You’re familiar with the story. Someone you know updates their LinkedIn… and 2 weeks later: “Just accepted an offer at Microsoft!” Meanwhile, you’ve been sending out resumes into the void.
In tech, you don’t always have to apply for every job. Sometimes the job can find you if your LinkedIn is doing the talking.
But let’s be honest. Most people’s profiles read like a digital ghost town:
- A blurry photo from 2016 or a weird selfie
- A headline that says “Student” or “Software Engineer” (and nothing more)
- Zero keywords
- No proof of skills
If you’re serious about landing a tech role, especially at companies like Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, or even rising startups, your LinkedIn has to be more than a placeholder.
It needs to work for you.
Why LinkedIn Matters (Especially in Tech)
87% of tech recruiters use LinkedIn to vet or discover candidates even before seeing a resume.
(Source: Jobvite 2023 Recruiter Nation Report)
Some companies, like Google, Meta, and Amazon, even have LinkedIn-specific pipelines for sourcing passive candidates.
So while you’re waiting for an email reply, recruiters are already on LinkedIn, typing in things like
- “React developer Toronto”
- “Data engineer ETL pipelines AWS”
- “Technical writer Python APIs remote”
If your profile doesn’t match those searches, you won’t be seen, no matter how good your skills are.
1. Craft a Headline That’s More Than Just a Job Title
Mistake most people make:
“Software Engineer” or “Frontend Developer”
That tells us what you do, not what you bring.
Fix it like this:
Format: What you do + who you help + tech focus or outcomes
Examples:
- “Frontend Engineer | Building fast, accessible React apps that scale”
- “Python Developer | Turning data pipelines into business outcomes”
- “Freelance DevOps Specialist | Helping startups automate & scale with AWS”
Your headline shows up in search results, comments, and DMs. Optimise it for discovery, not just description.
2. Use a Real Photo That Feels Approachable and Professional
People don’t connect with logos or blank avatars. They connect with faces.
- Use a clear, close-up headshot
- Soft smile = inviting
- Clean background (not your bedroom shelf)
- Avoid blurry or low-light selfies
Use PFPMaker to generate a polished photo from your selfie if you don’t have a professional one.
A profile photo can increase views by 21x and messages by 36x (according to LinkedIn).
3. Make Your “About” Section a Mini-Cover Letter
Most “About” sections are either:
- Empty
- Cliché (“I’m a passionate developer…”)
- Just a list of buzzwords
Instead, write this like a human talking to another human.
Format to follow:
- Who you are
- What you do (and how you do it)
- Who you help / solve problems for
- What makes you different
- What you’re looking for or open to
Example (for a backend developer):
“I’m a backend engineer who loves clean APIs, scalable systems, and projects that make people’s lives easier. Over the past 2 years, I’ve built systems that process 10M+ data records and deployed services with 99.99% uptime on AWS. Currently freelancing with early-stage startups, and always open to chatting about backend roles, especially in healthtech or edtech.”
Use keywords recruiters would search for, like React, GCP, Kubernetes, Django, etc., but blend them into real sentences.
4. Turn Your Experience Section Into a Story of Results
Too many LinkedIn profiles just copy-paste job descriptions.
Your job is to sell your value, not just list your tasks.
Each role should include:
- What you built
- What tech you used
- What problem you solved
- What changed because of your work
Example:
“Built and maintained Node.js APIs for a mobile health app, serving over 100K users monthly. Improved load time by 42%, integrated with 3 third-party services, and reduced crash rate to <0.5%.”
If you freelanced, treat it like a real job:
“Developed internal dashboards for 2 SaaS clients, improving data visibility and cutting reporting time by 30%.”
Add 1–2 bullet points for each freelance gig or project, even if it’s short-term.
5. Add 3–5 Featured Projects or Media (Show, Don’t Just Tell)
The “Featured” section is criminally underused.
This is where you can add:
- GitHub projects
- Blog posts
- Portfolio websites
- Product demos or app screenshots
- Interview recordings
- Open-source contributions
If you’ve been freelancing, feature a visual case study: “How I helped a Nigerian fintech reduce downtime by 60% in 2 months.”
Example:
Add a link to your GitHub repo + short caption:
“Backend service for scalable e-commerce inventory, Node.js + PostgreSQL”
6. Get (or Give) Relevant Recommendations
Recruiters actually read these. One solid recommendation = social proof you’re not just hyping yourself up.
How to get them:
- Ask former coworkers, freelance clients, or even collaborators on open-source projects
- Offer to write one for them first
- Be specific: “Would love if you could speak to our work together on (project)”
A good recommendation talks about:
- Your collaboration style
- Problem-solving ability
- Outcomes you helped achieve
7. Turn on “Open to Work”, the Smart Way
Yes, you should turn on “Open to Work,” but make sure it’s set to private (only recruiters) unless you want it public.
- Choose job titles you actually want
- Set locations (including remote!)
- Add types: full-time, freelance, contract
Use LinkedIn’s “Open to Work” settings here:
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/open-to-work/
Recruiters often filter candidates by this tag; it’s one of the easiest ways to get discovered.
8. Include a Skills Section with the Right Keywords
This isn’t just for show; it powers LinkedIn’s recruiter search algorithm.
- Add 20–30 relevant skills
- Use keywords based on job descriptions (Leverage Jobscan again here)
- Prioritise high-value skills like React, TypeScript, REST APIs, AWS, Kubernetes, SQL, Git, Agile, CI/CD
Rearrange your top 3 skills. They show up first in search results. Make them count.
9. Be Active (Without Being Annoying)
You don’t have to post every day, but:
- Comment on posts in your domain
- Share something you learned once a week
- Celebrate small wins when you finish a course, launch a project, or give a talk.
To have a ready list of your achievements, you can check out the “Capture Achievements” feature on Anutio.
Why? Activity = visibility.
Every time you engage, your name and headline show up, especially to recruiters and hiring managers in your network.
Even a “Here’s something I learned building X…” post can get 500+ views, and all it takes is 10 minutes.
Final Checklist: LinkedIn Profile That Attracts Tech Recruiters
- Clear, keyword-rich headline
- Friendly, professional photo
- Human-centred About section
- Results-focused Experience bullets
- Featured projects or media
- At least 1–2 recommendations
- Skills section optimised
- Open to Work enabled
- Weekly activity or engagement
Conclusion
Your LinkedIn profile is your most powerful passive recruiter magnet and most people don’t even scratch the surface of what it can do.
This isn’t about gaming the system. It’s about telling your story the way tech recruiters want to hear it.
Whether you’re a recent graduate, a bootcamp grad, or a freelancer eyeing a full-time role at Meta or Microsoft, your profile should be clear, confident, and visible.
- Start with 1 section. Clean it up. Update your keywords.
- Then set a 30-minute block this weekend to do a full audit.
- You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be discoverable.
