Knowing what skills to put on LinkedIn is crucial these days, as recruiters and employers often use them to filter candidates. Whether it’s soft skills like communication and leadership or technical know-how like data analytics, figuring out what to showcase can really make a difference.
The challenge isn't just choosing good skills to put on LinkedIn, but also managing how many to display. The platform allows up to 50, but should you use them all?
Let’s take a look at the top skills to consider—along with insights from career coaches to help you make informed decisions.
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Do skills on LinkedIn matter?
Yes, they do. Your LinkedIn profile is often the first place recruiters and potential employers look when evaluating your candidacy, and the skills you choose to highlight play a critical role in making your profile more visible and relevant.
In fact, users with at least five skills listed are contacted up to 33 times more by recruiters than those without. “In today's competitive job market, you need to make it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to quickly understand what you bring to the table,” says career coach Janel Abrahami. “Those skills highlight your core competencies and expertise at a glance.”
As skills-based hiring continues to grow, listing the right skills can position you as a stronger candidate. “The skills you list act as keywords that boost your profile's searchability,” Abrahami says. “When companies search for candidates with specific abilities, having those skills prominently displayed ensures you appear in their searches. It’s like optimizing your career for search engines.”
The 20 best skills to put on LinkedIn in 2024
Choosing skills to add to LinkedIn is essential for standing out. Many of the skills identified below have been highlighted as LinkedIn’s most in-demand skills in 2024, reflecting the evolving needs of the job market. Showcasing these on your profile can give you a significant competitive edge.
Let’s explore the rundown of the best skills to put on LinkedIn, perfectly aligning with what employers and recruiters are currently seeking. Both lists give a solid blend of soft and hard skills that are highly relevant in today’s job market, covering a wide range of industries and roles.
Soft skills
- Communication: The ability of both verbal and written communication, which is essential for teamwork and client interaction. “This is the cornerstone of practically every job,” Abrahami says.
- Leadership: “Even if you're not in a management role, leadership skills like motivating others or taking initiative are highly transferable and sought-after,” Abrahami says.
- Adaptability: Flexibility in adapting to changing roles, responsibilities, and technologies is critical in today's fast-paced work environments. The ability to quickly adjust to new circumstances, whether it's a shift in team dynamics, organizational structure, or emerging technologies, shows resilience and foresight.
- Problem-solving: The ability to identify problems and implement effective solutions is a key skill across all industries. Strong problem-solving skills involve not only recognizing issues but also analyzing them, brainstorming potential solutions, and taking decisive action to resolve them.
- Teamwork: “Very few jobs exist in isolation,” Abrahami says. “Showing you can work well in a team and contribute to collective goals is universally appealing.”
- Emotional intelligence: Understanding and managing your own emotions, as well as being attuned to the emotions of others. Emotional intelligence involves self-awareness, empathy, and emotional regulation, which help you navigate interpersonal relationships effectively.
- Creativity: It involves thinking outside the box to solve problems or improve processes, making it one of the most valuable skills in any profession. Creative professionals are often able to see connections where others might not, allowing them to bring fresh perspectives and generate new ideas.
- Time management: Effectively managing your time and prioritizing tasks is essential for meeting deadlines and maintaining productivity. Strong time management skills help reduce stress and ensure you focus on high-priority tasks first, allowing for better performance across your responsibilities.
- Conflict resolution: Handling disagreements professionally and finding solutions that benefit all parties to maintain a positive work environment. Conflict resolution skills ensure that issues are addressed constructively, helping teams move forward without lingering disputes.
- Critical thinking: It's essential for problem-solving and decision-making, enabling professionals to evaluate complex situations and respond with well-thought-out solutions. “The capacity to analyze information objectively and make reasoned judgments is valuable in any role,” Abrahami says.
Technical skills (also known as hard skills)
11. Data analysis: This is the ability to collect, process, and interpret data to make informed decisions that drive business strategies.
12. Project management: It involves planning, executing, and closing projects efficiently to ensure they are completed on time and within budget.
13. Sales: The skill of selling products or services, including techniques like upselling and cross-selling to maximize revenue.
14. Cloud computing: This refers to the knowledge of working with cloud platforms like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud to manage and deploy applications and services.
15. SEO/SEM: This encompasses the expertise in search engine optimization and marketing techniques to enhance web visibility and drive traffic to websites.
16. UX/UI design: This is the ability to design user-friendly digital interfaces that improve user experience and satisfaction.
17. Coding/programming: This skill refers to the proficiency in using programming languages like Python, Java, C++, and HTML to develop software applications and systems.
18. Cybersecurity: This involves the knowledge of protecting networks, systems, and data from cyber threats through effective security measures and protocols.
19. Financial analysis: This is the ability to assess financial data and trends to guide investment decisions and inform organizational strategies.
20. Machine learning: It involves applying algorithms and statistical models to enable computers to perform tasks without explicit programming.
How to list skills on LinkedIn—the right way
Showcase your skills on LinkedIn is not just about listing them. “It’s about backing them up with concrete examples from your experience,” Abrahami says. “This is what truly brings your profile to life and demonstrates your ability to transfer those skills to new roles.”
To maximize the impact of your LinkedIn profile, focus on the following tips for managing your skills section:
- Organize your top skills: LinkedIn allows you to pin your top three skills, making them more visible to visitors. “How do I choose my top 3 skills on LinkedIn?” you might ask. Focus on your most relevant and well-endorsed skills. Additionally, include LinkedIn's most in-demand skills for 2024 or industry-specific skills to align with what recruiters are actively seeking. This selection helps maximize your profile’s visibility and appeal to potential employers.
- Use keywords: Incorporate industry-specific keywords in your skills. This improves your visibility in recruiter searches, as many recruiters use keywords when searching for candidates. Align your skills with job descriptions you’re interested in to increase your profile’s relevance.
- Take LinkedIn skill assessments: LinkedIn offers skill quizzes for various competencies. Passing these quizzes can earn you a badge, further validating your expertise and increasing your credibility with employers.
- Project showcases: For each major project you've worked on, consider creating a visual summary. “This could be an infographic, a short video, or even a SlideShare presentation,” Abrahami says. “Upload these directly to your profile to give viewers a tangible sense of your work.”
- Get endorsements from experts: Aim to get endorsements from credible sources, such as managers, colleagues, or clients. Endorsements from industry experts carry more weight and can enhance your profile’s credibility.
- Update regularly: Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date by adding new skills as you acquire them and removing outdated ones.
FAQs
Should I list 50 skills on LinkedIn?
According to Abrahami, listing all 50 skills on LinkedIn is unnecessary. Instead, the career coach advises limiting your list to around 10 key skills. “A tightly curated list highlights your core competencies and makes it easier for recruiters to scan,” she says. This approach focuses on quality over quantity, ensuring your most important abilities shine. “Choose the skills that are most relevant to your current role or the positions you're targeting.”
How often should I update my LinkedIn skills?
“At a minimum, I recommend a thorough review of your skills section every six months,” Abrahami says. Especially after gaining new certifications, completing significant projects, or transitioning to a new role. “This semi-annual check-in allows you to stay relevant without turning profile maintenance into a part-time job,” she says.
Can endorsements improve my LinkedIn profile?
Yes, endorsements from colleagues or clients can significantly boost your LinkedIn profile. “Endorsements for those skills add credibility,” Abrahami says. “When colleagues and connections vouch for your abilities, it provides social proof of your expertise. This can really set you apart from other candidates.”
Profiles with well-endorsed skills are also more likely to appear in search results, increasing your visibility. Endorsements from industry experts or senior professionals carry even more weight, further enhancing your profile's authenticity and appeal.