How to create a LinkedIn summary (with examples)

There’s just no getting around virtual networking in 2021 — it’s an absolute must for job-seekers. If your LinkedIn profile hasn’t been updated since the pandemic began, learning how to create a LinkedIn summary that will get you noticed is a great place to start. 

According to LinkedIn’s August 2021 Workforce Report, more than 176 million individuals in the U.S. have a LinkedIn profile and over 97,000 companies use the site to recruit talent nationally. That’s a lot of eyes that can see your work and potentially hire you, but among such a massive number of profiles, yours has to stand out.

Long gone are the days of connecting in person, so your online presence needs to be up to par. Read on to see how to take this important first step and create a LinkedIn summary.

What is a LinkedIn summary?

Your LinkedIn summary appears at the top of your profile, directly under your name, headline, and photo. It’s also called the “about” section, and at its base level, a LinkedIn summary explains who you are and what you do. 

Unlike other areas of your LinkedIn profile, you’re free to express yourself here without limitations. (Well, mostly: Your LinkedIn summary can only include 2,600 characters.) 

The good news? You’re not bound by start dates or job titles here. Your LinkedIn summary can be a great way to give those who view your profile a general overview of your professional life, in your own words, and on your own terms.

Think of it as a first impression. This is the place where a potential employer can get an initial take on your personality, see what you’ve achieved so far, gauge your values, and discover what you hope to accomplish in the future.

What to include in your LinkedIn summary

Each person’s LinkedIn summary is as unique as the person who writes it. Again, it’s all about making an impactful first impression — you want to hook your reader in.

There’s no single correct recipe to follow here, but below are a few ideas to get you started. These include examples of how you can add common topics and themes about your work life to your summary.

• Why you’re passionate about what you do. “Skilled nursing care isn’t for everyone, but I’m driven by the opportunity to help those who can’t help themselves during each and every shift.”

• Your greatest accomplishments. “I am the recipient of the 2019 Associated Press Excellence In Broadcasting Award, an honor that led to a promotion to my current position as lead anchor at WKTV in January 2020.”

• An overview of your career path. “I started out as a clerk in the mail room the summer after high school at Jane Stevens Realty, working my way up the ranks after college doing secretarial work and client outreach in the summers. I obtained a realtor’s license, earned my MBA, and never looked back. Now, I’m employed by one of the top brokerage firms in the country.”

• Your greatest motivators. “My two children are my biggest motivation. I work hard not only to support them but to show them that they can achieve whatever they set their mind to and that their dreams should have no limits.”

• Your ultimate career goal. “It is my greatest ambition to head a non-profit organization that connects underserved youth who want to obtain a college degree with mentors who can support them professionally, emotionally, and financially.”

• How you started out. “From the moment I first stepped foot into the control room, I was hooked. A career as an operator was the only path for me.”

• A taste of your life outside of work. “In my spare time, I volunteer as a baseball coach for my son’s team. I know how to keep my eye on the ball — on the field and in the office.”

• A summary of your current position. “I am the current head of human resources for a national multimedia company, specializing in the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of new on-air talent.”

• What you hope to gain from a job. “As someone who is deeply passionate about helping others, I aim to land in a role that allows me to connect and work alongside  like-minded individuals.”

• A call to action. “I love to connect with others who are passionate about small business growth. Please reach out if you’d like to chat.”

Since your summary can only include 2,600 characters, it’s important to be succinct and clear in your writing, so you should pick and choose the elements you include. Also, keep in mind that only the first 300 characters will show up unless the reader clicks “read more” on your profile, so make the first phrase or two really count.

Be specific, direct, and feel free to get creative, too. Use bullet points, short paragraphs, data that quantifies your skillset, and even anecdotes or personal tidbits that showcase your personality.

The best LinkedIn summary examples from across the internet

Keep in mind that your LinkedIn summary does not have to include every single item listed above. In fact, some of the best LinkedIn summary examples don’t. Most pull a common few threads together to weave them into one standout summary. 

If you need a bit of inspiration, here are some of the best LinkedIn summary examples from across the web.

A summary that tells a story 

Have you overcome major obstacles to get where you are in your career? Did you take an unusual career path or have an interesting educational background? All of these things can make for a great story that can explain who you are — and showcase your unique abilities.

Your personal story can be an intriguing way to grab someone’s attention. Katrina Ortiz’s summary from LinkedIn’s Talent Blog offers a great example. 

A summary that starts with a personal anecdote 

Your LinkedIn summary should hook your reader in from the very first line. The third example in this article about an elementary spelling bee includes an interesting anecdote. Short, intriguing personal anecdotes absolutely help keep eyes on your page.

A keyword-rich summary  

LinkedIn scans your summary for keywords to get your profile into recruiters’ hands as they search the site. Your profile’s headline, job title, and experience definitely come into play here, but you still want to optimize your summary in other ways, too. This article on Jobscan features several solid examples of how to utilize keywords in your LinkedIn summary.

A spunky summary that shows off your personality

LinkedIn can be a wonderful networking tool, even if you’re not currently looking for a job. If that’s the case, you may want to consider crafting a summary that’s more personality oriented instead of focused on your skills and experience. This article on The Muse offers a lively example of a LinkedIn summary with plenty of personality.

A summary geared toward recruiters

If your goal is to land a new job, you want to optimize your LinkedIn summary so that recruiters and hiring managers are more likely to reach out to you. Keep your summary mission-focused. The example in this article about The Interview Guys is a great way to catch the eye of a potential employer. 
The bottom line: Your LinkedIn summary should show that you’re savvy and capable while encouraging the reader to connect with you. After all, that’s the purpose of the entire site. Don’t get discouraged if you can’t decide what to write — let these examples inspire you. If you want to edit or change it later, you always can.