Stop Sounding Like a Horoscope – Fix Your LinkedIn Summary Now
Do you describe yourself as “a motivated, results-oriented professional with strong communication skills” in your LinkedIn summary? So do millions of others.
Vague profile summaries filled with buzzwords are everywhere – and they fail to differentiate you in a competitive job market. According to LinkedIn, profiles with summaries get up to 3.9 times more visibility – but only if the summary is relevant and specific. A generic paragraph might make you feel “professional”, but to hiring managers and recruiters, it’s white noise – forgettable, empty, and often ignored.
At Career Angels, we help professionals move away from vague buzzwords and toward LinkedIn summaries that communicate value with purpose and precision.
A good profile summary on LinkedIn is not about listing adjectives. It should answer the following questions:
* Who are you professionally?
* What’s your experience?
* What are your strengths?
* What are you looking for?
* Who is your target audience?
For example:
⨯ “Results-oriented professional with excellent communication skills.”
✓ “Experienced Project Manager with 10+ years in tech and manufacturing. Known for delivering complex initiatives on time and under budget across EMEA. Passionate about sustainable innovation and cross-functional leadership.”
There’s More to Crafting a Great LinkedIn Summary Than Rewording Clichés
What can your profile summary on LinkedIn have in common with a horoscope? The question might sound absurd, but the answer is: quite a lot. Many profile summaries are so generic, they could apply to just about anyone – much like horoscopes. It’s no surprise: while people usually have an idea of how to create a CV, they often feel lost when it comes to writing their profile summary.
Should you use the 1st or 3rd person? Be strictly professional or a bit creative? Keep it simple or descriptive? The list of doubts is long and valid. To make things clearer, we’ve identified five types of LinkedIn profile summaries, along with three universal guidelines that apply to all.
The Profile Summary Uniqueness Test
If someone in a similar role could copy-paste your summary into their own profile with little to no changes, it’s not unique or specific enough. A strong LinkedIn summary is personal and differentiated. If it reads like something from a CV template, decision-makers will skip it.
Profiling Your LinkedIn Summary for the Target
Your profile summary should be tailored for your intended audience – usually hiring managers, decision-makers, or recruiters. What do they care about? What aspects of your experience are most relevant to them? Write with that in mind – not for peers, colleagues, or your own ego.
Think of your LinkedIn summary as a movie trailer: it offers compelling glimpses of the full story (your CV) and makes people want to see more. Write your profile summary after your CV is finalized so you can pull the most relevant and engaging highlights into a coherent teaser that reflects your personality and tone.
The 5 Types of Profile SummariesType 1 of Profile Summaries: Key Areas with Evidence
Direct and structured. Begins with a one-sentence introduction that mentions the target role, followed by 2-3 key areas of expertise, each supported by 3-4 bullet points of evidence.
Type 2 of Profile Summaries: Professional Bio
Formal and fluid. A fully written narrative similar to bios used for board members or senior executives on company websites.
Type 3 of Profile Summaries: Unique Storyline
Memorable and personal. This format adds a brief, creative narrative to introduce a professional story (e.g. “Former rugby player turned structured Project Manager”) followed by elements of Type 1.
Type 4 of Profile Summaries: Bio with Proof
Balanced and detailed. A mix of Type 1 and Type 2, combining narrative flow with bullet-pointed achievements to highlight something specific for the target audience.
Type 5 of Profile Summaries: Horoscope
Generic and vague. The most common (and least effective) summary type. Overloaded with buzzwords, lacking substance or target focus. This type almost always needs a serious overhaul.
Real-Life Examples of LinkedIn Profile Summaries
Example A: What brings a girl who grew up in the Brazilian jungle to Change Management projects in EMEA?
From a philosophical perspective: adaptability and courage. Sarah’s journey went from self-taught programmer to Systems Engineering student in Rio, to IT Project Manager across LATAM. Hired by Company X for a major Change Management initiative, she later joined Company Y in Belgium to lead Transformation projects, all while pursuing an MBA in Digital Transformation.
Example B: Board Member & Head of Legal Department
* Geographical focus: Spain and Latin America
* Expertise: Contract, Public Procurement, Corporate Law, Compliance
* Keynote speaker and published author
Example C: Experienced Manufacturing Manager / Management Engineer
Operations & Supply Chain Management
– Best Plant Award 2016-2020 (82% turnover growth, 94% OTD)
– Reduced transformation costs by 6%; boosted OEE and customer satisfaction
Change Management
– Led three business re-engineering projects in China
– Implemented Lean tools: Kanban, 5S, SMED, 0 defects
People Management
– Managed 500+ FTEs in international cross-functional teams
In the last 5 years alone, we’ve worked with 4,277 managers and executives from 84 countries, helping them optimize their job search tools, including LinkedIn summaries. Over 80% of our clients come from referrals or recommend us to others. You can see their testimonials on our website .
When your LinkedIn summary is tailored and specific:
* Recruiters immediately see your value.
* You attract more relevant offers and contacts.
* Your story becomes memorable – and interview-worthy.
Not sure if your profile summary is working? Let us take a look. Our clients consistently report more recruiter responses and improved positioning after working with us. Read their experiences on our website!
If you wait, the summer hiring slow-down could cost you weeks of progress. A generic profile summary might already be costing you visibility or interviews. Don’t miss another hiring cycle – get your positioning right now.
If you are a senior professional and want to make sure your LinkedIn profile truly reflects your value, reach out to Career Angels at Contact@CareerAngels.eu to schedule a free career consultation.
Career advice & support for executives around the world.
This blog is written by experienced HR professionals.
A must read for all executives who are considering a move or are already actively looking.
If you are an executive who considers a change, get in touch with us. If time allows*, we will happily grant you a free 30-min Skype consultation. No strings attached. Really. Confidentiality guaranteed. Bonus: written CV report! Please contact: Contact@CareerAngels.eu | Subject: Career.
* we will always go for quality over quantity. If our current work load permits, we'll make non-billable time for you.
Free CV Report
If you are a manager with at least 10 years of professional experience, send us an email with your CV to Contact@CareerAngels.eu | Subject "CV Report / Blog". You will receive your objective CV Report with market-relevant tips within 3-5 business days.
#J-18808-Ljbffr