LinkedIn OptimizationJun 23, 20266 min read
LinkedIn Open-to-work settings that work — for Software Engineers
If your LinkedIn is getting impressions but no DMs, the bottleneck is almost always open-to-work settings that work. Fix that first; everything downstream gets easier.
Why this section matters
LinkedIn's recruiter search heavily weights open-to-work settings that work when matching candidates to open roles, especially for software engineer searches. Getting it right pulls inbound interest from companies you'd otherwise have to cold-apply to.
Before & after
- Before: vague title, no keywords, generic verbs.
- After: Software Engineer · specialty + outcome, in the searchable format recruiters filter on.
15-minute fix checklist
- Rewrite your headline as: role · specialty · outcome.
- Add the 10 keywords recruiters actually filter on.
- Rewrite your About section's first two lines — that's all that shows before "see more".
- Pin three Featured items that prove results.
- Turn on Open to Work for recruiters only.
Score your LinkedIn — you'll get a prioritised list of fixes, not a generic checklist.
Recommended next action
Take the next concrete step — it's free, takes under a minute, and gives you a real score to act on.
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