career-advice

Should I write my LinkedIn in first person or third person? [LinkedIn Series]

Matt Glodz
Should I write my LinkedIn in first person or third person? [LinkedIn Series]

We recommend writing your LinkedIn summary in the first person, as it's more personal

Your LinkedIn profile's about section is one of the first things visitors see when they land on your homepage, so you want to make sure it leaves a positive impression.

Clients often ask us whether their LinkedIn summary should be written in the first person or third person.

Because LinkedIn is a professional social network, we recommend writing your about section in the first person (and always including a photo).

Simply put, first-person writing comes off as more personal and authentic.

Writing about yourself in the third person can be awkward.

By eliminating that barrier and writing about yourself in a way that you would naturally speak, you'll be able to build a stronger rapport with your connections.

As a result, your profile visitors will be more receptive to what you are saying and be more likely to engage with you.

As you make your decision, consider the tone of the following LinkedIn summaries written in the first person and contrast them with profiles you have seen written in the third person.

  • Which LinkedIn summaries seem more personal?
  • Which individuals would you feel most comfortable reaching out to?

When it comes to length, how much information you choose to include in your LinkedIn summary is up to you.

Depending on your goals, your summary can be very brief or quite comprehensive.

Neil Patel, for example, is an entrepreneur who is looking to grow his brand and drive traffic to his website. As a result, his summary doubles as a sales pitch, so to speak.

Neil Patel - SEO Expert - LinkedIn Summary Example

Satya Nadella’s about section, on the other hand, is a one-line mission statement. His job title tells most visitors all they need to know.

Satya Nadella - Microsoft - LinkedIn Summary Example

Andi Pimentel does a fine job weaving her personality traits into her description, providing a stark contrast to Kevin O'Leary's summary that follows.

Note that her profile headline, on the other hand, is simple and straightforward.

Andi Pimentel - Uber - LinkedIn Summary Example

Kevin O’Leary’s profile, written in the third person, reads as a standard professional biography.

Kevin O'Leary - Entrepreneur LinkedIn Summary Example

Though it may come off a bit more distant, there's nothing wrong with using a professional biography as your LinkedIn summary if you already have one ready to go - especially if you are working in a more conservative field.

However, if you're just getting started, we recommend keeping it personal and writing in the first person.

To learn more about LinkedIn best practices, check out our LinkedIn Series here! You'll find links to a variety of brief, punchy articles that will help you get the most out of the platform.

If you need help writing and optimizing your LinkedIn profile, email us at team@resumepilots.com or call us at (312) 428-6048 to learn how we can help.


About Resume Pilots

Resume Pilots is an award-winning executive resume writing firm and a proud member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Our previous clients include CEOs and senior executives at the world's leading companies.

As a professional services firm, we take your reputation seriously. We are committed to delivering writing excellence and superior service while operating with integrity and discretion. Recruitment firms we partner with also trust us to consistently deliver quality documents for their clients.

Our writers have studied in the Ivy League and other top-tier universities and have strong writing backgrounds coupled with industry experience.

Here's how we can help you:

Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn Writing Services: If you are looking for end-to-end support, hire one of our professional resume writers to rewrite your documents from the ground up.

Executive Resume Template Downloads: If you plan to prepare your own resume, consider using one of our classic, ATS-friendly resume templates for Microsoft Word.

To learn more about our services, book an introductory call with our founder here or email team@resumepilots.com.


About the AuthorMatt Glodz


Matt Glodz is the Founder and Managing Partner of Resume Pilots and a Certified Professional Resume Writer.

After studying business communication at Cornell University, Matt worked within Fortune 500 companies, where he noted that qualified candidates were frequently denied interview opportunities due to poorly written documents.

At Resume Pilots, Matt combines his business and writing background - which includes prior work for a Chicago Tribune publication - to craft resumes that give his clients the best chance of landing interviews. He works with clients ranging from CEOs to recent graduates and has been writing resumes for over 10 years.

He has been quoted on numerous business and career-related topics in outlets including Business Insider, CNBC, Fortune, Glassdoor, The Ladders, and Thrive Global.


Related Articles

Should you include a professional summary on your resume?
4 reasons we don’t recommend a professional summary (and what to do instead) | When crafting your resume, be mindful of whether every word and every bullet point truly adds value. In most cases, the professional summary is not. Here's why.
Read More
How to Write a Strong LinkedIn Summary
5 Essential Components of an Effective LinkedIn Summary: A LinkedIn Summary (or About section) allows you to showcase your professional background, skills, and accomplishments to potential employers and connections. This section should be a brief, concise overview of your professional identity.
Read More
When Should I Remove Internships from My Resume?
4 Factors for Determining When to Remove Internships from Your Resume: As you progress in your career and gain more professional experience, you may find that you have less space on your resume and need to start removing older or less relevant experiences.
Read More