How to Write a LinkedIn Summary That Gets You Noticed

The LinkedIn 'About' section is one of the most valuable pieces of real estate on your professional profile - and one of the most commonly wasted. Most profiles either leave it blank or use it as a copy-paste of the resume objective: generic, jargon-heavy, and immediately forgotten.

A strong summary turns a profile browser into an interested contact. Here's how to write one.

Your summary should tell a story that your list of job titles doesn't. The titles say what you've done; the summary should explain who you are as a professional, what you care about, what you're particularly good at, and what kind of opportunity you're interested in (if applicable).

The person reading it should come away with a sense of you as a person, not just as a credential. That human quality is what makes people reach out.

Two to four paragraphs is the right length. First paragraph: who you are professionally and what you do. Lead with something specific that captures your actual work. 'I build growth systems for B2B SaaS companies - usually starting with the acquisition funnel and working backward into the product.'

Second paragraph: what you've accomplished and what you care about. Specific, quantified where possible. Third paragraph (optional): what you're looking for or interested in next. Close with an invitation: your email or a direct note welcoming interesting conversations.

Write in first person ('I'), not third ('John is an experienced marketer'). Third-person LinkedIn summaries read stiff and overly formal - like a bio written by a publicist. First-person is warmer and more direct.

Use keywords relevant to your field naturally in the text - not as a stuffed list, but as part of describing your actual work. This helps with LinkedIn's search algorithm while also reading naturally to humans.