How to Add LinkedIn to Your Resume

How to add your LinkedIn profile to your resume

Here’s how to add your LinkedIn profile to your resume (click the links to jump ahead to more details about each step):

1. Edit your LinkedIn URL so it’s just your name (and job title, if necessary): Open your web browser and go to Linkedin > Me > View Profile > Edit your custom URL — we’ve covered how to edit your URL in LinkedIn’s mobile app below
2. Copy the URL
3. Paste the URL onto your resume in the contact section

1. Edit your LinkedIn URL

Before you add your LinkedIn to your resume, edit the URL to make sure it doesn’t have the string of numbers and letters that LinkedIn uses to create a unique link when you make your profile. You’ll want to remove them because they make your link:

• appear spammy and unprofessional
• so long that it might ruin your resume’s contact information formatting

Here’s how to edit your LinkedIn profile URL (the process is different depending on whether you’re using a desktop browser or a mobile app):

How to edit your LinkedIn URL on desktop

To edit your URL using the web-browser version of LinkedIn, first click on “Me” at the top right and select View Profile” from the dropdown menu:

Click on “Edit public profile & URL” at the top right:

When the edit screen opens, click the pencil icon:

Click into the edit box, delete the random numbers and letters at the end, and type the name you want, separating each word or initial with a hyphen or a period to make it easy to read:

If you can’t use just your name, try a variation with your initials or simply add your job title (e.g., www.linkedin.com/in/your-name-job-title).

Here are two examples of professional LinkedIn URLs:

www.linkedin.com/in/john.h.smith

www.linkedin.com/in/john-smith-movie-producer

When you’ve finished editing your name, click “Save” and you’re all set.

How to edit your LinkedIn URL on your phone

Here’s how edit your profile URL on LinkedIn’s mobile app:

From the home page, tap on your profile picture in the top-left corner, and then tap it again when the menu opens to view your profile:

Then tap the ellipses button on the right, next to the “Add section” button, and choose “Contact info” from the menu that pops up at the bottom:

Next, tap the pencil icon at the top right to edit your contact information:

Tap on your profile URL, and when the new page opens, click the pencil icon:

Edit your name to remove the random numbers and letters LinkedIn assigned to your profile when you signed up:

Unless you have a unique name no one else on LinkedIn is using, you’ll likely need to use a variation of your name (e.g., your first initial and last name) or add your job title, like this:

www.linkedin.com/in/jane-doe-developer

Once you’ve finished editing your name, tap “Save,” and you’re done.

2. Copy your LinkedIn URL

When you copy the link to your LinkedIn profile, you don’t need to grab the entire URL. Here’s an example LinkedIn URL with the parts you don’t need to include crossed out:

If the hiring manager copies and pastes the above information into their browser, they’ll pull up your LinkedIn profile. Removing the first part of the URL saves space and makes your resume look cleaner.

To be sure your link works, just copy and paste it into your browser to make sure it goes directly to your profile.

Unsure how to copy your URL on your computer? Just highlight the link by clicking and dragging your mouse over it, and then either right-click and select “Copy,” or press Ctrl+C (for Windows) or ⌘+C (for Mac) on your keyboard to copy the text.

3. Paste the URL onto your resume

To past your copied URL, right-click and choose “Paste,” or press Ctrl+V (for Windows) or ⌘+V (for Mac) on your keyboard. But before you paste your LinkedIn URL onto your resume, you need to know where to put it, and whether or not to hyperlink it:

Where to put your LinkedIn Link on your resume

The best place to put your LinkedIn URL is in your resume header with the rest of your contact information, like this:

Whether or not to hyperlink your LinkedIn URL

When you add your LinkedIn profile to the digital version of your resume, you can make it clickable for easy access. Here’s how:

You may be tempted to hyperlink shorter anchor text like “My LinkedIn Profile” to make your resume look cleaner, but here’s why you shouldn’t do that:

• applicant tracking systems (ATS) may remove the hyperlink before the employer opens your resume
• many hiring managers refuse to click on links they receive from unknown sources to avoid phishing scams

Finally, remove the hyperlink if you’re printing out your resume to give to prospective employers or take to an interview. If you don’t, your LinkedIn URL will just appear in distracting bright blue text at the top of your resume.

How to add a LinkedIn logo to your resume

When you add LinkedIn to your resume, you should include a LinkedIn logo so the hiring manager knows where your link goes at a glance. Adding the LinkedIn icon also makes your resume appear more professional. There are two ways to add a LinkedIn logo to your resume:

• use a resume template preformatted with the LinkedIn logo
• download a LinkedIn icon and manually add it to your resume

Resume template with a LinkedIn logo

The easiest way to put the LinkedIn logo on your resume is by using a resume template that comes with the icon already built into its formatting. Here’s a resume template with a LinkedIn logo that you can download for free:

Download This Resume Template for MS Word

LinkedIn icon you can add to your resume

Here’s a LinkedIn logo that you can download for free and add to your resume:

Download LinkedIn Logo for Your Resume

And here’s how to add this LinkedIn logo to your resume:

1. Download the icon and save it to your desktop
2. Click the place where you want to put the icon on your resume
3. Choose “Insert” from your word processor’s menu (usually on the top-left)
4. Resize the icon as needed by holding down shift while clicking and dragging (doing this ensures the proper proportions are maintained)

Also, make sure you have resume icons for your email, phone number, and address (if applicable) as well so all your contact information matches. Just be sure using icons to decorate your resume is acceptable in your industry.

 

Examples of LinkedIn URLs & icons on resumes

Here are examples of two more ways to add your LinkedIn profile to your resume:

1. In a contact information section

This is an example of a well-written resume with a design that features a contact information section that includes a LinkedIn profile:

2. In a footer

Here’s an example of a resume with a LinkedIn URL in a footer:

Common questions about adding LinkedIn to a resume

Below we’ve answered three of the most frequently asked questions about how to add LinkedIn on resumes:

• Should I put my LinkedIn on my resume?
• How do I add a LinkedIn learning certificate to my resume?
• How do I add a LinkedIn QR code to my resume?

Should I put my LinkedIn on my resume?

Yes, you should put your LinkedIn on your resume to show employers that you have a solid professional network and social media skills. Adding your LinkedIn to your resume also allows employers to instant message you if they prefer that over emailing or calling.

But you should only put your LinkedIn on your resume if it’s up-to-date and you have more than a few connections (otherwise, employers may question your networking skills).

So if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile right now, don’t rush to make one and add it to your resume. Instead, take your time building a robust profile with a well-rounded network of connections to add to your next resume.

How do I add a LinkedIn learning certificate to my resume?

Here’s how to add a LinkedIn learning certificate to your resume:

1. Mention it in your resume summary

If you’re applying to a job without much relevant experience, you may want to include your LinkedIn Learning certificate in your resume summary to emphasize your job-related skills, like this:

Recent graduate with a BS in Computer Science and a LinkedIn Learning Certificate in SQL Essential Training. Ready to apply a solid theoretical foundation to optimizing MiTell Tech’s operations as a BI Analyst Assistant.

2. Add it to your certifications section

If you’re putting multiple certifications on your resume, create a dedicated certifications section and add your LinkedIn Learning Certificate there, formatting it like so:

3. List it in your skills section

When you want to put your LinkedIn Learning Certificate on your resume but don’t need to emphasize it, just add it to your skills section. Here’s an example of a resume’s skills section with a LinkedIn Learning Certificate added:

• Customer Service: Handling Abusive Customers – LinkedIn Learning Certificate
• Proficient in LiveChat
• Organizational skills
• Multitasking

How do I add a LinkedIn QR code to my resume?

Here’s how to add a LinkedIn QR code to your resume:

1. Find a QR code generator online
2. Follow the instructions to generate and download a QR code that leads to your LinkedIn profile
3. Insert the QR code image into your resume
4. Label the QR code so the hiring manager knows where it leads (e.g., “Scan to view my LinkedIn profile”)
5. Include your LinkedIn URL in case the reader prefers to open your profile on their computer

Adding an image to your resume can be difficult, as it might throw off your resume’s formatting. If you don’t have the necessary design skills to make it look professional, we recommend using a resume template that includes a spot for your headshot. You can simply replace the headshot with your QR code.

Below is an example of a resume with a LinkedIn QR code that you can download and use for your job application. Just download the template, right-click the QR code (which conveniently leads to a free QR code generator), and go to “Change Picture → “From file…” to add your own QR code from your desktop:

Download This Resume Template for MS Word