Some 76% of individuals believe knowing the right people is key to getting ahead, but only 22% are actively networking, according to LinkedIn. How do you build your professional network? LinkedIn, the world's largest professional networking website, is a great place to start. Before reaching out to make connections, ensure you'll leave a good impression with an optimized LinkedIn summary.
What is a LinkedIn summary?
A LinkedIn summary, or the About section in your profile, is a brief overview of your professional life. It's an opportunity to describe your job history and who you are, in your own words. LinkedIn describes this section as "where you can share more about your experiences, expertise, and interests. You can also share your vision for your role and your company." Since it's at the top of the page, it's often the first thing people read when they visit your profile.
Why you need a LinkedIn summary
- Tell your story
- Show up in search results
- Make a career change
- Find community
- Generate business leads
More than 950 million people use LinkedIn. A well-crafted LinkedIn profile summary can help you stand out in the crowd, whether you're looking for a new job, a mentor, or ways to grow your business with Linkedin. A LinkedIn summary can help you:
Tell your story
Your LinkedIn bio is the perfect place to go beyond job titles and show how your academic and professional experiences connect to your broader mission and career goals.
Show up in search results
Recruiters and hiring managers use LinkedIn to search for qualified candidates. According to LinkedIn, a summary of 40 words or more can make your profile more likely to turn up in your future employer's search.
Make a career change
If you want to switch careers, use the LinkedIn summary section to highlight how your past and current positions are relevant to your dream job. If your previous company and job title don't match perfectly with the job description, your summary can show prospective employers how your passions and skills align with your new path.
Find community
Your Linkedin summary can help you build your network. For Starface World president Kara Brothers, reaching out to someone they admire on LinkedIn has been a key part of building a community of people who are there for them. A great LinkedIn profile—including a well-crafted summary—can help you feel more confident reaching out to potential mentors.
Generate business leads
"I'm winning business almost every day on LinkedIn," says tech reseller Brian Burke of RenewedMac and Other World Computing in a conversation with Shopify Masters. With so many users on LinkedIn, Brian says that creating a market presence for yourself (not just a Linkedin company page) can create opportunities.
How to write an effective LinkedIn summary
- Add a summary
- Start with a hook
- Get specific
- Show your passion
- Emphasize your skills
- Blend personal and business
- Close with a call to action
Writing about yourself can be challenging. The LinkedIn summary is the most open-ended section of your profile, which is why many LinkedIn users leave it blank. Don't make that mistake. Here's how to write an excellent LinkedIn summary to help you stand out with hiring managers and make more connections.
1. Add a summary
If you don't have a LinkedIn summary yet, you're missing out on an opportunity to tell recruiters and potential clients about you. To draft your summary, navigate to your profile by clicking the Me icon on your desktop or tapping your profile picture on mobile. Scroll down to the About section and click or tap Edit.
If you already have a professional bio on your personal website, you can paste it into the summary section. Having something in this section is better than leaving it blank, so don't worry about making it perfect from the start. You can then optimize your bio for LinkedIn specifically.
2. Start with a hook
When someone looks at your LinkedIn profile, they only see the first few lines of your About section, so start with the most exciting and relevant information to grab the reader's attention.
This is LinkedIn coach and "Mac man" Brian Burke's summary:
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I founded SellYourMac.com over 10 years ago to create a fast and trusted way for people to buy and sell their Apple products. 💻📲 We are #1 rated in the Apple trade-in industry… |
The full summary is much longer, but in the first two sentences, you can understand what Brian does (helps people buy and sell Apple products) and learn something exciting (SellYourMac.com is #1 rated).
3. Get specific
Did your high school English teacher implore you to "show, not tell" in your essays? The advice holds up on LinkedIn. A good LinkedIn summary includes specific examples of professional accomplishments rather than empty adjectives.
Qualities like "organized," "motivated," and "team player" are good but generic. Think of an example that showcases these qualities. Unique examples from your career can make your summary stand out.
Do you have a proven track record of results? Show the results, as Paper Shoot Camera CEO Gillian Gallant does in her great summary:
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When I discovered the Paper Shoot Organization, my belief in its potential was so strong that I quit my secure job as a marketer to become the exclusive distributor for North America. In only nine months, the revenue of my business grew to be 20-times greater than any other Paper Shoot distributor. My marketing strategy has been credited with the growth of the Paper Shoot brand and increased sales in regions in Europe and Asia. |
In this brief description, Gillian gets specific about her professional background by sharing that she grew revenue by 20 times in nine months.
4. Show your passion
The Experience section of your LinkedIn profile shows off your accomplishments and the Skills section highlights the techniques and tools that you learned along the way. The About section is where you can show why you're passionate about your career, and how all of your experiences and skills have led to your larger mission and career goals.
Here's an example of a compelling LinkedIn summary from Polysleep founder Jeremiah Curvers:
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During these formative years, he began to embrace the notion of disruptive innovation, an idea that innovation by an outsider can eventually replace established, market-leading firms. This approach inspired him (following a painful back injury—but that's another story!) to found Polysleep in 2016. And it drives the business to this day. |
Jeremiah's description clearly outlines the business's underlying purpose.
5. Emphasize your skills
The Skills section may be at the bottom of your LinkedIn profile, but it's one of the most important sections for job seekers. According to LinkedIn, 40% of those hiring explicitly check this section when looking for job candidates.
If you're a job-seeker, bring your skills to the top of your profile by including them in your About section. If you're unsure which to have, check job descriptions for opportunities that interest you, and identify skills that match.
6. Blend personal and business
"In your About section, I would recommend a blend of personal and business," Brian Burke told Shopify Masters. "People want to know about who you are as a human, not just that you're a salesperson. Tell them your hobbies, and hopefully, they're going to resonate."
While the main focus should be on your professional life, adding personal details can help humanize your LinkedIn summary. It may give potential employers a point of connection.
7. Close with a call to action
Your reader has made it to the end of your summary. Now what? "Close with a call to action," Brian says.
"What do you want people to do? A lot of times you'd visit someone's profile, you don't even know how to buy from them. Tell them what you'd like them to do. In multiple places of my profile, people know that I buy and sell Apple. Don't try to hide what you're doing."
You can't include clickable links in your LinkedIn summary, but you can include your email address, social handles, or a short, memorable URL that readers can copy and paste into a browser. Here's how that looks on Brian's profile:
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💙 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙗𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨: 📲 https://SellYourMac.com and use my personal promo code "macman" for a bonus when trading in your Apple device 📲 https://MacSales.com when buying your next Apple device or accessory, every device is discounted vs. buying new! |
LinkedIn summary examples
- Brian Burke, founder at RenewedMacs and Other World Computing
- Jon Sakoda, founder at Decibel Partners
- Neil Hoyne, chief strategist at Google
- Gillian Galant, CEO at Paper Shoot Camera
- Nancy Twine, founder and CEO at Briogeo
- Heidi Zak, co-founder and CEO at ThirdLove
- Melanie Masarin, founder and CEO at Ghia
- Danny Taing, founder and CEO at Bokksu
- Alex Ikonn, co-founder at Intelligent Change
- Jeremiah Curvers, co-founder and CEO at Polysleep
Check out these LinkedIn summaries from experienced professionals and successful entrepreneurs to inspire your own summary:
Brian Burke, founder at RenewedMacs and Other World Computing
Brian's Linkedin summary:
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I founded SellYourMac.com over 10 years ago to create a fast and trusted way for people to buy and sell their Apple products. 💻📲 We are #1 rated in the Apple trade-in industry. We are fortunate to be able to gift Apple laptops to underprivileged youth to help them achieve their dreams through our Trade In For A Purpose™ program. 👩💻👨💻 Checkout my TEDx Talk about gifting Macs on YouTube or TED: https://youtu.be/t4kunumyx-o Currently I am focused on the following: 💻 Evangelist (Chief Mac Man and Apple entrepreneur) 🙏🏼 Philanthropy (gifting Apple devices) 🗣️Public Speaker (TEDx and Vistage) 📈 LinkedIn Master Class and Coach (ask me how to increase your engagement) 🍷Sommelier (wine ambassador—do you like wine?) 💙 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙗𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨: 📲 https://SellYourMac.com and use my personal promo code "macman" for a bonus when trading in your Apple device 📲 https://MacSales.com when buying your next Apple device or accessory, every device is discounted vs. buying new! |
Jon Sakoda, founder at Decibel Partners
Jon's Linkedin summary:
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After serving as an entrepreneur and a venture capitalist, I founded Decibel as an independent venture capital firm in partnership with Cisco to push the conventional boundaries of early stage investing. Decibel combines the speed, agility, and independent risk-taking traditionally found in the best venture firms, while offering differentiated access to the scale, entrepreneurial talent, and deep customer relationships found in one of the largest tech companies in the world. This approach is an industry first and provides a unique way for entrepreneurs to get access to unparalleled resources at a time and stage when they need it most. |
Hear Jon's insights about starting a company—and getting it funded—in 2023, in this conversation with the Shopify Masters podcast.
Neil Hoyne, chief strategist at Google
Neil's Linkedin summary:
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Neil Hoyne is the Chief Strategist at Google and the best-selling author of Converted: The Data-Driven Way to Win Customers' Hearts. Mr. Hoyne was a Senior Fellow at the Wharton School and presently serves on the Board of Trustees for Purdue University Global. He's received multiple patents for his work in marketing attribution and customer analytics, been published in notable outlets such as Harvard Business Review, and has keynoted hundreds of events in more than two dozen countries. |
Neil shares three tips for increasing customer lifetime value at any stage of business in his interview with the Shopify Masters podcast.
Gillian Gallant, CEO at Paper Shoot Camera
Gillian's Linkedin summary:
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My name is Gillian. I'm a young entrepreneur operating a multi-national, multi-million dollar online business from my home in Canada. My ability to spot opportunities and develop them started early. At age 16, I collaborated with University students to stage a new music festival, which had over 500 attendees its first year, and ran successfully for another four years. In the many projects I've worked on since, I've been the youngest, and often the only woman. The strength of my work ethic and passion for learning offered many opportunities to expand and develop my skills. I am a creative problem solver, system builder, and savvy marketer with a proven record of success. When I discovered the Paper Shoot Organization, my belief in its potential was so strong that I quit my secure job as a marketer to become the exclusive distributor for North America. In only nine months, the revenue of my business grew to be 20 times greater than any other Paper Shoot distributor. My marketing strategy has been credited with the growth of the Paper Shoot brand and increased sales in regions in Europe and Asia. Paper Shoot cameras are an emergent product with increasing consumer demand. I see many opportunities to establish more channels to the marketplace. I am working with retailers and company owners who want to carry Paper Shoot cameras, or create custom cameras for corporate giving. If you are interested in increasing your revenue with Paper Shoot, reach out to me at gillian@papershootcamera.com to discuss. |
Nancy Twine, founder and CEO at Briogeo
Nancy's Linkedin summary:
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I'm the passionate Founder + CEO of Briogeo Hair Care. I began my professional career working as a VP of Commodities Sales at Goldman Sachs in New York City. I always had a personal interest in natural beauty and realized my desire to make an impact in the clean beauty world—this led me to depart my financial career and launch Briogeo in 2013 as a way to root my career in passion and inspiration. Over the past eight years, I consider it one of my greatest successes that I took Briogeo from a small start-up to a globally recognized brand with a robust team. My professional accolades include Forbes 30 Under 30 Judge (2020), Goldman Sachs Builders + Innovators Award (2020), CEW Female Founder Award (2019), Nylon Beauty Innovator Award (2018), Inc. Female Founders 100 (2018), and Glamour Magazine 30 Under 30 (2015.) When I'm not at work, I enjoy being an energized, engaged member of multiple organizations: I'm the chairwoman of the board of Briogeo, an independent board member of Vera Bradley, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRA), an advisor on the Sephora Accelerate initiative, an advisor on Conscious Beauty at Ulta Beauty™ Advisory Council, a board member of CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women), a member of the Manhattan and Philadelphia chapters of YPO, and a national board member of the philanthropic Room To Grow organization. |
Hear Nancy's four tips for taking smart risks, in this conversation with the Shopify Masters podcast.
Heidi Zak, co-founder and CEO at ThirdLove
Heidi's Linkedin summary:
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Heidi Zak is the cofounder and CEO of ThirdLove which designs elevated essentials across bras, underwear, athletic, and sleep to support women feeling effortlessly comfortable and confident. ThirdLove is the top online intimates brand with millennials; over 20 million women have used the virtual Fitting Room® to receive curated product and size recommendations for her top drawer. ThirdLove supports the broader community through its TL Effect program, created to encourage and support early stage companies run by female entrepreneurs of color and through the donation of more than $50 million worth of products to women in need. In addition to contributing a weekly column to Inc.com, Zak is committed to advancing more women in tech and is an active angel investor in female-founded companies. Book me for advice or read my Inc pieces here: linktr.ee/heidizak |
In an episode of Shopify Masters, Heidi shares how ThirdLove found its product market fit by helping women find their ideal bra fit.
Melanie Masarin, founder and CEO at Ghia
Melanie's Linkedin summary:
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I spent three years as Head of Marketing and Creative Director of Dig Inn, where I lead the 360 rebrand of the company—messaging, communication, store design, branding, digital presence, paid advertising, and offline marketing, and was given the once in a lifetime opportunity to rebuild a brand that already had meaning and soul. In 2017, I left to join the quickly growing Glossier team, leading the brand's non-digital efforts by creating human-centered offline experiences. I am lucky to have spent the majority of my career in dynamic, high-growth companies, reporting to C-level executives who always put people first—these companies are even more impressive from the inside than the outside and have taught me to foster relationships and human interaction in everything I do. I'm on to my next adventure, building a company in the CPG space. Reach out if you want to join me on this next adventure! |
Danny Taing, founder and CEO at Bokksu
Danny's Linkedin summary:
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I founded Bokksu to introduce foodies around the world to authentic Japanese snacks and teas only found in Japan. Offering both a subscription box service and ecommerce marketplace, Bokksu is the only company that partners directly with local artisanal makers throughout Japan to elevate their delicious snacks to the world stage. I developed my passion for Japanese food and travel during the four years of living in Tokyo before moving back to NYC in 2013. Prior to Bokksu, I worked in Business Development at Rakuten in Tokyo and in Digital Marketing at Google in Mountain View. I'm also an avid rock climber who loves to get into fierce battles with friends over board games. |
Learn Danny's secrets to launching a successful subscription business and reaching a global audience in hisShopify Masters podcast interview.
Alex Ikonn, co-founder at Intelligent Change
Alex's Linkedin summary:
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I am a dreamer and a creator. I co-founded several businesses. Intelligent Change where we created the best-selling Five Minute Journal (1.8M+ units sold) and Productivity Planner (400k+ sold). Luxy Hair was our first start-up which became one of the largest direct-to-consumer (D2C) beauty ecommerce brands online (acquired December 2018). I am fortunate enough to share all of my entrepreneurial and life activities with my lovely wife and business partner, Mimi Ikonn. We are also angel investors and have invested in great companies like Brex, Calm, Curlsmith, Tiny and others. Find me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexikonn |
Learn how Alex’s approach helped them build multiple successful businesses and communities, in this conversation with the Shopify Masters podcast.
Jeremiah Curvers, co-founder and CEO at Polysleep
Jeremiah’s Linkedin summary:
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Meet Jeremiah Curvers. Raised in a Belgian family with a strong entrepreneurial spirit in furniture and decor, Jeremiah emigrated to Canada at the age of 15. It was only two years later that he founded his first business venture; it was a sign of things to come. His early passion for graphic design and technology led him into digital marketing for major brands, including—at age 24—a management position at Yellow Pages Group and consulting work with Videotron, Bell, Wawanesa, Cossette, Touché! and others. During these formative years, he began to embrace the notion of disruptive innovation, an idea that innovation by an outsider can eventually replace established, market-leading firms. This approach inspired him (following a painful back injury – but that’s another story!) to found Polysleep in 2016. And it drives the business to this day. Leveraging state-of-the-art research and development techniques and the latest digital marketing strategies, Polysleep became one of the Globe and Mail’s Canada’s Top Growing Companies in 2022, ranking an impressive 39th out of 430 successful businesses. Jeremiah is also a firm believer of walking the talk when it comes to living personal values. Polysleep, as a company, is well known for its environmentally responsible production and “mattress in a box” delivery methods, as well as its support for numerous charities. For his part, Jeremiah is an active member of the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Montreal and helps other companies as an executive advisor. Jeremiah’s goal is to sleep well at night knowing he’s helping others do the same. |
Learn the strategies Jeremiah used to create local success before expanding to a larger market, in his Shopify Masters podcast interview.
LinkedIn summary examples FAQ
How do you add a summary on LinkedIn?
Click the Me icon at the top of the LinkedIn homepage (on desktop) or tap your profile picture (on mobile), then select View Profile. Scroll down to the About section and click or tap the Edit icon. The platform will then prompt you to fill out a text box. When you’re happy with the text, click Save.
Should I write my LinkedIn summary in the first or third person?
Whether you write your LinkedIn summary in a first-person point of view (e.g., “I am a successful entrepreneur”) or a third-person point of view (e.g., “[Your name] is a successful entrepreneur”) is a personal choice. Summaries written in the first-person point of view may appear more accessible and engaging, while third-person point-of-view summaries may appear more formal.
Should I mention my current job in my LinkedIn summary?
In your LinkedIn summary, show how your current job relates to your mission, motivation, and skills. Your LinkedIn summary should look different from the experience section of your profile and focus on the bigger picture./p>
How can I make my LinkedIn summary stand out?
To make your LinkedIn summary stand out, start with an engaging hook: one to two sentences about you that will make readers want to learn more. Consider visually breaking up your summary with bullet points, emojis (if appropriate for your industry), and shorter paragraphs.
Should I update my LinkedIn summary over time?
Update your LinkedIn summary regularly to ensure it contains the most up-to-date information. Add any new roles, significant projects, awards, or press that illustrate your professional goals.
