Your LinkedIn profile is more than just an online resume—it’s a digital representation of your professional brand. Whether you’re looking for a new job, expanding your network, or marketing your services, it’s essential that your LinkedIn profile presents you in the best possible light. To ensure your profile looks exactly how you want it to, LinkedIn provides a feature that allows you to view your profile as others see it.
In this detailed guide, we’ll explore the steps to view your LinkedIn profile from the perspective of others, discuss why this feature is important, and provide tips on optimizing your profile for maximum impact.
Why It’s Important to View Your LinkedIn Profile as Others See It
When you log into LinkedIn and access your profile, you’re viewing it through your account, with all the editing options visible. However, others who visit your profile will see a public-facing version without the editing tools. Viewing your profile as others see it allows you to:
- Understand Your Public Persona: It gives you insight into how recruiters, colleagues, and potential clients perceive your professional image.
- Ensure Consistency: You can make sure the information you’re showcasing is aligned with your goals and is up-to-date.
- Catch Potential Errors: Sometimes, minor errors, such as a misspelled job title or outdated contact info, are easier to spot when you view your profile from a third-party perspective.
- Protect Your Privacy: If you’ve made certain sections private, viewing your profile this way ensures sensitive information is properly hidden.
Now, let’s go through the step-by-step process to view your LinkedIn profile as others see it and then discuss how to optimize it for maximum visibility and professionalism.
How to View Your LinkedIn Profile as Others See It
LinkedIn offers a built-in feature to view your profile as a public user (someone who is not logged in) or as one of your connections. This gives you the flexibility to control what each type of viewer can access and ensures you’re displaying only the most relevant and appropriate information to each group.
Step-by-Step Process on Desktop
- Go to Your LinkedIn Profile
- Log into your LinkedIn account using your desktop browser.
- Click on the “Me” icon located at the top right of the LinkedIn homepage.
- From the dropdown menu, select “View Profile.” This will take you to your profile page.
- Click on ‘View Profile As’
- Once you’re on your profile page, you’ll see a button labeled “More” next to your profile photo and “Add profile section” button.
- Click on the eye icon labeled “View profile as” underneath your headline. This will allow you to view your profile from two perspectives: as a public user or as a connection.
- View Your Profile as a Public User
- When you click “View profile as,” LinkedIn automatically displays your profile as it would appear to the public, meaning anyone who is not logged into LinkedIn or is not connected with you.
- This view shows only the public sections of your profile, including your name, headline, and certain portions of your work experience and skills, depending on your privacy settings.
- This is particularly useful if you want to control what people outside your network can see, such as recruiters, colleagues, or anyone who might search for your name online.
- View Your Profile as a Connection
- After viewing your public profile, you can return to your profile by clicking “Back to your profile” in the top left corner of the page.
- While LinkedIn doesn’t have a direct button to view your profile as a specific connection, you can manually adjust your privacy settings to see what connections at different levels (1st, 2nd, 3rd-degree) can view.
- Adjust Privacy Settings if Needed
- If you notice that certain information isn’t displayed as you intended, you can adjust your profile’s visibility.
- Return to your profile and click on the “Me” icon again. From the dropdown menu, go to Settings & Privacy.
- Here, you can manage profile visibility under the Visibility tab. You can choose who can see your profile photo, headline, work experience, and other sections.
- Make sure that everything is set up according to your preferences, ensuring that the right people see the right content.
Step-by-Step Process on Mobile
- Open the LinkedIn App
- Open the LinkedIn mobile app and log into your account.
- Access Your Profile
- Tap on your profile photo in the top left corner of the screen to access your profile.
- View Profile as Public
- On your profile page, tap on the “More” button (three dots) in the top right corner.
- From the dropdown menu, select View as. This will allow you to view your profile as a public user, just like on the desktop version.
- Return to Your Profile
- After viewing your profile as public, you can tap Back to Profile to make any adjustments.
Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile for Maximum Impact
Now that you know how to view your profile from different perspectives, the next step is to optimize it for the best possible impression. Here are some strategies to enhance the key sections of your LinkedIn profile.
1. Choose a Professional Profile Photo
Your profile photo is the first thing people notice when they visit your LinkedIn page. Choose a high-quality, professional headshot that reflects your industry and personal brand. Keep it simple: a clean background, good lighting, and business-appropriate attire.
- Do: Use a recent photo with good lighting and a plain background.
- Don’t: Use casual photos, selfies, or images with busy backgrounds.
2. Create a Compelling Headline
Your headline appears directly beneath your name and is one of the most critical elements of your profile. It’s more than just a job title—it’s an opportunity to tell people who you are and what you offer. Customize your headline to highlight your skills, expertise, and what makes you unique.
Example: Instead of just “Marketing Manager,” try something like “Digital Marketing Expert Specializing in SEO & Content Strategy | Helping Brands Grow Online.”
3. Write a Strong About Section
The About section is your chance to share your professional story in your own words. Keep it concise but informative. Highlight your skills, experience, and what drives you in your career.
- Start with a strong introduction that captures attention.
- Discuss your key achievements and what makes you stand out.
- End with a call to action (e.g., encouraging
people to connect with you or reach out for collaboration opportunities).
4. Showcase Your Work Experience
When listing your work experience, focus on more than just job titles and dates. Provide detailed descriptions of your roles and achievements. Use bullet points to make the information easy to scan, and quantify your achievements with numbers where possible.
- Highlight Achievements: Focus on outcomes, such as “Increased sales by 30% in 12 months” or “Managed a $2M marketing budget.”
- Use Keywords: Ensure that your experience section includes relevant industry keywords to make your profile more searchable.
5. Skills and Endorsements
The Skills section allows you to showcase your top abilities, and LinkedIn users can endorse you for these skills, lending credibility to your profile. Make sure to regularly update this section and remove any outdated or irrelevant skills. Prioritize skills that align with your current career goals.
- Do: Select your top three skills to display prominently.
- Don’t: List too many skills, as this can dilute your focus.
6. Request Recommendations
Recommendations from colleagues, supervisors, or clients can significantly enhance your profile’s credibility. Reach out to people you’ve worked with and ask them to write a recommendation for you. In return, offer to write recommendations for them.
- Do: Request recommendations from people who can speak to your specific skills and achievements.
- Don’t: Send generic requests; personalize each message to make it more likely you’ll get a response.
7. Customize Your LinkedIn URL
Customizing your LinkedIn profile URL makes it easier for people to find you and adds a professional touch. You can change your URL to include your name or something that reflects your brand (e.g., linkedin.com/in/yourname).
- To change your URL, click on Edit public profile & URL on the right side of your profile page.
8. Showcase Media and Projects
LinkedIn allows you to add media files (e.g., PDFs, presentations, videos) and links to projects you’ve worked on. This can be especially helpful for visual professions like marketing, design, and product development. Adding examples of your work helps others see your skills in action.
- Do: Add links to portfolio pieces, presentations, or articles you’ve written.
- Don’t: Overload your profile with too much content. Select the most relevant examples that align with your career goals.
9. Engage with LinkedIn Content
An optimized profile isn’t enough—you also need to be active on LinkedIn. Regularly share relevant content, comment on posts, and engage with your network. This will increase your visibility and help build relationships with potential employers, clients, or collaborators.
- Do: Share articles, insights, and updates related to your industry.
- Don’t: Spam your network with irrelevant or overly promotional content.
10. Keep Your Profile Up-to-Date
Lastly, make it a habit to regularly update your LinkedIn profile. Whenever you change jobs, gain new skills, or complete a significant project, update your profile to reflect these changes. A current profile ensures that you’re always putting your best foot forward.
Privacy and Security Considerations
As you optimize your LinkedIn profile, it’s also essential to be mindful of privacy settings. Depending on your goals, you may want to limit what certain users can see or make your profile fully public for greater visibility.
Controlling Profile Visibility
- Go to Settings & Privacy under the “Me” icon on your homepage.
- In the Visibility section, you can control who can see your profile photo, last name, and other information.
- You can also choose whether your activity (such as updates to your profile) is shared with your connections.
Managing Profile Viewing Options
If you’re researching competitors or potential employers and don’t want them to know you’ve viewed their profiles, you can adjust how your profile appears when viewing others:
- In Settings & Privacy, navigate to How others see your LinkedIn activity.
- Select Profile viewing options and choose to browse LinkedIn anonymously or with only limited information.
Conclusion
Viewing your LinkedIn profile as others see it is a valuable tool for ensuring that your professional brand is being accurately represented to potential employers, clients, or colleagues. By using LinkedIn’s “View profile as” feature, you can see your profile from a public perspective and make sure everything is displaying correctly.
To make the most of this feature, take time to optimize your profile by adding a professional headshot, crafting a compelling headline, updating your work experience with achievements, showcasing your skills and endorsements, and engaging with content on the platform. Don’t forget to manage your privacy settings and keep your profile up-to-date with the latest information.