Can you upload a resume to Linkedin?
Linkedin is more than just social media. It is the world's largest professional networking site.
With more than 20 million open jobs a year, no surprise that recruiters are continually using Linkedin to find skilled candidates.
Not only that, Linkedin has thousands of job vacancies listed on the job section, which you can easily apply from the site.
You may think that your updated Linkedin profile is enough to apply for a job. But that's far from the truth.
While your Linkedin profile and resume both give your professional overview, they are not used in the same manner.
Your Linkedin profile gives an overview of your whole professional journey along with your connections, interests, interactions, etc., while your resume is short and specifically targeted to a job.
Since you understand that your Linkedin profile and resume are different, a question might arise in your head, "How to upload a resume to Linkedin?"
In this blog, we will discuss:
- How to upload resume on Linkedin?
- Should you upload your resume to Linkedin?
- What is the step by step process on using Linkedin Profile as a resume?
- What are the differences between a resume and a Linkedin profile?
How to Upload Resume to Linkedin?
Create a resume.
You need to learn how to create an effective resume before you ask the question "how to add resume to Linkedin?"
The best way to write a resume is to optimize it specifically for the job you're targeting. You can go through a list of resume examples to better understand the standard resume format for your industry.
Upload Your Resume to Profile Featured Section
The process of how to upload your resume to Linkedin profile is pretty simple.
You can find the option to upload your resume on your Linkedin profile page. Navigate to your profile by clicking on your profile picture on the Linkedin home page.
From that, it only takes a few steps to add your resume on the Linkedin featured section for prospective employers to view. Here are the steps:
- Log in to your profile on Linkedin
- Click your profile picture to navigate to your profile
- Click on the "Add Profile Section" button
- Click the down arrow button beside "Featured"
- Click the "Media" button at the bottom
- Select your resume built with an online resume builder, and click "save"
- Your resume is now displayed in the Linkedin profile featured section
Hiration Pro Tip: Save your resume by your name, e.g., "John Doe Resume." This way, when a recruiter ends up downloading your resume, they can easily find it on their system.
If you want to get a job in a specific industry or position, you can include that on your resume name as well, e.g., "John Doe System Engineer Resume."
Upload Resume During the Job Application
Apart from uploading your resume on the Linkedin featured section, you can directly upload targeted resumes on Linkedin when you apply for jobs from the Linkedin job section.
This will come in handy when you're looking for job profiles in multiple industries or roles. To use this feature:
- Go to the "Jobs" section on Linkedin and search for the position of your interest
- Click the "Easy Apply" button under the job title (Many jobs don't have the "Easy Apply" option. Keep an eye on that)
- Click on "Upload resume" after filling up all the required information
- Click "Submit Application"
You’ve successfully uploaded your resume during your job application.
Apart from uploading your resume during each job application, you can save multiple resumes on Linkedin for quickly attaching during job applications. To do that:
- Log in to your Linkedin account
- Click your profile picture on the top right corner
- Go to "Settings and Privacy"
- Click "Job application settings" option under "Job seeking preferences"
- Turn on the "Save and manage your resumes and answers" option
- Here you can upload and manage multiple resumes
Now, when you are applying for multiple positions, you can choose between different resumes quickly.
Whichever option you choose, you must know that if you're applying for a job from the Linkedin job section, an optimized Linkedin profile is crucial for getting an interview apart from Linkedin resume upload.
Also Read: How to optimize LinkedIn profile?
Should You upload your resume to Linkedin?
We have shown you a couple of ways to include your resume on your Linkedin profile. But doing so brings with it a couple of concerns that you can not ignore.
While you think about how to add a resume to Linkedin, also consider whether it is a smart option or not!
Let us give you some reasons why Linkedin upload resumes might not be a good option for you.
Chances of Leaking Sensitive Information
Resumes contain sensitive information, such as phone number, address, email id, etc.
If you post your resume on Linkedin, this personal information may into the wrong hands
So, before uploading your resume on Linkedin, review it, and remove any sensitive information from your resume.
Your Current Employer will Know You're Actively Looking for a Job
If you upload your resume to Linkedin, your current employer will know that you are looking for another job. It might cause unnecessary tension between you and your employer.
You Miss the Chance to Impress Recruiters with a Tailored Resume
A professional resume should be specifically designed to display your relevant experience and achievements for a job you are applying for.
But if you already have a resume uploaded on your profile, you'll miss the chance to provide the recruiter with a tailored resume designed explicitly for the job.
Your Resume can not Make you Discoverable on Linkedin
Linkedin search algorithms work on keywords. If a recruiter wants to search for a candidate, they do it based on job title, experience, or location. If your Linkedin profile is well optimized, your profile will show up in their search results.
But if you choose to upload your resume on Linkedin instead of optimizing your Linkedin profile, your chances of getting found by recruiters is slim to none.
It's Superfluous
If you have an updated Linkedin profile, all the information about your work experience is already there.
If you upload your resume on top of it, it will mostly iterate the same information as your Linkedin profile. It will add nothing new other than the sensitive information mentioned earlier.
How to use Linkedin profile as a resume?
Did you know that Linkedin gives you an option to download your Linkedin profile as a PDF resume?
It's nowhere near comparable with a well-written targeted resume but can come in handy when you're in a pinch.
Let us show you how you can download your Linkedin profile as a resume:
- Log in to your Linkedin profile
- Click your profile picture to navigate to your personal profile
- Click the "more" button below your profile heading
- From the drop-down menu, select "Save as PDF" to download a PDF version of your Linkedin profile
Why download a resume from Linkedin?
The best use of a Linkedin resume is as a framework to create a targeted professional resume.
If you keep your Linkedin profile up-to-date, your profile will contain all the information about your education, certifications, training, professional experience, etc.
Secondly, you can use a Linkedin resume as a temporary resume when you don't have your professional resume handy.
However, we do not recommend using a Linkedin resume like a professional resume.
Your professional resume needs to target specific keywords to boost your chances of getting an interview. But, the Linkedin resume you download from your profile is generic and does not contain targeted keywords.
Plus, we recommend your professional resume should not be more than two pages long.
But, if you use too many texts in your Linkedin profile summary and experiences, the resume generated will be too long and may look unprofessional.
Differences between LinkedIn Profile and a Resume
-
A professional resume is a document specifically designed to highlight your education, work experience, and achievements in a particular domain. A professional resume should be short, to-the-point, and well designed.
-
Wherein Linkedin is a social networking site. Your Linkedin profile gives a holistic overview of your career in a semi-formal way. Recruiters can check your experiences and browse through your activities to understand you as a person.
Do not use your Linkedin profile as a substitute for a professional resume; instead, use it as an addition to your resume.
However, at the end of the day, including a resume on linkedin is a personal choice.
Key Takeaways
We hope you've got a clear understanding of how to add a resume on Linkedin. Here are some of the key takeaways from the blog:
-
You can easily upload your resume on Linkedin and display it in the featured section.
-
If you want to apply for jobs with targeted resumes, you can do it with the "Easy Apply" option. Just click the "Easy Apply" button and upload your optimized resume while applying for a job.
-
Linkedin stores your last used five resumes for future reference. You can use those to apply for different jobs easily.
-
Yes, featuring your resume on Linkedin is an option, but you need to think about your reason to do so consciously. Because upload a resume on Linkedin might not be a good idea for most of you.
-
You can download your Linkedin profile in PDF format as a resume, but don't substitute your professional resume with it.
Go to Hiration's Career Activator Platform which has 24/7 chat support and get professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries. You can also write to us at support@hiration.com and we will make sure to reach out to you as soon as possible.
