Laid Off? Here’s How to Make LinkedIn Work for You
How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile and Stand Out to Recruiters After a Layoff
Every day, hundreds—or even thousands—of people are impacted in an instant. How has this become the norm? Behind those numbers are real people with families, dreams, financial responsibilities, illnesses, and careers they’ve worked hard to build.
A layoff is an unexpected life shift that can redefine someone’s path. I should know—I was impacted in 2024 after 10 years of loyalty and dedication to a company and team I loved and honestly would have retired from if I’d had a say. The shame, low self-confidence, sadness, and anger I felt following that news came in waves of emotion I didn’t know I could experience all at once.
Having spent my entire career in a niche area of HR—HR technology, to be exact—I’ve worked hand in hand with recruiters and led the implementation of applicant tracking systems. I know exactly how the backend works and what recruiters are really looking for when they scan profiles.
Did you know a large majority of recruiters (often reported between 72–95%) use LinkedIn to find and vet candidates? If your profile isn’t optimized, you could be missing out. Around 65 million people search for jobs on LinkedIn each week, and having a complete, optimized profile has been shown to dramatically increase your visibility and opportunities. Recruiters are far more likely to contact someone whose profile is filled out thoughtfully.
Here are the top five things I’d do to optimize your LinkedIn profile, boost visibility, and stand out to recruiters—so you’re one step closer to landing the role you deserve.
1) Optimize Your Headline
Your headline doesn’t have to be your job title. Think of it like a search engine optimization (SEO) boost. Include industry-relevant keywords that a recruiter might search for. For example: Operations Manager | Process Optimization | Cross-Functional Leadership. Keep it clear, confident, and aligned with your goals.
2) Customize Your “About” Section to Tell Your Career Story
This is your chance to go beyond the résumé. Share who you are, what drives you, and the value you bring—while naturally using those keywords. Make it easy for recruiters to understand your unique strengths within a few seconds.
3) Use the “Open to Work” Feature Strategically
When activated, this lets recruiters know you’re open to opportunities—even if you’re currently employed. Make sure your preferences (job titles, locations, work types) are updated so the algorithm shows you in relevant searches.
4) List All Relevant Skills
Skills are one of the top filters recruiters use when searching. Add up to 30 relevant skills (yes, 30!) that reflect your experience and goals. Prioritize those that align with your target roles, especially ones you’ve seen in job descriptions. Don’t be afraid to pull keywords directly from the postings.
5) Engage Regularly—Even Once a Week Makes a Difference
Like, comment on, or share content in your field to stay active in the algorithm. Posting your own insights, articles, or even a career reflection now and then helps keep you visible and top of mind for your network and recruiters.
Lastly, if you’ve recently been laid off, know this: you are not alone. Take a moment to pause. Give yourself space to breathe, reflect, and think about what you truly want next. This isn’t the end of your story—it’s the start of a new chapter.
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.
