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We get it. Writing your LinkedIn Profile summary isn’t at the top of your to-do list. You’re not sure what to write. Your photo and headline make your Profile complete enough. It’s not worth your time since you already have an impactful job that you enjoy. [Insert your own excuse here.]

Well sometimes you need a great example — or 14 great examples — to see the summary’s magic and figure out how to write your own. Read on and prepare to be inspired.

Wait, what’s my LinkedIn Profile summary again?

Your summary is the text box at the top of your LinkedIn Profile, aka the “About” section. It’s an open-ended space (sort of; 2,600 characters max) where you give an overview of your professional life. 

Your summary or About section is the one place you define yourself in your own words, free of start dates and titles. Whether you use it to put career choices in context, highlight your biggest achievements, or show off your personality, the summary is your chance to put your best self out there. It strengthens your first impression in a way no other Profile section can.

14 examples of great LinkedIn Profile summaries — and why they work

There are many paths to a great summary, so we rounded up examples from professionals in a variety of industries, roles, and locations. Let’s take a look at 14 and explore why they shine.

1. Tanmoy appeals to candidates from underrepresented groups in the most authentic way

Tanmoy, director of technical recruiting at Peloton, stands out because he:

Shows he values diversity by demonstrating pride in his heritage and world experiencePresents a no-BS attitude that makes him likableAvoids jargon-filled phrases like “Highly motivated results-oriented recruiter with a proven track record” that too many of his peers useLists a breadth of countries visited, helping candidates find common ground when connecting

Lines we love:

My job is to find and hire the current and future bad-asses in the technology industry.

I do not like pushy people. If you are nice, I will go out of my way to help you. I like to treat people with respect.

2. Karen uses a numbered list to highlight her main career achievements and defining moments

Karen, SVP and creative director at Wunderman Thompson, stands out because she:

Leads with her greatest accomplishmentsUses an anecdote to tell how her career startedShares a vulnerable tidbit (husband’s cancer) that enhances her credibility in pharmaceutical advertisingSummarizes her job in her own words

Lines we love:

I love selling brands. I hate selling myself.

I don’t like to advertise this fact, but I’d do this job for free.

3. Desiree focuses on her communication skills to explain why she’s a recruiter and why she’s a great one

Desiree, a talent development onboarding specialist at Acxiom, stands out because she:

Sticks to a theme — communication — and explains how it has shown up throughout her lifeInstead of using overworked phrases like “proven track record of communicating,” she gives examples that prove it (for example, debate team and college studies)Weaves a thread through her academic and professional experiences so they make senseHighlights a problem she solves for candidates — helping them communicate their value to hiring managers

Lines we love:

One of my first memories is going to a parent-teacher conference in kindergarten and having my teacher tell my parents, “Desiree is definitely one of my most . . .”

Throughout my life, I have developed this art of being able to communicate with anyone at any given time.

4. Gijo shows off his passion, skills, and accomplishments using a hybrid paragraph-bullet combo

Gijo, chief product officer at VTS, stands out because he:

Nails the opener by succinctly stating what he does and why and why he’s good at itCasts accomplishments as lessons learned, a subtle humility that makes him even more likableOrganizes his points to read like true introspection and career synthesis, not jargonIncludes numbers (proof) to quantify his achievementsConcludes by asking for connections

Lines we love:

I can successfully scale software businesses from from $5 million to $1 billion in revenue.

I can align, lead, and grow world-class product teams from 10 to 100 people.

Reach out if you want to talk about emerging tech, creating software products, or baseball.

5. Katrina hooks her readers and then connects the dots in her nonlinear career path

Katrina, a senior software developer at Crown Data Systems, stands out because she:

Hooks her readers with a short, provocative sentence, “I caught fire coding”Gives humanizing context to her career switch from proofreader to coder: “I kind of just felt meh. I yearned to learn more . . .” Uses a keyword-rich skills list to show off her progress and intrinsic motivation in her final paragraph

Lines we love:

I always thought my dream was to be a proofreader for an indie publishing company, sipping my café con leche and reading the opening lines to the next best-selling vampire novel. 

And that’s when it happened; the spark I was missing ignited the instant I clicked play on my first Python tutorial video.

6. Magdalena ties her role to bigger-picture impact: Bettering lives around the world

Magdalena, a talent acquisition leader at Cisco, stands out because she:

Hooks with a thought-provoking statement — humans are outnumbered by devicesExplains her impact: She hires great talent for Cisco to build cutting-edge technology that connects the worldGeneralizes her recruiting expertise, making herself relevant to other companies

Lines we love:

Human beings are outnumbered by Internet devices. 

I love the fact that Cisco produces software and solutions that have an impact on everyone’s lives.

7. Damilare shares the roots of his professional passion and connects the dots to his current role

Damilare, founder at Humexid, stands out because he:

Opens with a story from his youth that reveals his authentic, curious selfMakes sense of his choices to study computer science, go into HR, and start a consulting companyShares the professional turning point — exposure to design thinking — that shapes his thinking and propelled him on his current path

Lines we love:

Starting my career in Human Resources seemed like a mismatch at first given my B.Sc in Computer Science.

I landed on a gold mine when I attended my first Design Thinking workshop and saw the need to combine my knowledge of people and systems with my desire for problem-solving.

8. Gary appeals to his niche market with a matter-of-fact overview of his experience and capabilities

Gary, cofounder of Kids Industries, children’s ambassador at Products of Change, and founding partner of The League Family Marketing, stands out because he:

Piques interest at the start: “I used to be a school teacher” begs the question, so what happened?Explains the pivot point (working with Disney) that put him on his current path (family marketing)Earns credibility by naming specific clients, products, and specialitiesExudes confidence with simple and direct sentences such as “We deliver . . .” and “We create . . .” 

Lines we love:

We do three things: Insight, Strategy, and Creative.

We’re proud to call GSK, Disney, Mattel, WWF, Save the Children, DHX, TUI, PepsiCo, Kellogg, Manchester City FC, The English Cricket Board, Amazon, and ICC as some of our clients. 

9. Shanay ties her job to her company’s big picture and shows pride in what she does

Shanay stands out because she: 

Knows her value and shows she understands the executives she supportsTies her job to the big picture (company growth)Gets personal (talks motherhood) yet keeps it professionally relevant and linked to her job strengths

Lines we love:

If you want to get something done, you come to me — everyone knows that!

When I’m not at work or in denial about having a social life, I’m at home mentoring my favourite little five-year-old munchkin.

I’ll bend over backwards to help others’ dreams come true, but I also understand the importance of standing your ground and holding your own.

10. Fernando shows a unique sensitivity to his candidates

Fernando, a technical sourcing consultant for Velocity Global, stands out because he: 

Offers the big picture on his profession, and calls out the pain point of many of his candidate readers: the decision to switch jobsUses “we” statements that make candidates feel like they’re in it together and that he’s genuinely looking out for themShares a wide range of interests and comes across as a can-talk-to-anyone kind of guy

Lines we love:

At the end of the day, my job involves people.

I’ve been working to grow Datadog with some really great people, and I want to make sure it’s right for you too.

11. Sally shows vulnerability, making herself relatable to other mission-driven professionals

Sally, a senior financial analyst at Biosense Webster, stands out because she:

Opens up about her immigrant experience to explain where her empathy and strong work ethic come fromShares an uncommon hobby (skydiving), which makes for an easy conversation starterInvites her readers to connect in an approachable tone

Lines we love:

I understand how it feels to be financially/food insecure or without opportunity and go above and beyond when an opportunity arises.

I’m always looking forward to an insightful conversation over coffee, or even better, a round of skydiving!

12. Betty appeals directly to her prospective clients and their pain points

Betty, founder and CEO of Find Your Buried Treasure, stands out because she:

Presents her strengths in the context of what her readers need (help realizing their potential)Calls out the specific people she helps, such as underappreciated artists and women going through changeAdds a pinch of sarcasm that makes her more authentic — “artistic types who are usually brilliant, but not appreciated or valued by the world in general”

Lines we love:

My biggest strength is being able to quickly and easily see skills, gifts, and talents that people don’t even realize they have. 

Through my coaching, writing, presentations, and workshops, I help people explore their past so they can create their future.

13. Ee-Leen brings her sense of adventure to career coaching

Ee-Leen, career advisory assistant director at The Institute of Banking & Finance Singapore, stands out because she:

Conveys her passion for supporting people’s career growthDemonstrates global L&D experience by listing the cultures, regions, and geographies she’s worked withEncourages others to connect with her as a LinkedIn Open Networker (LION)

Lines we love:

Adventure, and being part of a big vision — is what gets me up in the morning to get to work.

Helping others become better leaders, make successful transitions, and create their dream careers through my coaching / workshops is my way of changing the world — one person at a time. 

14. Manjunath’s growth mindset keeps his skill set relevant

Manjunath, senior leadership development business partner at Amazon, stands out because he:

Shares his unique career journey from product engineer to leadership development professionalKnows where his passions lie and isn’t afraid to go after them — even if it means starting over with a clean slateHighlights the importance of continuous learning for modern teams

Lines we love:

Staying relevant has never been more important in these fast changing times.

My quest for learning and growing continues!

14 tips for the perfect LinkedIn Profile summary

The summaries above have both great substance and great style. Substance is the “what to say” and comes from the topics you cover. Style is the “how to say it” and comes from the tone and format of your words. There’s no one right way to tackle either, but our examples reveal best practices.

What to say

Below are eight of the most common topics covered in great LinkedIn Profile summaries. You don’t need to cover them all, but address at least a few to ensure you have enough substance. 

If you’re stuck, use the prompts to get your juices flowing. You’ll be surprised at how easy it can be to start once you jot down some rough answers.

1. Describe what makes you tick

Passion is the heart of some of the best LinkedIn profile summaries. Opening up about what you love to do adds context to your career. Think about what excites you most professionally — what drives you besides your paycheck? This is an especially good angle if you’re younger and don’t have much work experience.

For inspiration, ask yourself:

Have you ever become so engaged in what you’re doing at work that you lose track of time? What work activity(ies) bring that on?What’s something you do for fun that uses the same or similar skills you use at work?Is there any work task(s) you’d do even if you didn’t get paid for it?When you wake up in the morning, what work duties do you look forward to the most?

2. Explain your present role

Put your job title aside and describe what you do in simplest terms. Sharing the problems you solve, for whom, and how is a great way to demonstrate your skills, industry knowledge, and work style.

For inspiration, ask yourself:

Who are you helping when you do your job? What’s their main problem and how do you help solve it? What’s the impact of you doing your job well versus not as well? If you didn’t do your job, what would happen?

3. Frame your past

You have the freedom to call out what’s important in your job history and to gloss over what’s not. If you’ve made career pivots or have held seemingly unrelated roles, connect the dots so they make sense. Better yet, frame the discord as an advantage and explain why it sets you apart.

For inspiration, ask yourself:

In what way(s) do your past career choices make sense? In what way(s) do they appear to not make sense? Are there any patterns?What was missing from your previous job(s) that you enjoy now?How do you use your undergraduate studies in your work life?

4. Highlight your successes

Cite the biggest takeaway from your experience section. Look across roles and combine accomplishments if you can. This is especially applicable if you’re in mid- to late-stage career.

For inspiration, ask yourself: 

The greatest compliment I ever got at work was . . .I’m best known for ___ (hard skill) amongst my coworkers.I’m the go-to person for all things ___ on my team.I’ve made X (e.g., number of hires, $ in sales, $ value in acquisitions) in the past X years.I received X recognition/award/honor for doing Y.

5. Reveal your character

Choose stories and words that show who you are as a person, not just a professional. Great summaries hint at traits such as gratitude, humility, and humor. Authenticity is key, so be honest with yourself. Think of the one trait you’re most known for and weave it in.

For inspiration, ask yourself:

I’m best known for ___ (soft skill) amongst my coworkers.My friends would describe me as X, Y, and Z.You wouldn’t be able to detect that I’m __ in an interview, but if we worked together on a project for three months, it’d be clear. What’s your most unique quality?Is there anything your friends, family, or coworkers tease you about that you’re secretly proud of?

6. Show life outside of work

Round out your identity by sharing a hobby, interest, or volunteer role. Relate your outside passions to your work if you can. If you share a personal story, be sure it serves to reinforce your professional strengths.

For inspiration, ask yourself:

What do you do in your spare time? Why do you love it?Is there anything you do for pleasure that makes you better at your job? Or give you a different perspective on it?Is there anything you do for fun that you don’t excel at but keep doing anyway? Why?To what extent is being a parent, grandparent, or a pet owner a part of your identity?

7. Tell stories

Stories make you memorable. Leading with “When I was 11 years old . . .” or “My former boss sat me down one day . . .” to reveal why you love learning and development has more punch than just stating, “I’m passionate about L&D.”

8. Ask for what you want

Think about what you want your audience to do after reading your summary. An invitation to connect is a great way to end, but depending on your goal, you may ask for something else. Be specific and you’ll be more likely to get what you want. 

How to say it 

The format and tone of your LinkedIn Profile summary matters just as much as the ideas in it. Once you have your core content, follow these tips to embellish and refine.

9. Add rich media

Sometimes it’s easier to explain your impact or achievement using an image, video, or an article — don’t be afraid to add media to your profile and tee it up in your summary. 

10. Make your first sentence count

Every word matters in your summary, but your first words really matter. If you don’t hook your audience right away, you’ll lose them. This means no “Hi, I’m Jane Smith and I’m glad to meet you” and no “Thanks for visiting!” Don’t waste precious characters on filler — cut right to the good stuff to pull your audience in.

11. Pump the keywords

To improve your search rank on LinkedIn and Google, include keywords that highlight your top skills. Listing “Specialties” at the end of your summary is one way to pack them in. Which words? Job descriptions and other relevant profiles are great keyword sources.

12. Cut the jargon

Avoid overused words that have lost meaning, like “strategic,” “motivated,” and “creative.” Tap a thesaurus for alternatives, or better yet, show you have those traits with an example or quick story. At a minimum, cross-check your summary with the most overused buzzwords on LinkedIn Profiles.

Too many profiles read like: “Strategic, results-oriented professional with a proven track record of delivering results and a demonstrated history working in the XYZ industry.” What does that even mean?

13. Write how you speak

Think about how you would speak to new contact at a conference and write that way. Read your summary out loud so you can check your voice. If you wouldn’t say it, don’t write it. That also means using the first-person — “I’m experienced at building impactful L&D programs,” not “Jane Smith is experienced at building impactful L&D programs.” Lay off the special characters and emojis too.

14. Create white space

People will skim your summary, so help by breaking up the text. Steer clear of long paragraphs. Don’t use a five-syllable word when a one-syllable word is just as good. Use bullet points or numbered lists, but make sure they flow — lists aren’t an excuse for sloppy thinking.

Final thoughts: Your LinkedIn Profile summary is your opportunity to stand out

LinkedIn summaries occupy prime real estate on your profile. They give you the opportunity to introduce yourself and connect to the people who want to learn more about you.

Whatever you do, write something in your LinkedIn Profile summary section. It’s a strategic piece of content — don’t miss the opportunity to have it work for you.

Related Resources

If you found this post useful, you might enjoy some similar articles from our team:

How to pick the best LinkedIn headshots: 10 tips for picking the right LinkedIn profile pictureHe, She, They pronouns: Learnings about the pronouns you might see on candidate profilesCrafting a compelling LinkedIn Profile headline: 10 eye-catching profile headlines to inspire your own

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