Why LinkedIn Profiles Lose Impact in Hiring

After reviewing 2,000+ LinkedIn profiles, I keep seeing the same credibility gap. And honestly? I had this problem too. Three years ago, a recruiter told me: "Your profile sounds impressive, but I can't see any proof you actually built these programs." That feedback stung—but it was right. You list impressive roles. You describe major responsibilities. But without concrete evidence, hiring managers move on to candidates who can prove their impact. The job search game changed in 2025. "Published platform policy" sounds great—but where's the framework you built? The presentation you gave? The measurable outcome? Here's what I learned: credibility requires evidence, not just claims. The 3-step system I wish I'd known earlier: 1. Recommendations That Actually Matter Forget generic "great team player" endorsements. Reach out to 3-5 specific people:   • A manager who saw your strategic thinking   • A peer who collaborated on a complex project   • Someone you trained or mentored   • Someone you provided mentorship to during your job Send them a template with concrete details: "Could you mention how we reduced fraud losses by 40% through the risk framework we built together?" Pro tip: Gather recommendations that focus on different aspects of your profile to create a complete picture. 2. Your LinkedIn Credibility Portfolio Most experienced professionals overlook LinkedIn's best features: → Features section: Upload case studies, frameworks, or research papers → Job experience media: Add slide decks, reports, or presentations directly under each role → Projects section: Highlight key initiatives with measurable outcomes → Courses: Link to capstone projects or certifications with portfolio work Even better? Create a short Loom video or document giving a high-level overview: What problem were you solving? What was your approach? What were the results? Show your work.  Conference presentation on AI governance? Add it. Risk assessment framework you developed? Upload it. 3. Consistent Expertise Signals One strategic post or comment weekly proves you know your field: Post practical frameworks: "What are the trade-offs on age verification?" Comment with insights: Add value under industry leaders' posts—don't just say "Great post!" Share learnings: "Redesigned our moderation workflow and cut escalation time 35%—here's what worked" (no confidential details) Key takeaway: Don't worry about friends or your network judging you. The truth is, most people are too focused on their own journey to critique yours. And building an audience takes time. The reality: At the experienced level, you're competing with people who have similar years and titles. What separates you? Proof that you can do the work. ♻️ Share with someone actively job searching who has the experience but isn't getting the response they deserve.

Your LinkedIn profile isn't just an online resume. It's your 24/7 interview. I've watched countless medical sales candidates get overlooked because their profiles: • Focus on responsibilities instead of results • Look exactly like everyone else's • Speak to recruiters instead of hiring managers • Fail to highlight transferable skills Meanwhile, the candidates getting calls from companies? Their profiles clearly communicate: • The specific problems they solve • The unique perspective they bring • The results they've delivered (with numbers) • Their authentic professional story Stop wondering why recruiters aren't reaching out. Start giving them a reason to. Your LinkedIn profile should make hiring managers think "I need to talk to this person" - not "next."

I can look at your LinkedIn profile and tell within a second, why you’re not getting job, opportunities or clients. And no, it has nothing to do with your skills. It has everything to do with your ‘positioning.’ I’ve audited thousands of professional profiles. A few years ago, I was frustrated too. I knew I had skills. I knew I could deliver. But my profile said: “Open to work.” Not “This is why you need me.” When you’re not positioned with clarity + proof + presence, people scroll past you—even if you’re brilliant. The brutal truth no one tells you: People don’t hire the most talented. They hire: The most visible. The most credible. The most memorable. So if you’re wondering why the DMs are dry, here’s it: 7 Reasons You’re Not Getting Job or Client Calls (even if you’re qualified): 1. Your headline is your job title. That’s not branding. That’s search noise. Use it to communicate value and niche. 2. Your About section reads like a cover letter. No one reads paragraphs. Make it skim-friendly. First 3 lines = gold. 3. No proof. No trust. No testimonials. No featured work. No results = no credibility. 4. You’re not creating any content. If I can’t hear your thinking, I won’t trust your skillset. Period. 5. Your DMs are “Hi sir/ma’am, please give me work.” You’re not a beggar. You’re a builder. Position yourself like one. 6. Your profile photo looks like it was taken in 2016. Invest in how you show up. People see before they read. 7. You’re too generic. If your skills apply to everyone, your offers apply to no one. Clarity converts. Data doesn’t lie. Profiles with a clear headline + featured proof + consistent posting get 5x more visibility and 3x more responses. (Source: LinkedIn) If you’re serious about attracting the right work— don’t just optimize your profile. Own your positioning. Build proof of work. Show up everyday. LinkedIn Guide to Creating #LinkedInTips #PersonalBranding #JobSearch #LinkedInExpert

You’re a strategic leader with 20 years of wins. So why is your profile picture a grey egg? Recruiters aren’t ignoring you—they don’t see you. Your profile isn’t invisible by accident. It’s built that way. By default. Unless you change it on purpose. 7 reasons your LinkedIn profile is overlooked: (and how to fix it forever) 1. Generic headlines. ↳ Use a focused headline that highlights your skills. ↳ Avoid vague titles like “Open to Opportunities.” 2. Ignoring the summary. ↳ Write a strong summary that highlights your wins. ↳ Make sure it’s authentic and concise. 3. Skipping the profile picture. ↳ Use a professional, approachable photo. ↳ Profiles with photos get more views. 4. Incomplete job history. ↳ List accomplishments and duties for relevant jobs. ↳ Make your points clear by using bullet points. 5. Not using keywords. ↳ Tailor your headline, summary, and skills to the job. ↳ You’ll be more visible in search results this way. 6. Overlooking endorsements. ↳ Get referrals from peers who can endorse you. ↳ Regularly update your skills section. 7. Ignoring networking. ↳ Actively engage with industry peers and recruiters. ↳ Comment on their posts to increase visibility. Opportunities don’t go to the most qualified. They go to the ones who get noticed. PS) If you’re feeling invisible, it’s probably on this list.

90% of job seekers on LinkedIn are wasting their time. They’re posting “Open to Work” banners… …but their posts say nothing about why someone should hire them. - No proof of skills. - No examples of impact. - No clear value. Just a banner… …and a whole lot of hope. They’re also DMing recruiters with “Hi, can you help me find a job?” And wondering why no one’s biting. Here’s the truth someone should have told you sooner: Recruiters aren’t here to find you a job. 👉 They’re here to fill a job with the right candidate. So if your profile screams “I need a job” instead of “I solve real problems”, you’re getting skipped. And if your profile just lists a title and company… 👉 You’re missing out on visibility. At minimum, add a few bullet points on: - What you contributed. - The problems you solved. - Your tech stack. Bare minimum. Because that alone boosts your searchability. Every. Single. Time. (Okay, maybe not every time, but you get my point😁. Had to make it a bit more dramatic, right?) So what does actually work? ▶︎ Optimize your headline to show what you do, not what you need. ▶︎ Fill your “About” section with the problems you’ve solved and who you are. ▶︎ Share posts with your insights and experiences...no need to get fancy. ▶︎ Engage strategically, not randomly. Like and comment on posts in your niche. Drop value-driven (or just fun, because why not) comments on recruiters’ posts. Bottom line: 👉 Make recruiters say, “This person is perfect for my role!” Not, “This person needs my help.” If LinkedIn has been crickets for you…try this. Start today, even. ▶︎ Save this post for later. ▶︎ Follow for more tips that actually work (no fluff, promise) - if you like 👍. Image? Someone said, add a image to your post, they will do better. Not sure if that's true, so don't copy 😁

If your LinkedIn profile reads like a job application, you’re already behind. A few years ago, I met a senior leader who was brilliant at what he did. But when layoffs hit his company, he was left scrambling. His LinkedIn profile was a list of job titles and responsibilities—no personality, no insights, no unique value. He wasn’t positioning himself in the best light, and he knew it. As a former LinkedIn editor, I often see this as the biggest misconception about the platform: your LinkedIn profile is a digital resume. It’s so much more! It’s your platform to showcase your voice, your expertise, and your impact. If all you’re doing is listing tasks, you’re missing the opportunity to build influence and stand out. Here’s how to turn your LinkedIn profile into an asset: → Highlight outcomes, not tasks: Focus on the impact of your work. → Post about what you’re learning, trends in your field, or challenges you’re solving. → Show who you are beyond the bullet points. Make it personal by sharing your values, your insights, your passion. What’s the one thing on your LinkedIn profile right now that tells your story? PS: For even more insights on building your LinkedIn presence, you can dive into Chapter 3 of my upcoming book Unforgettable Presence.

“LinkedIn is useless.” Me: Oh really? Then why are companies spending thousands of dollars on LinkedIn Recruiter to find talent? Why are professionals landing jobs through connections they made here? Why are some recruiters/hiring managers checking your profile before they even look at your resume? LinkedIn isn’t useless, you just might not be using it right. I get DM's all the time from random people I don't know asking me for a free LinkedIn profile review because recruiters aren’t reaching out to them and want to know how they can improve their profile. I don't have the bandwidth to give Random Joe a freebie review with a full on tailored explanation. So I'm going to share what I often see in people's profiles that are preventing them from being noticed: 🚫 No profile picture (profile pictures increase profile views) 🚫 Blank background banner (treat it as a billboard that let's people know what you do) 🚫 A headline that says “Seeking Opportunities” (instead of showcasing your skills) or worse, listing fake job titles like "Servant Leader" (recruiters are searching for actual job titles: Accountant, Project Manager, etc.) 🚫 Blank or weak about section using fluffy words (use action verbs and SHOW results, it’s also ok to show some personality) 🚫 Blank or missing pertinent employment information (fill it out!) 🚫 No posts, no engagement, no networking (people don't know you exist) 🚫 Empty recommendations section (ask previous supervisors, co-workers, and/or clients to write you one) 🚫 No skills or not enough relevant skills listed in skills section (skills boost your profile visibility to recruiters and matches you to jobs) If you’re treating LinkedIn like an online resume graveyard, of course it’s not working for you. But if you optimize your profile, engage with industry leaders, and actually show up, you’ll start seeing results. 💡 LinkedIn doesn’t get you jobs, people do. And this is where they are. If LinkedIn has helped your career, please share your tips on what worked for you! And if your profile still needs a glow up, get on my Calendly (link in my profile). Maloney out! ✌ #JobSearch #LinkedInProfileOptimization #TransitioningMilitary #VeteransHelpingVeterans

Your LinkedIn profile is quietly hurting your job search. And no it's not because you're not good enough. It's because your profile isn't telling your story. When a recruiter lands on your page and sees a vague headline, a copy-paste summary or bullet points that read like a job description. They don't see your potential. They see someone who's unsure of their value. Your LinkedIn profile is not just a digital bio. It's your first interview. Here's how to fix 80% of that in under 30 minutes: 1/ Headline: This is prime real estate. Don't waste it on your current job title. Show who you are + what you bring. Example: Project Manager | $1.2M project delivered in 12 months | Agile | SaaS 2/ Summary/About: Think of this as your elevator pitch. Talk like a real person. Example: Who are you? What value you offer? What are you looking for next? 3/ Experience: This is where you prove your impact. Use bullets with clear metrics that show your real results. Example: Reduced onboarding time by 40% by redesigning training workflows. 4/ Skills: These work as your keyword magnets. You can add up to 50 skills. Example: Add relevant skills that you used in that particular job. 5/ Featured section: This is your visual proof. Don't leave it empty. Upload your resume or portfolio to show your skills. Example: A case study, a presentation deck or even a LinkedIn article you wrote that got traction. If your profile isn't getting attention, it's not your fault. You just haven't been taught how to position yourself for the jobs you want. DM me "PROFILE" I'll send over the checklist to optimize your LinkedIn profile.