How To Get Found (on LinkedIn)

Since the dawn of the printing press, job seekers have been told that their resume is everything.

If they just tweak the wording, optimize for ATS, and use the right keywords, they’ll land interviews.

This belief comes from an outdated system — one where resumes were the primary way employers evaluated candidates.

But the hiring process game has changed. Recruiters aren’t just scanning documents; they’re searching for people. And where are they searching?

LinkedIn.

I had four calls this week with job seekers. Every single one of them was focused on perfecting their resume.

But not one had a LinkedIn profile that was optimized for how recruiters actually search for talent.

And that’s a problem.

Your resume is static. LinkedIn is dynamic.

Recruiters don’t sift through stacks of resumes — they search for skills, experience, and engagement.

If your LinkedIn profile isn’t optimized, you’re invisible.

Recruiters Hire From LinkedIn, Not PDFs

I once applied for a role I was perfect for. Strong resume, solid experience.

Never heard back.

Months later, I asked a recruiter why. Their answer? “Your resume looked great, but your LinkedIn didn’t match. We moved on.”

That was the last time I let my resume do the talking.

What You Should Be Doing Instead

If you want to land more opportunities, stop optimizing for ATS and start optimizing for humans.

Here’s where to start:

1. Fix your headline.

Most headlines are job titles. That’s a mistake.

Your headline is the first thing people see when you comment, message, or show up in search results. It needs to position you instantly.

The formula:

 [Who you help] + [How you solve a problem]

Before: Assistant Principal | Passionate Educator

After: Helping EdTech Companies Build Learning Solutions That Actually Work in Classrooms

A job title doesn’t create curiosity. A strong headline does.

Step 2: Post something. Today.

Most job seekers are lurkers. They scroll, but they never post. That’s why no one notices them.

Not sure what to post? Here’s what I tell my clients:

• Share a lesson from a recent project.

• Break down a challenge you solved.

• Ask a question to spark conversation.

Step 3: Show your work

Hiring managers don’t want to guess if you’re good. They want proof.

• Upload a project.

• Write about how you solved a problem.

• Ask for recommendations from past colleagues.

One of my clients was struggling to land interviews. I told them to upload a case study, pin it to their profile, and write a post directing people to check it out.

Within a week they had inbound interest from 2 recruiters.

280 times.

That’s how many times my LinkedIn profile showed up in searches last week.

Not because of a fancy resume. Not because I’m blasting out job applications.

Because my profile is optimized for how recruiters actually search.

If you’re spending all your time tweaking your resume and ignoring LinkedIn, you’re playing the wrong game.

Fix your headline. Start posting. Show your work.

And stop waiting for opportunities — make them come to you.

If you’re not sure what an optimized LinkedIn profile looks like, check out mine here.

Pay no attention to my headline — I broke my own rule. But funny enough, it’s working.

Do pay attention to the featured work, and posts — then steal what works for you.

And if this hit home for you, send me a message. Let’s get you seen.