When our recruiters look for candidates, we often use LinkedIn to reach out to people who might be a good fit. So, how can you make sure you’re one of those people? This guide is based on what I look for as a recruiter and will help you optimize your LinkedIn profile to increase your chances of getting contacted.
Completing your profile is the best step you can take to show up in recruiters’ search results.
Recruiters search for candidates on LinkedIn based on specific information on their profiles. Among other things, this includes job titles, skills, years of experience, and “Open to Work” status.
In your experience section, list all of your past roles that are relevant to the kind of job you would want to be contacted about. For each one, write a short description that showcases what you would bring to a new job. Focus on your impact, rather than just listing responsibilities. Whenever possible, use numbers to highlight achievements like cost savings, process improvements, and revenue generation.
Recruiters often filter searches using skills listed on candidates’ profiles, so adding relevant skills to your profile can improve your chances of getting discovered. Search for jobs that you would be interested in and make a list of the skills they require. Compare the list with your abilities and experience, and include the skills that overlap on your profile.
Upload a professional profile photo to your LinkedIn profile to ensure you don’t get skipped over.
Recruiters don’t choose candidates to reach out to based on appearances. However, having no photo or an unprofessional photo could be the reason your profile gets overlooked. Generic-looking profiles without photos tend to come off as inactive, outdated, or even fake.
Choose a photo with a simple background where you are looking at the camera, smiling, and professionally dressed. Photos that include other people or distracting backgrounds can come off as unprofessional.
Verifying your identity can increase views of and engagement with your LinkedIn profile.
According to LinkedIn, those who have verified their identities, workplaces, and/or educational institutions see an average increase in profile views of 60% and an average engagement increase of 50%. Identity verification is available in many countries and is as simple as using your government-issued ID to confirm your identity. Once verified, a badge will appear on your public profile, showing that your identity has been verified.
There is more than one way to use the “Open to Work” feature, so make sure you are using it to your advantage.
LinkedIn introduced the “Open to Work” feature during the early COVID pandemic, and some argue that it is dated and no longer useful today. I still recommend using it in 2026, as many recruiters specifically target candidates who have the feature turned on. Leaving the feature off could be a barrier between you and a recruiter who would otherwise reach out.
If you are concerned that your current employer could find out you are looking for a job, you can enable the “Open to Work” feature, but limit visibility to recruiters only. This will hide your status from anyone who works at your current company. While the chances are low, your current employer could still indirectly find out that you have the feature turned on. If you’re worried about jeopardizing your current job, it’s best to avoid using it altogether.
Staying active on LinkedIn increases your chances of showing up in recruiters’ searches.
Logging into LinkedIn regularly, posting, and commenting all signal to the algorithm that you are an active user, making you more likely to get recommended to recruiters. Reacting to posts can help as well, but posting and commenting are more impactful. Not only can those actions help boost your profile in search results, but they also show recruiters that you are delivering value on the platform.
Connecting with people in your industry can also show LinkedIn that you are active and increase the chances of a recruiter finding your profile through someone else’s. Connecting with current and former co-workers is a great place to start, if you haven’t already done so.
Applying to relevant jobs on LinkedIn tells the algorithm that you are actively looking for a job.
If you are hoping to get contacted by recruiters about jobs that aren’t posted online, applying to jobs on LinkedIn may sound counterintuitive. However, if you apply to a select few jobs that line up with what you’d want to be hired for, it can increase the chances that your profile is recommended to recruiters hiring for similar roles.
If you aren’t using the “Open to Work” feature, this can be a good way to signal to LinkedIn that you are looking for a job, without your employer potentially finding out. When you submit an application, the platform will only notify the company you applied to.
When you get messages from recruiters on LinkedIn, respond even if you aren’t interested in the opportunity they reached out about.
If you are getting contacted by recruiters, but they aren’t hiring for the kind of role you would be interested in, respond and let them know. Replying to any messages from recruiters, even to decline a conversation or offer, tells LinkedIn that you are willing to engage with them. This can help get your profile in front of more recruiters, ideally connecting you with someone who can help you get hired for a role you would be interested in.
Directly reaching out to recruiters is often the best way to connect.
Contacting recruiters who specialize in your industry can be a great first step toward relevant job opportunities. If they don’t have a current position available, they may keep your resume on file and reach out if they have a good fit for you in the future.
If you are a skilled worker in one of the industries we serve, feel free to reach out to our team through our careers page. Our team will respond within one business day and let you know if we can help you find a new role.
