How to Put Your LinkedIn on a Resume (With Examples)

In today's job market, your resume and your LinkedIn profile are two halves of the same whole. While your resume is a targeted, one-page summary of your most relevant experience, your LinkedIn profile is the comprehensive archive of your entire professional life.

Including your LinkedIn URL on your resume bridges the gap between these two resources. It gives recruiters and hiring managers a way to learn more about you, see your recommendations, and verify your professional connections.

But there is a right way and a wrong way to include it. A messy, uncustomized URL can look unprofessional, and putting it in the wrong place can confuse Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Let's walk through exactly how to put your LinkedIn on a resume, step by step.

Why you should include your LinkedIn URL

If your resume already lists your work experience, education, and skills, you might wonder why a recruiter would even bother looking at your LinkedIn profile. The truth is, almost all recruiters will search for you on LinkedIn anyway. Including the link saves them a step and ensures they find the right person (especially if you have a common name).

Here is why adding your LinkedIn URL is a smart move:

• It provides social proof: Recommendations and endorsements from colleagues carry weight. A resume tells them what you did; LinkedIn recommendations tell them what it is like to work with you.
• It shows the bigger picture: Your resume should be tailored to the specific job you are applying for, which means you probably left some things off. LinkedIn is where you can showcase your full career history, volunteer work, and extra certifications.
• It reveals mutual connections: If a hiring manager sees that you are connected to someone they know and trust, that is an instant credibility boost.
• It proves you are engaged: A well-maintained LinkedIn profile shows that you are active in your industry and care about your professional brand.

How to find and customize your LinkedIn URL

Before you copy and paste your LinkedIn URL onto your resume, you need to make sure it looks clean. When you first create a LinkedIn account, you are assigned a default URL that usually includes your name followed by a random string of numbers and letters (e.g., linkedin.com/in/jane-doe-8b49302a).

This looks messy on a resume. You want a clean, customized URL (e.g., linkedin.com/in/janedoe). Here is how to change it:

1. Go to your LinkedIn homepage and click on your profile picture icon at the top.
2. Select View Profile.
3. On the right side of your profile page, click Edit public profile & URL.
4. Under the "Edit your custom URL" section on the top right, click the pencil icon.
5. Type in your new custom URL. Ideally, it should just be your first and last name. If that is taken, try adding your middle initial or your industry (e.g., janemdoe or janedoemarketing).
6. Click Save.

Once you have your clean URL, you are ready to add it to your resume.

Where to put LinkedIn on your resume

Your LinkedIn URL belongs in the contact information section of your resume. This section should be at the very top of the page, either centered or aligned to the left or right, depending on your resume template.

Here is the standard order for contact information:

1. Full Name (largest text on the page)
2. City and State (e.g., San Francisco, CA)
3. Phone Number
4. Email Address
5. LinkedIn URL
6. Portfolio or Personal Website (if applicable)

How to format the LinkedIn link

When formatting the link, you want to keep it as short and clean as possible. You do not need to include the https://www. part of the URL. Just the domain and your custom path is enough.

If you are submitting your resume as a PDF (which you always should), make sure the text is actually hyperlinked. A recruiter should be able to click the text and be taken directly to your profile. However, because resumes are still occasionally printed, it is best to use the shortened URL format (linkedin.com/in/janedoe) as the clickable text, rather than hiding the link behind the word "LinkedIn."

LinkedIn profile tips before adding it

If you are directing recruiters to your LinkedIn profile, you need to make sure it is ready for visitors. An incomplete or outdated profile is worse than not including the link at all.

Before you hit submit on your application, do a quick audit of your profile:

• Update your headline: Your headline should not just be your current job title. Use it to highlight your value proposition (e.g., "Data Analyst | Helping startups make data-driven decisions").
• Add a professional headshot: Profiles with photos get significantly more views. It does not need to be professionally taken, but it should be well-lit and feature only you.
• Write a compelling summary: The "About" section is your chance to tell your story. Write in the first person and explain what drives you, what you excel at, and what you are looking for next.
• Ensure alignment: Your resume and LinkedIn profile do not need to be identical, but the dates, job titles, and core responsibilities must match. Discrepancies will raise red flags.

Mistakes to avoid

When adding your LinkedIn to your resume, avoid these common pitfalls:

• Using the default, messy URL: As mentioned earlier, always customize your URL to remove the random numbers.
• Including a broken link: Always test the link in your final PDF to ensure it goes to the right place. Sometimes PDF converters can mess up hyperlinks.
• Adding it to the footer: Contact information belongs at the top. Recruiters won't look for it at the bottom of the page.
• Linking to a bare profile: If you only have 10 connections and no work history listed, spend some time building out your profile before putting the link on your resume.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I put my LinkedIn on my resume?

Yes, you should almost always include your LinkedIn URL on your resume. It allows recruiters to see your full professional history, recommendations, and mutual connections.

Where should my LinkedIn go on my resume?

Your LinkedIn URL should go in the contact information section at the very top of your resume, alongside your phone number and email address.

Should I hyperlink my LinkedIn on my resume?

Yes, if you are submitting your resume digitally (as a PDF), you should hyperlink the text so recruiters can click it directly. However, use the actual URL text (e.g., linkedin.com/in/name) rather than just the word "LinkedIn" in case the resume is printed.

Adding your LinkedIn profile to your resume is a simple step that can significantly boost your credibility. By customizing your URL and ensuring your profile is up-to-date, you give recruiters a complete picture of why you are the right person for the job.