Whether you love it or hate it, LinkedIn has become an integral career development and networking tool globally, and it continues to grow, with approximately one new profile created every two seconds and 30 million companies using the platform to engage with their customers and reach new talent. More than 95% of recruiters use LinkedIn regularly to look for candidates and one new person is hired through the platform every eight seconds! It is clear, therefore, that LinkedIn is a place of many opportunities not only to land a dream job but also to make connections with people and organizations that would otherwise be difficult to access.
Whether you are a job seeker, a business professional, an entrepreneur, or a student, understanding how to use LinkedIn effectively can be a significant advantage in building a strong personal brand and unlocking new career opportunities.
How to Use LinkedIn to Grow Your Career in 2025
- Lead with Your Storytelling.
People on LinkedIn want to connect with other people. They want to know who you are and what your journey has been. Use storytelling to reach your goals, not just to make announcements. Every strong personal brand and impactful presentation begins with a compelling story. This isn’t just about facts, it’s about building trust and stirring emotion. Think of your career moments through the “hero’s journey”, you faced a Challenge, took action, confronted Obstacles, gained Wisdom, and got a result. This story doesn’t have to perfectly match your topic, its job is to create an emotional connection upfront. It makes people care about you and your message. Once that connection is there, you add your unique view, something the world needs. Making that emotional connection through your journey is key to engaging your audience.
- Consistently Share Valuable Content
If I wanted to truly grow on LinkedIn in 2025, I’d consistently share valuable content. This isn’t about posting randomly, it’s about becoming a go-to resource in your field. Think about problems your audience faces or insights that could truly help them. Give a steady value that teaches, inspires, or offers solutions. When you regularly show up with helpful information, you show your expertise, build trust, and become a thought leader. This makes people want to connect with you and follow you, naturally growing your reach and making you more visible for opportunities.
- Collaborate More with Industry Experts
The third essential strategy —and one we need to do more of —is to consistently collaborate with industry experts. Partnering with other recognized leaders is a great way to quickly reach new, relevant audiences and grow your LinkedIn presence. Think about creating content together, hosting LinkedIn Live sessions, or just engaging with each other’s posts. When you actively work with respected voices and experts in your field, you gain credibility and get in front of new faces. Collaboration isn’t just about growing your network, it shows you’re an active part of the important conversations in your industry.
- Optimize Your Profile for Inbound Opportunities
This one is vital. The fourth strategy is to optimize your LinkedIn profile for inbound opportunities. Your profile isn’t just a resume, it’s your personal brand’s living page.
- Check your headline to clearly state your value, not just your job title.
- Write a strong “About” section that tells your unique story, highlights your key achievements with numbers, and clearly states who you help and how.
- Use all relevant skills tags to appear higher in searches.
- Make sure your “Featured” section shows your best content or projects.
In 2025, LinkedIn has become far more than a digital resume. It’s a powerful platform for networking, personal branding, and career development. Learning how to use LinkedIn effectively means going beyond the basics. Start by creating a standout profile that highlights your strengths and accomplishments clearly. Be intentional about growing and engaging your network, focusing on quality connections that add value.
Ultimately, LinkedIn is an exceptional tool that can be used strategically from start to finish, depending on your ultimate objective. Having a target audience in mind will help you tailor your profile to match your career aspirations, so consider important questions. What kind of first impression do you want to create? What sort of connections are you looking for? What is your next career move?
Whether you’re advancing your career, building a business, or exploring new possibilities, a focused and informed LinkedIn strategy will help you stand out and succeed in today’s professional landscape. I hope the above strategies have prompted you to reflect on your LinkedIn profile and its use for your career, and that it has provided you with some practical guidance on ways in which you can improve your visibility and reach on the platform.