Should You Update Your LinkedIn
Should You Update Your LinkedIn Profile? A Strategy-First Guide to LinkedIn for Job Seekers We’ve
Adriana Modersitzki
We’ve been having this conversation a lot lately, usually in those first chats with clients who are reaching out for help with their career documents. They’re updating their resume, getting ready to apply for roles, and somewhere in the conversation they ask, “I guess I’ll need to do LinkedIn as well, right?”
It’s a fair question. There’s often some internal pressure to do everything possible to set things up for success when job hunting, and it’s easy to feel like LinkedIn must be part of that list.
But we’re not here to sell people services they don’t need. We’re here to make sure their job search strategy is focused, efficient, and aligned with their goals. While LinkedIn can absolutely be a powerful part of that strategy, it’s not a must-have for everyone. And it’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all requirement.
For clients who aren’t sure whether LinkedIn is a priority right now, we usually suggest starting with the documents that do the heavy lifting like a resume or pitch. If they later decide they want professional support, they often come back for a full rewrite when it makes sense for them.
So for anyone wondering what to do with their LinkedIn profile, know that you’re not alone! Buckle up and read on to hear the advice we find ourselves giving a lot lately. Theres a lot here worth unpacking, especially for those looking to strengthen their job search without getting caught up in unnecessary extras.
This is a concept we come back to a lot: presence versus purpose.
Presence is about having a clean, accurate, and up-to-date profile. It’s a digital footprint that helps ensure nothing feels off if a recruiter or hiring manager looks them up. It doesn’t have to be flashy, but it does need to reflect where someone is right now.
Purpose is how someone uses that presence. If LinkedIn forms part of their active job search strategy through engaging with content, networking, being found by recruiters, or building a personal brand, then it needs to work hard for them.
But if it’s not playing that kind of role, there’s no need to overinvest.
This might surprise you, but we don’t always recommend LinkedIn profile writing. Not everyone needs it. If you’re applying for roles in government, education, or local councils, LinkedIn is often irrelevant. Likewise, if you’re returning to work after a break, shifting industries, or applying for jobs through formal application systems rather than networking, you may not need to prioritise it.
This is especially true for:
LinkedIn is powerful when it’s purposeful. If it’s not part of how you’re applying for roles or building connections, let it be simple.
A note from our Founder: I’ll be honest, I don’t love LinkedIn myself. It’s clunky, time-consuming, and not something I naturally enjoy. But I know it’s necessary for the work I do. So every Friday morning, I set aside 30 minutes with a coffee, log in, engage with a few posts, and keep my profile active. If I wasn’t doing that, I wouldn’t be maintaining it. I wouldn’t be investing energy in keeping it polished, because it wouldn’t be serving a purpose.”
One of the most common mistakes we see is people taking their resume and pasting it straight into LinkedIn.
Here’s the thing. LinkedIn is not just a professional document, it’s a social platform. Yes, it’s professional. But it’s also designed for connection, visibility, and conversation. It’s a place where people go to learn about you. Not just what you’ve done, but how you think, what you care about, and how you show up.
Your resume is built for selection. It’s sharp, formal, and focused on responding to job requirements. LinkedIn, on the other hand, is for connection. It’s an opportunity to build your voice and expand your professional identity online and to share a little more of who you are beyond the dot points on that resume.
If you simply copy and paste your resume into your LinkedIn profile, you’re cutting yourself off at the knees. You lose the chance to create something more engaging and authentic, and to build trust and connection. This is especially important for senior professionals and executives. If you want to be seen as a leader in your space, your profile should reflect more than just achievements. It should reflect influence, direction, and presence. So instead of duplicating your resume, think of LinkedIn as a layered complement to it. Let it support your professional story, rather than just regurgitate it.
Instead of guessing, here are five questions we often ask clients:
If the answer is yes to most of these, it’s probably time to look at LinkedIn more strategically. A professionally written profile can boost visibility, improve positioning, and help someone show up in the right places, for the right reasons.
If the answer is mostly no? A simple tidy-up is likely more than enough.
Here’s the most important thing we want you to take away from this. You don’t have to do everything at once. You don’t need a perfect LinkedIn profile before you apply for your next role. And you certainly don’t need to spend money on something that won’t serve your goals.
At The Elite Collective, we’ll always recommend what’s right for you, not what’s popular or profitable. That might mean starting with a resume. It might mean focusing on your pitch. Or it might mean coming back to LinkedIn once your direction is clearer. Whatever your next step looks like, we’re here when you’re ready and we’ll meet you where you are.
Unsure what to focus on next? Reach out for a quick chat and let’s map out your next move together.
