]..."

2. Lessons learned:
"5 things I learned about [topic] in my [X] years doing [your job]..." or "The biggest mistake I see [job title]s make is..."

3. Helpful how-to content:
"How to [solve common problem] in 3 steps..." or "A framework I use for [common task]..."

4. Commentary on articles:
Share an industry article with 2-3 paragraphs of your own analysis and perspective

5. Career advice:
"What I wish I'd known when starting my career in [field]..." or "Advice for anyone considering a career in [industry]..."

6. Asking questions:
"What's the best [tool/approach/strategy] you've found for [common challenge]?" (questions generate high engagement)

What makes a good LinkedIn post:

• Hook in the first line: Make people want to click "see more"
• Short paragraphs: 1-2 sentences each for readability
• Specific and valuable: Don't be vague or generic
• Authentic voice: Write like you talk
• Call to action: "What's your experience?" or "Agree or disagree?"
• Strategic hashtags: Use 3-5 relevant hashtags

What to avoid:

• Negativity or complaining (especially about your layoff or former employer)
• Controversial political topics (unless you're in politics/policy)
• Desperation: "Please help me find a job!" or "Day 47 of applying..."
• Excessive self-promotion without value
• Copying others' viral posts word-for-word
• Posting just to post (quality over quantity)

Frequency: 1-2 posts per week is plenty. Consistency matters more than volume.

Optimizing for Search

Recruiters find candidates primarily through LinkedIn's search function. Your profile needs to be optimized so you appear when they search for candidates like you.

How Recruiters Search:

Recruiters typically use LinkedIn Recruiter (paid version) and search by:

• Job titles (current and past)
• Skills (specific technical and soft skills)
• Keywords in your profile (especially headline and about section)
• Location (city, state, or remote)
• Companies (current and past employers)
• Years of experience
• Industry

Keyword Placement Strategy:

Include relevant keywords naturally throughout:

1. Headline (highest priority): Most important for search ranking
Include 2-3 of your most important keywords here

2. About section: Second most important
Sprinkle keywords throughout, but keep it readable and natural

3. Job titles: Use standard industry titles
If your actual title was non-standard, include the industry standard in parentheses:
"Growth Hacker (Digital Marketing Manager)"

4. Job descriptions: In your bullet points
Include keywords when describing your responsibilities and achievements

5. Skills section: Third most important
List all relevant keywords as skills (up to 50)

Research Your Keywords:

Step 1: Analyze job descriptions
Look at 10-15 job postings for roles you want. What terms appear repeatedly? Make a list.

Step 2: Study competitor profiles
Look at profiles of people in similar roles at companies you admire. What keywords do they use?

Step 3: LinkedIn search suggestions
Start typing job titles in LinkedIn search and see what autocomplete suggests. Those are popular search terms.

Step 4: Use exact phrases
If job descriptions say "stakeholder management," use that exact phrase, not "managing stakeholders."

Example Keywords by Field:

Marketing:
demand generation, SEO, content strategy, marketing automation, HubSpot, Google Analytics, SEM, email marketing, growth marketing, conversion optimization, ABM, marketing ops

Software Engineering:
Python, JavaScript, AWS, React, Node.js, microservices, REST APIs, agile development, CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes, full-stack, backend, frontend, system design

Finance:
financial modeling, FP&A, budgeting, forecasting, GAAP, valuation, M&A, financial analysis, Excel, SAP, variance analysis, financial reporting, strategic planning

Sales:
SaaS sales, enterprise sales, B2B sales, account management, Salesforce, pipeline management, consultative selling, revenue growth, quota attainment, customer acquisition, sales enablement

Product Management:
product strategy, roadmap, agile, user stories, product-market fit, A/B testing, data-driven, stakeholder management, go-to-market, feature prioritization, PRD

What to Avoid

Common mistakes that hurt your LinkedIn presence:

Profile mistakes:

• Leaving your profile incomplete (no photo, minimal experience)
• Using a headline like "Unemployed" or "Seeking Opportunities"
• Having an outdated profile photo (from 5+ years ago)
• No About section or generic, boring content
• Listing job responsibilities instead of achievements
• Ignoring the Skills section

Behavior mistakes:

• Badmouthing your former employer (publicly or in DMs)
• Spamming your network with generic job requests
• Connecting with everyone indiscriminately (quality over quantity)
• Ignoring messages from recruiters (even if not interested, respond politely)
• Posting controversial or political content during your job search
• Being too salesy or promotional in connection requests
• Going silent and inactive (reduces your visibility)

Job search mistakes:

• Only applying through LinkedIn Easy Apply (often black hole)
• Not following up with recruiters after initial contact
• Having inconsistencies between LinkedIn and resume
• Not customizing your profile for roles you want
• Expecting results without being proactive
• Treating LinkedIn like a passive resume repository

Quick Wins Checklist

Complete these items to optimize your profile in 1-2 hours:

• [ ] Professional headshot uploaded
• [ ] Custom background banner (not default blue)
• [ ] Keyword-rich headline (not job title at old company)
• [ ] Compelling About section (400+ words with achievements)
• [ ] Experience updated with achievement-focused bullets
• [ ] Skills section filled out (40-50 relevant skills)
• [ ] At least 3 recommendations from past colleagues
• [ ] "Open to Work" enabled (recruiters-only or public)
• [ ] Custom LinkedIn URL (linkedin.com/in/yourname)
• [ ] Contact info visible to connections (email, phone)
• [ ] Featured section with 3+ work samples or articles
• [ ] Privacy settings reviewed (control what others see)
• [ ] Location and industry updated correctly
• [ ] All past job experiences listed with end dates
• [ ] Education section complete

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Key Takeaways

1. Your headline matters most — Make it keyword-rich and value-focused, not just your old job title
2. You don't need to announce your layoff — Focus your profile and content on your expertise and value
3. Turn on "Open to Work" — Start with recruiters-only visibility to avoid the public frame
4. Be consistently active — Engage daily with comments, post weekly with valuable content
5. Optimize for search — Use exact keywords from job descriptions throughout your profile
6. Network strategically — Connect with recruiters, hiring managers, and former colleagues with personalized messages
7. Showcase your work — Use the Featured section to display your best projects and achievements
8. Get recommendations — 3-5 strong recommendations add credibility and social proof
9. Stay positive — All public content should be professional and forward-looking
10. Update regularly — Refresh your profile every 2-3 weeks to stay high in search results

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Related Resources:

• Resume Tips After Layoff →
• Interview Preparation →
• Networking Strategies →
• Rebuilding Confidence After Layoff →
• Job Application Tracker →