The 3 LinkedIn Mistakes Costing You Job Opportunities
Hi everyone, today I want to share something with you that could completely transform your job search.
After 20 years of career coaching, I can tell you without a doubt that LinkedIn frustration is at an all-time high. People keep asking me: "Why aren't recruiters finding me on LinkedIn?" "What am I doing wrong?" "I've tried everything!"
Well, I'm here to tell you that you might be making these three critical mistakes without even realizing it. And if you stick with me until the end, I've got something special for you—a game-changing offer that will help you finally crack the LinkedIn code.
Your LinkedIn Profile Isn't Like Your Resume (And That's the Problem)
Here's the first thing you need to understand: Your resume is what YOU send to other people. Your LinkedIn profile is what recruiters use to FIND you. Big difference!
Think about it like the old Yellow Pages. Businesses didn't just put their name in there; they had to think about how customers would search for them. A pizza place didn't list under "Bob's Joint"—they put themselves under "Pizza" and used keywords like "delivery" or "Italian." They understood that being creative meant nothing if hungry customers couldn't find them when they were looking for dinner. The same principle applies to your LinkedIn profile—it's not about showing off; it's about being found when recruiters search for your specific skills and experience.
With 1.1 billion people on LinkedIn, you've got to think about searchability first, readability second. I see so many people get creative with their profiles, and while I love the enthusiasm, creativity kills searchability. Recruiters typically only look at your profile for 6-13 seconds to decide if you're worth their time. Make it count.
Mistake #1: Your Headline Is An Epic Novel (That Nobody Can Find)
I cannot tell you how many times I've seen headlines like: "Guru | Rockstar | World-Changing Executive Visionary Who..."
Stop right there! Your headline is a keyword-searchable section. When I see these creative masterpieces, I'm thinking, "You're not even findable because there's not a single keyword that matches your actual skill set."
Keep it simple. Keep it keyword-rich. Keep it searchable.
Mistake #2: Your "About" Section Is Overwhelming
Next up: That "About" section that reads like a third-person biography. "Adam Smith is a worldwide global executive leader and guru of..."
This is YOUR profile. Write in the first person. Keep it short. Make it scannable. Use numbers and facts.
Here's the truth: Recruiters aren't looking for poetry. They're validating your skill sets. When you write an epic novel, it's visual overload. I call it "mental rocks"—it weighs them down, and they won't read it. Trust me on this one.
Mistake #3: Your Work History Section Is All Wrong
I see two extremes that both hurt you:
Epic novels under each job title (nobody reads these)
Nothing but a job title and company name (missed opportunity)
Neither approach helps recruiters find you or understand your value. You need a sweet spot that includes key achievements and searchable skills.
Bonus Mistake That's Costing You Opportunities
Here's something most people are sleeping on: Your LinkedIn feed now matters as much as (if not more than) your profile.
Recruiters are checking your feed before they contact you. They want to see if you're active, engaged, and understand your industry. Your profile gets them interested; your feed activity can seal the deal.
Here's What You Can Do Right Now
The good news? You can fix all of this. And I've got exactly what you need.
Inside the Work It DAILY Free Resource Center, we're offering something incredible: a $10 video-based LinkedIn profile review by our trained career specialists.
That's right—for just ten bucks, you'll get:
A complete LinkedIn profile review
Analysis of your feed strategy
Specific recommendations to fix what's broken
A video you can keep and reference forever
We'll screen record your profile, tell you exactly what's wrong, and show you how to fix it. No guesswork. No wondering. Just solutions. Get yours HERE.
Your dream job could be one LinkedIn optimization away. Let's make it happen together.
Go get ‘em!
J.T. O’Donnell
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