Stop Treating Your LinkedIn Profile Like a Resume

The next edition of Mondays with Mindi is out! If you're new, this is where we talk about all things related to growing our businesses and personal brands on LinkedIn -- from personal branding to growing our networks to attracting more ideal clients to optimizing our profiles... and everything in between!

Each week, I share ONE strategy that you can use to optimize your personal brand or grow your business on LinkedIn. Whether you're a subject matter expert at the top of your field, a business leader looking to get on more boards, or a gritty entrepreneur trying to craft an ideal sales & marketing machine -- you'll find one action item you can take away and implement each and every week to get you one step closer to your goal.

No topic is off-limits. We discuss the good, the bad, and the fugly. I do take topic recommendations, too!

My mission is to help more professionals learn how to use LinkedIn, so we can all "up our game" on the platform, build thought leadership, and grow as leaders in our careers and businesses. And, I like to keep things fun, practical, and inspiring.

Now, onto this week's topic!

Stop Treating Your LinkedIn Profile Like a Resume

Stop copying-and-pasting your resume into LinkedIn! 🚨

Your LinkedIn profile isn’t a static document—it’s a dynamic platform for your personal brand and expertise.

In this week’s Mondays with Mindi, we dive into:

✨ Why LinkedIn profiles are transformational, not transactional

✨ How to reframe your profile to tell your professional story

✨ The small changes that can bring in BIG opportunities

Want to know how real experts (not noisy influencers!) keep their profiles fresh and opportunity-ready?

I’ll share some of my favorite tips for creating a profile that reflects your journey, connects with the right people, and feels "just right" for wherever you are in your career.

Why LinkedIn Is NOT a Resume

Let’s break down why LinkedIn profiles shouldn’t just be a digital copy-paste of your resume.

A resume is transactional—it’s a document you send to get a specific job. But LinkedIn? It’s transformational. It’s a dynamic platform that lets you showcase your story, not just your stats.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is people treating LinkedIn like a repository for past jobs. And look, I get it. It’s tempting to just plug in your resume and call it done. But that approach misses the magic of LinkedIn: the chance to connect as a human, not just as a list of bullet points.

Your LinkedIn profile is about telling your story—what got you here, where you’re going, and why it all matters. For instance, your "About" section isn’t a summary; it’s a narrative. This is where you show your trajectory. Maybe your path wasn’t linear—perfect, neither is anyone else’s! Share how you pivoted, the lessons you’ve learned, or the challenges you’ve overcome. That’s what draws people in.

And let’s talk about keywords. While your profile shouldn’t be a duplicate of your resume, it should align with it. Include relevant keywords so people can find you in searches. Think of this as blending SEO with authenticity—be searchable, but stay true to your voice.

The Quarterly LinkedIn Profile Glow-Up

Let me share a great example: Lorraine Akiba, someone I work with who truly gets the importance of LinkedIn. Lorraine doesn’t just set up her profile and forget it—she treats it like a living, breathing representation of her professional journey.

Every few months, Lorraine and I sit down to update her profile. If she’s landed a new board role, spoken at a significant event, or written a standout post that resonated with her network, we make sure it’s reflected on her LinkedIn. It’s not about showing off—it’s about ensuring her profile tells the most up-to-date story of her career.

This approach does two things: First, it keeps her profile fresh and dynamic, which makes it clear she’s an engaged leader in her field. Second, it allows her to leverage LinkedIn’s potential for inbound opportunities. When someone views her profile, they see a rich, evolving narrative of her impact—not just a static list of past roles.

Lorraine’s intentional updates have helped her stand out in a way that’s authentic and aligned with her goals. And the best part? It’s not just about what she’s done—it’s about the why behind her accomplishments, which makes her profile both impressive and still relatable.

Take a page from Lorraine’s playbook: Use your LinkedIn profile as a tool to reflect your growth, share your story, and stay relevant in the eyes of your network. It’s not just a resume—it’s your digital stage.

A New Way to Think About Your LinkedIn Profile

Let’s rethink the way we approach LinkedIn profiles. For years, we’ve been conditioned to think of them as digital versions of our resumes—a place to showcase qualifications, list achievements, and leave it at that. But in today’s world, where networking happens more online than in person, that mindset could be holding you back.

Here’s the shift: your LinkedIn profile is no longer just a static record of your career history—it’s a dynamic platform to tell your story, showcase your trajectory, and connect as a human being. Think of it as a living, breathing representation of your professional brand.

When you treat your LinkedIn profile as a story, like Lorraine Akiba does, you create opportunities for others to see the real you: your values, your evolution, your unique contributions. People aren’t just hiring qualifications anymore—they’re hiring perspectives, energy, and vision. They want to know who you are, not just what you’ve done.

Imagine someone scrolling through your profile and feeling like they already know you. They see how your career has unfolded, understand what drives you, and feel excited about the value you bring to the table. That’s what turns a glance at your profile into an invitation for collaboration, a speaking engagement, or even a job offer.

By shifting your mindset from “LinkedIn is my resume” to “LinkedIn is my personal brand,” you open yourself up to a world of opportunities that a resume simply can’t deliver. It’s time to stop listing qualifications and start showcasing your journey. Let your LinkedIn profile become the story you’re proud to share. 

How to Reframe Your LinkedIn Profile

If you’re ready to move beyond treating LinkedIn like a resume and start using it as a dynamic platform for your professional brand, let’s dive into how to reframe your profile. This approach will not only help you stand out but also attract the right opportunities that align with your goals.

1. Start with Your Story

What to do: Use the About section to narrate your career journey. This isn’t about listing every job title—it’s about connecting the dots between where you started, where you are now, and where you’re going. Share the “why” behind your career moves and what drives you.

Why it works: People are drawn to stories. A compelling narrative helps others understand your trajectory and see the value you bring, beyond just your qualifications.

2. Showcase Your Trajectory

What to do: Highlight your growth over time. Use your Experience section to explain not just what you’ve done, but what you’ve learned and how it’s shaped your skills and perspective. Even non-linear paths can tell a powerful story of adaptability and curiosity.

Why it works: Employers and collaborators value progress and growth. Showing how you’ve evolved makes your profile relatable and aspirational.

3. Be Human

What to do: Write in a conversational tone, as if you’re speaking directly to someone viewing your profile. Share your personality—what excites you about your work, the causes you care about, or the quirks that make you unique.

Why it works: People want to connect with people, not polished corporate robots. Adding warmth and authenticity to your profile makes it easier for others to reach out and engage.

4. Keep It Current

What to do: Update your profile regularly, just like Lorraine Akiba does. Add recent speaking gigs, successful projects, or even a post that performed well. If something noteworthy happens, reflect it on your profile within a few weeks.

Why it works: A fresh, up-to-date profile signals to viewers that you’re active, engaged, and constantly evolving in your field. It’s also a great way to stay top-of-mind with your connections.

5. Use Keywords Intentionally

What to do: Sprinkle relevant keywords throughout your profile—not just in the Skills section but also in your headline, About section, and job descriptions. Think about what someone might search for if they were looking for someone like you.

Why it works: LinkedIn’s search algorithm relies heavily on keywords, so this ensures your profile is discoverable by the right people.

6. Go Beyond Qualifications

What to do: Share moments that show your creativity, problem-solving, or leadership style. Highlight initiatives you’ve led or challenges you’ve tackled.

Why it works: As Lorraine’s story illustrates, people connect with more than just titles—they connect with how you approach your work and the impact you create.

7. Make It Visually Appealing

What to do: Use different types of visuals like videos, links, and images to make your profile stand out. Showcase a presentation, a talk, or even an article you’ve written.

Why it works: Visuals make your profile more engaging and memorable, giving visitors a reason to spend more time exploring your content.

By reframing your LinkedIn profile with these strategies, you’ll transform it from a static record of your work history into a vibrant showcase of your professional brand. The goal is to let your personality, growth, and impact shine through—so when the right opportunity comes along, it’s crystal clear why you are the perfect fit.

Want to stay in the loop about all things LinkedIn? If you want to join my email list, you can do so on my website: http://www.mindiramsey.com 

I’ll see you next week on Mondays with Mindi! Feel free to leave questions or comments below - and my DMs are always open if you want to message me directly! :)