If your LinkedIn looks like your Resume, you are doing it wrong. Your LinkedIn is not a PDF dump.
LinkedIn first, resume second; in the blog, learn the order recruiters follow.
LinkedIn gets you found, but your Resume gets you hired.
If you live or work in Asia, I’m sure you have heard the phrase same same but different. It means two things can look similar yet serve different purposes.
That’s exactly how you should think about your LinkedIn profile and your Resume. They share the same story but play very different roles.
It’s complicated. It depends on how you look at it.
LinkedIn is your digital front door
If you’re old enough, you remember phone books, company directories, and yellow pages. Before the internet, that’s how people found you.
Today, all that information lives online.
- Recruiters and HR teams no longer flip through pages.
- They search online, of course.
- And LinkedIn is where they search first.
Your LinkedIn profile is your digital front door.
It’s the first and almost always the only place recruiters look before deciding whether to contact you.
You can extend the article with a section like this:
Personal LinkedIn Profile vs. Company Page: Know the Difference
About 99% of LinkedIn members use their profile for what it was designed for: to present themselves as professionals. It’s a personal branding tool, not a company brochure.
Your LinkedIn profile should show who you are, what you do, and what value you bring to an employer, client, or business partner.
Then there’s the remaining 1%. These are business owners, consultants, and solo entrepreneurs who use their personal profile to promote their company’s products and services.
They turn their “About” section into a sales pitch, fill their headline with slogans, and post daily promotions. That’s a mistake.
LinkedIn gives every business a proper place for that kind of content: the Company Page.
That’s where you should talk about your services, share marketing posts, and describe your company’s mission.
Your personal profile is for you — your story, your achievements, your professional credibility.
When people connect with you, they want to understand the person behind the business, not read an ad.
That’s how you use LinkedIn effectively — same platform, but different purpose.
Here’s how recruiters work in real life
A recruiter searches LinkedIn using keywords like job title, company, and location.
- Your profile pops up.
- The recruiter glances at your profile for five to ten seconds.
- If your headline, summary, and experience look relevant, they’ll message or call you.
At this point, the recruiter does not care if you are the perfect fit.
They are deciding if you are worth a conversation.
Only after that first call will they ask for your Resume or CV.
It happens in that order: LinkedIn first, Resume second.
No one ever finds your Resume first and then calls to see your LinkedIn profile.
That’s why both profiles and documents must work together but serve different purposes.
Purpose of your LinkedIn profile
Between your LinkedIn profile and your resume, LinkedIn wins every time.
Unless you land a job through a personal connection, almost everyone (99.99% of us) will be found on LinkedIn first.
If your LinkedIn profile stands out, recruiters will stop scrolling. They’ll open your page, scan your details, and most likely reach out.
I call this your LinkedIn Shop Window, the banner, your photo, and your headline just below your name. That’s all a recruiter sees at first glance.
Think of it like a store in a shopping mall. The shop window either draws people in or makes them walk past.
The same goes for your LinkedIn profile. Get your Shop Window right, and recruiters will scroll down to learn more about you. Get it wrong, and they move on to the next profile.
You never get a second chance at a first scroll.
- Acts as your public advertisement.
- Must be searchable with keywords that match your skills, titles, function and industry.
- Should give a quick, strong impression within a few seconds.
- Includes a profile photo because people expect to see who they’re dealing with.
If you don’t have a photo, people get suspicious. Recruiters might assume your profile is outdated or fake.
Purpose of your Resume
- The follow-up to someone calling you about a job opportunity.
- Should be tailored for each job.
- Is meant to be detailed, structured, and professional.
- Does not require a photo. In fact, you should never include one.
A Resume has no dedicated spot for a photo (as LinkedIn has). Adding one creates bias and distracts from your qualifications. Let your experience speak for itself.
The bottom line is that LinkedIn and Resume are not the same
Your LinkedIn and Resume should tell the same career story, but in different ways:
- LinkedIn: broad, keyword-rich, public.
- Resume: specific, detailed, customized.
Keep them aligned, not identical.
Your LinkedIn attracts interest. Your Resume closes the deal.
Get help to overhaul your LinkedIn profile
Get expert help to overhaul your LinkedIn profile
Your LinkedIn profile is your first impression. If it doesn’t grab attention fast, recruiters move on.
Tom Sorensen, a Certified Professional Resume Writer (PARWCC), has helped countless candidates rebuild their LinkedIn profiles and resumes to attract real interest from employers.
The result: more profile views, more interviews, and more job offers.
See what this service includes here: https://www.tomsorensen.in.th/linkedin-service/
You’ll also find 7 powerful resources and personalized tools designed to help you stand out as a candidate: https://www.tomsorensen.in.th/shop/support/
Stop guessing what works. Get professional help and make your LinkedIn profile work for you.
