How to Write A Great LinkedIn Summary: Tips & Examples

Updated July 29, 2025

If you can’t remember the last time you updated your LinkedIn summary, you’re not alone. Even recruiters who spend all day looking at LinkedIn profiles often forget to refresh their own.

But learning how to write a LinkedIn summary—and actually doing it—is critical in your job hunt. Even if you’re not actively looking, a strong summary can open doors to opportunities you didn’t know existed.

In this blog post, we’ll share everything you need to know about your LinkedIn About section. By using our LinkedIn summary examples to get started, and following our expert tips, you’ll be ready to write a profile that stands out.

What is a LinkedIn summary?

Your LinkedIn summary is a short professional description of yourself, located near the top of your profile, directly under the Connect, Follow, or Message buttons. It’s officially labeled as the “About” section.

A great LinkedIn summary is both concise and compelling. It highlights what you’re good at without overselling or bragging too much. When someone reads your profile, they should quickly know who you are, what you do, and why you do it.

You can write up to 2,600 characters, but only the first 200-250 characters are visible on the desktop version before a user has to click “see more.” That’s just two or three lines, so make every word count! Think of it as an engaging story, not a copy-paste of your resume.

Why is A LinkedIn Summary Important?

Your LinkedIn About section is one of the first things people see on your profile. It’s a chance to position yourself as a strong candidate to recruiters and hiring managers.

Even if you aren’t in the job market, it’s still important to write a good LinkedIn summary. You never know what connections and opportunities might arise because your profile caught someone’s attention.

How do I write a LinkedIn summary?

To update your LinkedIn summary section:

Go to your LinkedIn profile
Scroll to the About section
Click the pencil in the top right corner of the About section to edit
Type your summary in the space provided
Hit “Save” and clarify that your update was successful

LinkedIn offers this advice on how to write a LinkedIn summary. “The About section of your profile should express your mission, motivation, and skills to people who view your profile.”

Remember, you can write up to 2,600 characters (including spaces), which is about 400-500 words. But don’t feel like you have to use every character—write just enough to make a strong impression.

So what is “just enough”? Let’s get into the details!

How to Write a LinkedIn Summary (Step-by-Step)

Writing a LinkedIn summary doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Follow these simple steps to create a summary that’s clear, authentic, and optimized for visibility.

1. Define your goal and audience

Before you start writing, ask yourself: What do I want people to know about me? Are you job hunting, networking, or building your personal brand? Your summary should reflect your current goals and speak directly to the audience you want to reach.

Pro tip: Avoid writing a generic summary that tries to appeal to everyone. Focus on what makes you valuable to the people you want to connect with.

2. Choose your tone and approach

Your tone should match your personality and industry. You can be formal, conversational, or even a little playful—just make sure it feels like you. If you’re not sure where to start, pick one of the five proven approaches we outline below.

Pro tip: Don’t copy someone else’s summary word-for-word. Use examples for inspiration, but make your version your own.

3. Draft your opening hook

The first 2–3 lines of your summary are the most important—they’re what people see before clicking “See more.” Start with a strong hook that captures attention and encourages people to keep reading.

Pro tip: Avoid starting with “Hi, my name is…” or “I’m a results-driven professional…” Instead, lead with a bold statement, a personal insight, or a key achievement.

4. Highlight your achievements and skills

Once you’ve hooked the reader, back it up with substance. Share what you’re good at, what you’ve accomplished, and what you’re passionate about. Use specific examples and metrics when possible.

Pro tip: Don’t just list your job titles or responsibilities—that’s what your Experience section is for. Use this space to tell your story.

5. Add personality and motivation

Your summary is a chance to show who you are beyond your resume. What motivates you? Which values guide your work? What do you love about what you do?

Pro tip: Avoid sounding robotic or overly polished. Let your voice come through.

6. Edit for clarity and keyword optimization

Once you’ve written your draft, read it out loud. Does it sound like you? Is it easy to understand? Make sure you’ve included relevant keywords for your industry so your profile shows up in search results.

Pro tip: Don’t stuff your summary with buzzwords. Use keywords naturally and in context.

READ NEXT: 5 Creative Job Search Tools to Use

Examples of effective summaries

Now that you have a general idea of what to do, we put together some good LinkedIn summary examples to get you started. These are just starting points, and your summaries should include specific lists and examples of skills, responsibilities, aspirations, and more from your experiences. We also provided questions you may want to ask and answer for yourself to get you started.

LinkedIn Summary For A Graduate

“I am a recent graduate who is excited to start my career. I have experience working with teams ranging from three to 20 people and am confident in my ability to take on new challenges. I’m also skilled in social media marketing and have a strong interest in business development.”

Potential questions to answer for your summary:

What kind of projects did you work on in school?
What was your role in these projects?
Did you have any internships?
What was your major and did you have any special certifications or regularly participate in clubs?
Where do you see your career in the next three years?

LinkedIn Summary for A seasoned professional with years of experience

“I am a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the sales world. My skills include management, customer service, and accounting which I have put to use in previous roles. I have also gained expertise with Hubspot, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Creative Suite over my career.”

Potential questions to answer for your summary:

What professional wins and accomplishments have you had over your career?
Have you led a team and what improvements or success did that team have?
What programs or strategies have you developed to help improve a company’s work flow?
How did your skills develop from one job or position to another?

LinkedIn Summary For A Student

“I am a student at [enter school] with an impressive academic record. During my time at school, I’ve been involved in many extracurricular activities, including student government and volunteering. I am looking for a position where I can use my skills and abilities to make a difference.”

Potential questions to answer for your summary:

What extracurricular experiences have you participated in and how have they inspired or improved skills or career dreams you have?
What are your professional aspirations?
Where do you see your career coming out of college and five years beyond that?
What’s your story that led you to this point of your educational life?

LinkedIn Summary For Someone With Multiple Skillsets

“I am a professional with a diverse set of experiences and skillsets from my 10+ years in the workforce. My experiences include leading a team of 23 sales people, creating and executing an SEO strategy for a company with $600 million in revenue, and running operations of a sales office with more than 50 team members.”

Potential questions to answer for your summary:

What is the story that led you from one position and career field to another?
What successes did your leadership and strategies have while in the positions?
How have the various skills you’ve developed help push you forward in your career?
How can your wide range of skills affect a company in the future?
What other skills do you wish to develop?

LinkedIn Summary For A Job Seeker

“After working for over a decade in the art and communications field, I am looking for a new challenge. My skills include writing, editing, and designing, which I have put to use in previous roles. I am also proficient in social media marketing and enjoy managing online communities.”

Potential questions to answer:

What job, field, or career do you see yourself in next?
What are your interests outside of your previous skills and jobs?
How will your previous experiences inform what you want to do next?

Real Examples of LinkedIn Summaries from Insight Global Employees

Looking for more LinkedIn summary examples? Here are a few screenshots of what Insight Global employees say about themselves and their work!

From a writer on the Marketing team:

Notice the hook in the first paragraph. This writer uses the LinkedIn summary template: “I’m a [general job function]. I’m a [specific job role]. But more than that, I’m [something that connects your skills with your values].”

From a sales manager in our Digital Office:

This LinkedIn summary starts with their their job title and their values, follows with a high-level look at what the company does, and ends with their values.

From a director in our advisory services division, Compass:

This is one of several LinkedIn summary examples that use this template: “As a [job title] at [company], I [strong action verb about your work].”

From a director on the Marketing team:

Notice the use of bullet points, keywords, and a splash of personality in the overall professional summary.

From a sales manager in the Digital Office:

This About section ends with a call-to-action, asking people to connect.

From a consultant success manager in our professional services division, Evergreen:

This final example includes their volunteer work.

ALSO READ: 25 LinkedIn Headline Examples to Boost Your Job Search

Key Tips for a Great LinkedIn Summary

You don’t need to be a professional writer to craft a great LinkedIn summary. But you do need to be intentional. These tips will help you write a summary that’s clear, authentic, and effective—whether you’re actively job hunting or just keeping your profile fresh.

Use keywords naturally

Think about the words recruiters or hiring managers might use to search for someone like you. These could include job titles, skills, tools, or certifications. Sprinkle them throughout your summary—but only where they make sense.

Pro tip: Don’t force keywords into every sentence. If it doesn’t sound like something you’d say out loud, it probably doesn’t belong.

Write in first person

Your LinkedIn summary should sound like you. Use “I” statements to describe your experience, goals, and values. This makes your profile feel more personal and approachable.

Pro tip: Avoid writing in third person—it can come off as stiff or overly formal.

Be concise

You have up to 2,600 characters, but that doesn’t mean you need to use them all. Aim for 3–5 short paragraphs that are easy to scan. Focus on the highlights.

Pro tip: Don’t repeat your resume. Your summary should complement it, not copy it.

Highlight achievements

Use your summary to showcase what you’ve accomplished—not just what you’ve done. Include metrics or outcomes when possible to show the impact of your work.

Pro tip: Instead of saying “responsible for managing a team,” say “led a team of 10 to exceed quarterly goals by 20%.”

Show, don’t just tell

Anyone can say they’re a “hard worker” or “great communicator.” Back up those claims with examples that demonstrate your strengths in action.

Pro tip: Use short anecdotes or specific scenarios to bring your experience to life.

Proofread carefully

Typos and grammar mistakes can make a bad first impression. Read your summary out loud, or ask someone you trust to review it.

Pro tip: Even one small error can make your profile seem less polished—especially if you’re applying for roles that require attention to detail.

Update regularly

Your LinkedIn summary isn’t a one-and-done task. Revisit it every few months to make sure it still reflects your current goals, skills, and experience.

Pro tip: Set a calendar reminder to review your profile quarterly—even if you’re not actively job searching.

LinkedIn Summary FAQs

Can I use bullet points or numbers in my LinkedIn summary?

Some people choose to write their summaries in bullet point form, but it’s not required. It all depends on what feels most natural to you and what will best showcase your skills and experiences.

Bullet points and numbers can be helpful if you want to list a lot of information quickly. They are especially helpful when you’re listing out multiple accomplishments. Use them only if they really add value, though. Every sentence shouldn’t be a bullet.

What should I avoid putting in my LinkedIn summary?

There are a few things that you should avoid including in your LinkedIn summary, such as:

Salary information
Age
Requirement of a new company
Previous company names or job titles

Another thing to avoid is using too many buzzwords or cliches. Stick to simple language that anyone can understand.

Where Do I Show Off My Work?

While your summary is the place to show off skills and what makes you a good professional, there are other spots on your LinkedIn to showcase the work you done. These sections include places to link to publications, showcase any licenses or certifications you have, any classes you’ve taken, your volunteer experience, projects you’ve done, and more.

These are all things employers love to see, but they’re not meant for your summary section. (You may reference them, but don’t include links.)

How Do I Finish My Profile?

All of those sections we just mentioned? Make sure they’re all filled out before you make your profile public or list yourself as interested in work. You job experience and basic profile information should be up-to-date, too. Your profile should have all of your relevant information when hiring managers and recruiters look at your profile.

Find a Job with Insight Global

Writing a great LinkedIn summary isn’t the easiest thing to complete, but that’s because it’s one of the most important parts of your profile. Following these tips should help improve your chances of getting noticed by employers, which means having more opportunities available when applying for jobs.

Our recruiters search LinkedIn when finding candidates for positions. A great LinkedIn summary may help catch the eye of one of our own. If you’re seeking a more direct approach for taking the next step in your career, search through thousands of listings on the Insight Global job board.

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How to Write A Great LinkedIn Summary: Tips & Examples