Guide
Resume vs LinkedIn profile: what goes where
Updated:
In short
The resume is the document tailored to each posting, short and focused on results, while LinkedIn is the broader public profile that gets you found by recruiters. Keep the same titles, employers and dates in both, but tailor the resume for each role, and on LinkedIn add recommendations, projects and keywords of your field.
What is the role of each?
The resume is sent to a specific posting and tailored to it. LinkedIn works all the time: recruiters search there by keyword, location and experience, so the profile should be complete even when you are not applying.
How do they differ?
The practical differences:
- Resume: one or two pages, tailored to the posting, with the most relevant achievements.
- LinkedIn: the whole journey, with detail, projects, recommendations and activity (posts, articles).
- Resume: concise, role-focused tone. LinkedIn: a more personal tone, with a first-person summary.
How do I keep them consistent?
Use the same job titles, employers and dates. A mismatch between resume and LinkedIn (a different title or different dates) shows up quickly in a check and weakens trust.
Put the LinkedIn link in the resume header as text, with a custom URL (linkedin.com/in/first-last).
What do I add only on LinkedIn?
Recommendations from colleagues, endorsed skills, projects with links and a keyword-rich headline, for example "Accountant | Month-end close, e-invoicing, SAF-T". These help with recruiter searches.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send the LinkedIn link instead of a resume?
Only if the posting allows it. Normally a resume is requested and the profile complements it.
Should the text be identical in both?
The facts should match, but the text need not. LinkedIn can be more detailed and the resume more concise.
Does the LinkedIn photo matter?
A profile with a clear, professional photo inspires more trust. Choose a recent one with the face visible.
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