Many recruiters in South Africa search LinkedIn before they advertise, and most will look you up after reading your CV. A complete profile that matches your CV makes you easier to find and easier to trust.
The essentials
- Photo: a clear, friendly head-and-shoulders picture with a plain background.
- Headline: what you do and what you want, for example “Data analyst | SQL, Power BI | Open to Johannesburg roles”.
- About: three or four short paragraphs, like your CV profile but written in the first person.
- Location: your city, so local recruiters find you.
Experience and skills
Copy your job titles, dates and best achievement bullets from your CV. Employers notice when the dates do not match. Add up to 50 skills, putting the ones you most want to be found for at the top.
Builder tip: Write your CV in the builder first, then copy your profile and bullets into LinkedIn so the two always match.
Getting noticed
- Turn on “Open to work”, visible to recruiters only if you are still employed.
- Ask two or three former managers or lecturers for recommendations.
- Connect with people in your field and follow companies you would like to work for.
- Use a custom URL such as linkedin.com/in/your-name and put it on your CV.
Avoid: a blank headline, an old student photo, and job dates that do not match your CV.