Will adding your LinkedIn profile to your resume give you a chance of getting hired early? Quite possibly—maybe even likely. But simply pasting a link won't help you.

It should be clickable and worth visiting. Also, what they find on the other side needs to hold their attention. So, let's find out how to create the best LinkedIn URL and what your profile should be like.

How to Format Your LinkedIn URL for a Resume

If your LinkedIn link has both letters and numbers, you should fix it. A simple URL is easy to remember and more likely to be clicked by recruiters.

1. Create A LinkedIn URL

Here's how to give your LinkedIn profile a much-needed clean-up:

• Open LinkedIn and click on your profile photo to view your main page.

• On your profile page, click on the option that says "Edit public profile & URL."

• On the right side again, under "Edit your custom URL," hit the pencil symbol next to your current URL.

• Type: linkedin.com/in/yourname

• That’s it—you now have a professional link to show recruiters.

2. Why It's Important

If your LinkedIn link looks chaotic with a string of random characters, employers might wonder if you care about details. So, keep it lowercase, short, and consistent with your name.

Also, it will fit better on your resume. Long URLs can break formatting, especially on printed versions.

So, use your first and last name in lowercase, and if your name is common and already taken, add your city name or profession. For example yourname-city, or yourname-role

linkedin.com/in/anuj-sharma-mktg

3. Don't Use Long URLs

No recruiter wants to type this:

linkedin.com/in/yourname-2348a1b9-cv-profile/

These URLs often pop up when you leave your LinkedIn settings untouched. LinkedIn assigns random numbers and characters to new accounts by default.

But a URL like this looks unfinished.

So, avoid hyphen numbers, and never copy-paste your profile link without checking it. You might be sending characters when you could be sending something clear.

Make Sure Your LinkedIn Profile Doesn't Send Mixed Signals

It's common to spend hours making a resume—and then leave LinkedIn looking like it hasn't been touched since college. That's where people slip up.

LinkedIn is often the first place someone checks when they get your resume. Let's walk through exactly how to create an amazing profile that makes you look like the best candidate among 100 others.

Keep Your Job Titles and Other Details Same

Even a one-month difference between your resume and LinkedIn can raise questions.

For example:

• Resume says: Sales Associate – Jan 2021 to Nov 2022

• LinkedIn says: Sales Representative – Feb 2021 to Dec 2022

• This won't work, so here's what to do:

• Open your resume and your LinkedIn in two tabs.

• Match up the company names, titles, dates, and bullet points line by line.

• Keep your job titles identical—even if your company uses an internal label. If your title is "Product Ninja," and your resume says "Product Manager," adjust LinkedIn to match what's on the resume.

Pick a Good Profile Photo

Your profile picture doesn't have to look like it was taken in a studio. But it should look like you put 5 minutes of thought into it.

Here's what helps:

• A close-up shot (from the shoulders up)

• A plain background (a white wall, bookshelf, or neutral outdoor setting)

• Natural light on your face (avoid overhead shadows)

• Clothes that suggest you're job-ready

Don't Leave the Banner Area Blank

Most people skip the banner image. Don't.

That long rectangle behind your profile photo tells a silent story about your personality or work style.

Not sure what to use?

• A calm office setting if you work in corporate roles

• A monochrome texture if you want it clean and distraction-free

• A photo of your city's skyline if you're open to work locally

• A snapshot of your code, design, books

Write the "About" Section Like You're Talking to a Stranger

Most "About" sections on LinkedIn read like a resume trapped in paragraph form. Don't make it boring and full of overused words.

Here's what works better:

• Start with a sentence about what you do.

• Follow with a short timeline: where you started and what you've worked on

• Mention what you enjoy working on

• End with a sentence on what you're currently learning or curious about

Example:

"I've spent the last 3 years in content marketing, mostly figuring out how to write things people want to read. I started out in journalism, moved into SEO writing, and now I handle blogs and product content for a SaaS team. Lately, I've been experimenting with AI-assisted writing."

Use the "Featured" Section as a Quick Portfolio

The "Featured" tab is for everyone who's ever created something worth sharing.

You can add:

• Blog posts you wrote

• Slide decks you've presented

• LinkedIn posts that got good engagement

• Articles you were quoted in

• PDF resumes

• GitHub or portfolio links if you're into tech or design

• Screenshots of campaigns, dashboards, or reports

Where and How to Include Your LinkedIn Profile on Your Resume

Most people add their LinkedIn links that are not clickable or broken. So, let's get this right with the following strategies on how to use LinkedIn profile for job seekers:

1. Add in the Header

This is the best place to add it—right at the top, where people naturally look.

Here's a simple format:

Anuj Sharma | anuj.sharma@email.com | +91-XXXXXXXXXX | linkedin.com/in/anujsharma

Here are a few extra tips:

Ditch the "https://www." part. Keep it tight and clean.

Try to customize your LinkedIn URL.

Make sure it's the correct link. So many people paste the wrong one by mistake.

Check if the link is clickable in the PDF version. Just open your resume and click—it should open your profile in a browser instantly.

2. The Sidebar or Footer Works, Too

If your resume uses a modern format with a sidebar or a clean footer, add the LinkedIn URL there.

Layout example:

Delhi, India

anuj.sharma@email.com

+91-XXXXXXXXXX

linkedin.com/in/anujsharma

This looks great on resumes designed with tools like NxtJob, Canva, Notion, or Photoshop. Just don't use it with a lot of text. Let it be with a few icons or spacing.

Avoid Adding LinkedIn Links in Work Experience or Summary Sections

Many people hyperlink "LinkedIn" inside their professional summary, or worse, write like:

"More about my projects on my LinkedIn."

Here's why it doesn't work:

It distracts from your core qualifications. The person reading your resume is already there.

Most recruiters won't click mid-document links. They're scanning for job history, not hyperlinks.

It breaks the reading flow.

LinkedIn belongs in one of two places: the header or the contact section. Keep everything else laser-focused on your skills and track record.

Pro Tips Most People Miss

Custom URLs: Go to your LinkedIn settings and get a short, personal URL like linkedin.com/in/anujsharma instead of linkedin.com/in/anuj-sharma-abc123xyz.

Match LinkedIn with Your Resume: If someone clicks through to your LinkedIn and sees a different job title or timeline, that's a red flag. Check that both show the same skills, work experience, and more.

Keep Your LinkedIn Public: If your profile's visibility is restricted, people can't even see your information after clicking your link. Nobody wants their name followed by "This profile isn't available."

What's a LinkedIn QR code on resume—and Why It's Useful

LinkedIn gives you a QR code that links directly to your profile. It can be given during campus placements, walk-in interviews, networking events, or even with HRs who scan resumes using their phones. It saves them a few clicks and gets your profile in front of them instantly.

Here's Exactly How to Get Your LinkedIn QR code on Resume

Follow these quick steps:

You'll now have your personal QR code, which links directly to your LinkedIn profile.

Pro tip: If your LinkedIn profile has a messy URL with numbers, fix it first (go to LinkedIn → Edit public profile URL → Shorten it) before sharing your code.

How to Add This QR Code to Your Resume

Adding a QR code to your resume isn’t an easy task. Here are some smart tips to use for it:

1. Top-Right Corner

This is a favorite for a reason—it's visible but out of the way. Place the QR code here at around 1 to 1.5 cm in size. It's a great choice when your resume uses a clean header format, and you want your contact info to be the first thing someone notices.

2. Beside or Below Your Contact Info

Let it be near your name, email, and phone number. It becomes an extension of your contact card.

3. Bottom-Right Corner in Footer

This works well if your resume is a bit longer or more visual. It doesn't compete with your qualifications, but it still offers an easy way for someone to look you up without typing a single word.

Why It's Worth Adding LinkedIn to Your Resume

Paper resumes are still the standard, but they've become boring and can't have links or QR codes.

Adding LinkedIn shows that you're updated with the latest trends. It signals that you're someone who understands how hiring works now.

1. LinkedIn is the Full Feature

ATS resumes have a time and space limit. You can't stuff in everything you've ever worked on, especially if you've had roles with multiple hats, long projects, or if you've contributed in ways that don't translate well to bullet points.

But your LinkedIn?

• You can showcase a personal project, a course that added a new skill, or a case study you've been part of.

• You can link to media, presentations, or even GitHub repos or websites if relevant.

• And recruiters can see it all with a single click.

2. Adds a Layer of Credibility Most Resumes Can't Match

Here's how:

• Those endorsements for your skills

• Recommendations from managers, teammates, or clients

• Your comment on an industry topic that sparked a conversation

• Mutual connections

• This kind of validation can make a recruiter pause. And that pause can mean a second look or even a callback.

3. Gives You a Voice

Your LinkedIn profile gives you a way to write in your own voice, talk about what drives you, what kinds of work energize you, and even comment on topics you care about. And hiring managers often check it to get a sense of who you are beyond the job description.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Adding LinkedIn to Your Resume

1. Linking to a Half-Baked LinkedIn Profile

Adding a LinkedIn link that looks like it hasn't been touched since 2019? Not a great move. If your profile shows a job you left three years ago, has zero recommendations, and an empty "About" section—it instantly raises questions. Questions like: Is this person even active? Are they serious about their work? Did they forget to update this? That doubt alone can lead to a pass.

What to do instead:

Your LinkedIn profile should mirror your current experience and tell more about you. That means you must add a post, a summary in your "About," and updated roles that match your resume.

2. Using Long Default URL

linkedin.com/in/arun-sharma-86521a59b

Not only does this link look messy, but it also tells the recruiter you didn't take two minutes to make the right things up.

The fix:

Edit your URL. Just go to your profile, click "Edit public profile & URL," and create a link like linkedin.com/in/arunsharma. It looks way cleaner on your resume.

3. Using a Blurry Photo

A selfie in bad lighting gives off the wrong judgment to recruiters. So, take a well-lit photo against a plain background. A neutral top, a calm expression, and some natural light can also work.

4. Treating the "Headline" Like an Afterthought

Your headline doesn't have to be your job title. Just writing "Marketing Specialist." won't make sense.

So, use: “Helping B2B brands grow with content that connects | SaaS & Tech Marketing”

This tells people what you actually do and gives context beyond a title.

5. Don't Skip the "About" Section

Write a simple intro like:

"I started out in sales but realized I loved writing, so I made the switch to content marketing. Since then, I've worked with early-stage startups and helped them find their voice online."

Then maybe add 2-3 bullets with what you're good at.

6. No Recommendations

You don't need 20 recommendations, but having zero makes your profile look bad.

What works well:

Ask one colleague, senior, and maybe a client to write you a short paragraph. Even better if you return the favour.

7. Ignoring the Featured Section

You can pin the following to avoid this:

• A project

• A link to something you've built

• An article you wrote

• A certificate that adds context

• Even a resume PDF

8. Not Checking How It Looks on Mobile

Your LinkedIn profile might look great on the desktop, but a lot of people check it on their phones. Long paragraphs and crop photos don't look good on a phone.

Quick test:

Open your profile on your phone. Scroll like a recruiter would. Are the most important parts up top? Does anything look awkward? If yes, change it.

Wrapping Up

When you put LinkedIn on your resume the right way, you're opening a window for recruiters and letting them know who you are beyond the paper. But that only works if your profile supports your story.

So keep it updated and, above all, make it something recruiters want to click. That's because when it shows your recent work, case studies, and interests, they would know more about your personality.