LinkedIn has made some MASSIVE changes!
As of February 14, 2012, LinkedIn changed how they calculate a profile’s completeness. Why should you care if you are at 100% profile complete? Users with complete profiles are 40 times more likely to receive opportunities through LinkedIn. There is a direct correlation between how complete your profile is and higher search ranking. Yes, this is HUGE!
What makes your LinkedIn profile complete?
- A current position
- Two past positions
- Education
- Profile summary
- A profile photo
- Specialties
- At least three recommendations
- Your industry and location
- An up-to-date current position (with a description)
- Two past positions
- Your education
- Your skills (minimum of 3)
- A profile photo
- At least 50 connections
The good news is that this new calculation gives you more control! The old calculation emphasized Recommendations which relied on someone else providing you with a recommendation. This made it very difficult to achieve a complete profile since you were waiting on people to help you. Now there’s NO EXCUSE not to have a 100% complete profile!
Profile freshness is now also calculated so frequent updating is important!
The score also takes profile freshness into consideration, so frequent profile updates can now help with profile completeness.
LinkedIn also states, “Adding a profile photo makes your profile 7x more likely to be found in searches.” Not only that but “having your 2 most recent positions makes your profile 12x more likely to be found!”
Make sure your profile is 100% complete!
I highly suggest checking your profile to make sure that your previously 100% complete profile IS STILL COMPLETE!
How to check your profile’s completeness
- Click Profile > Edit Profile
- On the upper right sidebar, look for your profile’s progress bar.
If your profile is at 100%… CONGRATULATIONS! If not, watch the video below to find out exactly what you need to do to get your LinkedIn profile to 100% complete!

Want to Brand Yourself?
Access my LinkedIn Headline GeneratorThink about it... your LinkedIn headline is the FIRST THING people see of your LinkedIn profile AND it should compel them to read more! My LinkedIn Headline Generator is an online application that helps you create a POWERFUL, keyword-packed LinkedIn Headline! Choose your terms and in seconds you have an engaging, professional LinkedIn Headline that impresses!
hey i am a student and dont have any current job/position. how can i have a complete profile?
Hi Raunak! Can you list an internship? Can you list a part time job?
Hi – My friend is trying to get 100% profile after being made redundant recently. So similar question – how do you add a current if you are not currently working. She’s tried creating a position called “Looking for new opportunities” but then you have to put the name of the company so that it displays “Looking for new opportunities at ” … which looks stupid. Internships and part time jobs aren’t applicable.
Hi Mike!
Here’s the thing, if she is currently working, she doesn’t have a current position to list. She shouldn’t be focused on getting her profile to 100%. Right now, it’s more important that she has an optimized profile (which doesn’t have to be 100% to be effective!) and that she is leveraging LinkedIn by connecting with people, researching jobs & companies, checking on open positions and staying active. Her goal is to GET A CURRENT position through employment rather than create one out of thin air. Besides, who’s going to ask her to the dance if they think she’s going steady with someone else?
Pingback: 8 Tips to Show Yourself Off with LinkedIn - The "...er" Blog
Pingback: Personal Brand: 7 Habits of Highly Successful LinkedIn Users – Bravura Coaching & Image
Pingback: Are you being played? How tech companies use gamification | VentureBeat
Pingback: 3 Costly LinkedIn Profile Mistakes | The Smart Job Search
Pingback: Blog #1: Baby Feet « aaronmah
Pingback: LinkedIn Series Part One: Getting100% Complete | TheSNCCWAYTheSNCCWAY
Pingback: 100% compleet profiel op vernieuwde LinkedIn in 13 stappen
Pingback: What is your LinkedIn profile strength? - Communicate and Howe!
Pingback: Compleet profiel op nieuwe LinkedIn in 13 stappen | Webmaster Resources
I’m no longer seeing a completeness progress bar on mine or friend’s profiles – just suggestions about things to add. Did they remove that? Or does it not show if you’re 100% complete?
Pingback: Bye Bye Specialties » LinkedIn Makeover: LinkedIn Profile Optimization
Hi,
i have a new account in Linkedin. Almost everything is done i just want to ask about that part
( How would you summarize yourself and your objectives? ) how can I fill it.?
And now am only Expert.
Hi Nasser!
Check out my free resources as well as my book for ideas on how to fill out the Summary section of your LinkedIn profile:
https://www.linkedin-makeover.com/linkedin-resources/
https://www.linkedin-makeover.com/linkedin-training-guides/
–Donna
Pingback: Are you being played? How tech companies use gamification | BaciNews
Pingback: Jessica Pierce » Blog Archive » Why Your LinkedIn Profile Needs to be 100% Complete
Pingback: 5 LinkedIn Marketing Tips For Small Businesses - The WooRank Blog