In today's competitive job market, having a strong LinkedIn profile is more crucial than ever for job seekers, and including your LinkedIn on your résumé could significantly enhance your chances of getting noticed and landing an interview.

Many hiring managers consider it a key component of your professional presence. In fact, for some companies, a well-crafted LinkedIn profile is so important that they might not even consider your application without it. Your LinkedIn profile acts as a dynamic extension of your résumé, showcasing your personal and professional brand, professional achievements, and industry connections in a way that a traditional résumé cannot.

However, it’s important to recognize that this approach isn't universally beneficial. Depending on the industry, company culture, and the specifics of the role you're applying for, adding your LinkedIn profile to your résumé might not always be the right move. In some cases, it could even detract from your application. To help you make an informed decision, let's explore the pros and cons of including LinkedIn on your résumé, so you can determine what's best for your unique situation.

Why Should You Include LinkedIn on Your Résumé?

Including your LinkedIn account on your résumé can be a valuable addition to your job applications, giving you an edge over other candidates. By linking to your LinkedIn profile, you provide hiring managers with a more comprehensive view of your professional background and accomplishments, which can set you apart in a competitive job market. Here are some compelling reasons why adding LinkedIn on resume might be the right choice for you.

What Are Some Good Reasons For Including Your LinkedIn URL?

Putting LinkedIn on your résumé can offer several benefits that may improve your chances of landing the job. Here are some key reasons why you should consider adding your LinkedIn profile URL:

  • Expanded Professional Overview: While your résumé provides a concise summary of your experience, adding your LinkedIn profile URL allows potential employers to explore your full career history, including details like job titles, projects, endorsements, and recommendations that may not fit on your résumé.
  • Showcase Your Personal Brand: Your LinkedIn profile is an excellent platform for demonstrating your personal brand. By putting LinkedIn on your résumé, you give employers the opportunity to see how you present yourself professionally, which can make you stand out among other candidates.
  • Highlight Up-to-Date Information: Résumés can quickly become outdated, but your LinkedIn profile is often more current. Including LinkedIn on a résumé ensures that employers can access the latest information about your career, including any recent job titles, certifications, or achievements that you haven’t yet added to your résumé.
  • Demonstrate Industry Engagement: Adding your LinkedIn profile URL shows that you are engaged in your industry and committed to networking. Employers often appreciate candidates who are active on LinkedIn, as it indicates a proactive approach to career development and industry involvement.
  • Provide Social Proof: LinkedIn provides a platform for others to endorse your skills and write recommendations, which can significantly enhance your professional credibility. By including your LinkedIn profile on your résumé, you offer employers a direct view of your qualifications, projects, and industry involvement. This gives them a more complete picture of your professional abilities and how the business community perceives your work, potentially setting you apart from other candidates.
  • Access to Additional Content: Your LinkedIn profile may include content such as articles, presentations, or projects you’ve shared, which can provide further insight into your expertise. Including your LinkedIn profile URL on your résumé gives employers the chance to explore these additional resources.

How to Add LinkedIn URL to Your Resume

In today’s job market, it’s becoming increasingly common to include your LinkedIn on a resume by adding your personalized LinkedIn URL to the header. To ensure it looks professional and fits seamlessly into your résumé format, you can customize your LinkedIn URL to create a clean and concise custom URL. This not only enhances the appearance of your résumé but also makes it easier for hiring managers to locate your profile quickly.

When adding your LinkedIn URL, it’s a good idea to make it a hyperlink so that employers can click directly through to your profile. Most résumé formats, including PDFs and word-processing documents like Microsoft Word, support clickable links. By doing this, you’re helping busy hiring managers access your online profile with minimal effort, which can be a small but significant advantage in a competitive job market.

When Should You Consider Leaving LinkedIn Off Your Résumé?

Including your LinkedIn profile on your résumé can be a powerful tool, but only if your profile is in top shape. If your LinkedIn profile is outdated, incomplete, or unprofessional, it might be better to leave it off your résumé. Asking a hiring manager to visit your profile is asking for their time, so you want to ensure it reflects your best self.

Remember, LinkedIn is a professional platform, not a casual social network. Those who use it are often serious professionals with limited time. If your profile doesn’t present you as polished and credible, it could work against you rather than in your favor.

So, before adding LinkedIn to your résumé, ask yourself if your profile is ready to impress. If you’re unsure, it might be time for a profile update.

What Are the Signs Your LinkedIn Profile Needs Work?

Profile Quality Red Flags

Before you put LinkedIn on your resume, it's important to assess whether your profile truly enhances your application. Here are some key warning signs that your LinkedIn profile might need improvement:

  • Duplicate Content: If your LinkedIn profile is merely a rehash of your résumé, it doesn't add value for hiring managers. Your LinkedIn should offer something extra, not just repeat what's already on your résumé.
  • Outdated Information: A profile that isn’t regularly updated might contain outdated or incorrect details, which can raise concerns for hiring managers. Ensure all information is current and accurate before including your LinkedIn URL.
  • Unprofessional Content: LinkedIn is a professional platform, so any content or interactions that aren’t strictly professional could harm your job prospects. Make sure your profile reflects the serious, business-oriented nature of LinkedIn.
  • Weak Network: A limited or low-quality network on LinkedIn might suggest a lack of professional connections, which could reflect poorly on your standing in your industry.
  • Lack of Endorsements or Recommendations: If your profile lacks endorsements or recommendations, it may signal to hiring managers that your skills and experience aren’t validated by others in your field.
  • Irrelevant Information: LinkedIn profiles often include more general information, but when putting LinkedIn on your resume, ensure that your profile is focused and relevant to the job you’re applying for.
  • Standardized Format: LinkedIn profiles follow a standard format, which might not align with the personalized, tailored approach of your résumé. Consider how well your LinkedIn profile complements your résumé before including the link.
  • Profile Picture: Having a professional photo is crucial on LinkedIn. Your profile photo is often the first impression you make, so it should reflect a polished and professional image. If your photo isn’t up to par, it might be better to hold off on including your LinkedIn URL until you can update it with a high-quality, professional-looking image.
  • Active and Engaged Presence: An active and engaged presence on LinkedIn is important. Regularly interacting with your network, sharing relevant content, and participating in industry discussions can demonstrate that you’re committed to your professional development. A dormant profile can give the impression of disinterest, so ensure your LinkedIn activity reflects your enthusiasm and dedication before you decide to include your LinkedIn URL on your résumé.

While this list might seem intimidating, if you take the time to post accurate, up-to-date, and professionally appropriate information, you should have no trouble confidently including your LinkedIn URL on your résumé. However, if your profile falls short in these areas, it might be best to leave it off.

How to Decide if You Should Put LinkedIn on Your Resume

Deciding whether to include your LinkedIn profile in your résumé depends largely on the industry and the specific company you're targeting. While some industries heavily rely on LinkedIn for business communications and networking, others may not place as much emphasis on it.

When preparing your résumé, consider the company’s culture and the industry standards. During your research on the company and its job titles, pay attention to whether LinkedIn is commonly used within that industry. If LinkedIn plays a significant role, including your LinkedIn link in your résumé could be beneficial. However, if the industry doesn’t prioritize LinkedIn, or if the company’s culture leans toward more traditional forms of communication, it may be more appropriate to leave it out.

Ultimately, your decision should align with the overall résumé format and how well LinkedIn complements the job title you’re applying for. Tailor your approach to ensure your résumé makes the strongest possible impression.

Otherwise, leave it off. 

Next Steps

While LinkedIn links are often expected in industries like technology or marketing, other fields may not require them. However, if including your LinkedIn URL makes you look more appealing to the hiring manager, it’s worth considering, regardless of the industry.

If the job application specifically requests a LinkedIn link, you still need to evaluate whether it’s in your best interest to include it. The decision should be based on the quality of your LinkedIn profile—does it reflect the professional resume and job title you're presenting? If your profile can withstand tough scrutiny, it can strengthen your application. However, if it falls short, it might do more harm than good.

Before making your decision, ask others to review your profile and provide feedback. Get opinions from a variety of sources to gain insight into how your profile is perceived by those who don’t know you personally. This will help you ensure your profile aligns with the expectations of hiring managers.

Ultimately, the choice to include LinkedIn on your résumé is yours. If you decide to add it, make sure your LinkedIn profile is clean, professional, and impressive. Customize your LinkedIn URL to ensure it fits seamlessly with your resume format and complements the overall presentation.

There are many resources—articles, videos, and more—that can guide you in creating a truly professional LinkedIn profile. Take the time to explore these resources and make the necessary improvements.

Good luck!

Looking Forward

As you advance in your career, the task of tailoring résumés, cover letters, and follow-up emails for each job can quickly become overwhelming.

Fortunately, advancements in AI (Artificial Intelligence) are simplifying the job application process. By leveraging AI, you can now generate customized, ATS-friendly application documents targeted to specific job descriptions in a matter of seconds.

This technology also offers support throughout the entire job search, including access to a high-quality resume builder and resume summary, job board, mock interview practice, résumé translation and hosting, and AI-assisted answers to application questions.

With these tools, you're significantly more likely to land your dream job.

FAQs

Why should I include my LinkedIn profile on my resume?

Including your LinkedIn on your resume allows potential employers to see a more comprehensive view of your professional experience, skills, endorsements, and recommendations. It also demonstrates that you are active in your professional network.

When should I avoid adding my LinkedIn profile to my resume?

If your LinkedIn profile is incomplete, outdated, or contains information that contradicts your resume, it’s better to leave it off. An inconsistent or poorly maintained profile can harm your chances.

How should I format my LinkedIn URL on my resume?

You should use a custom URL to make it cleaner and more professional. Ideally, include it as a hyperlink in the contact section of your resume.

Does including my LinkedIn profile replace the need for a traditional resume?

No, your LinkedIn profile complements your resume but doesn’t replace it. A resume is still the primary document for applying to jobs, while LinkedIn offers a more detailed, interactive view of your career.

Will including my LinkedIn profile help with ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)?

While ATS primarily scans your resume for keywords and relevant information, including your LinkedIn profile, can provide additional context for recruiters who manually review applications after the initial screening.