Having an updated LinkedIn profile that accurately reflects your current job title and description is important for several reasons. First, it ensures your professional network and recruiters looking at your profile can clearly see your skills, experience and career progression. Additionally, optimized profile details help increase your visibility and exposure in LinkedIn search results. So how can you change a basic job entry to reflect a promotion on LinkedIn?
Requirements for Updating Job Title on LinkedIn
In order to change your job title on LinkedIn from a previous or basic role to a new or promoted position, there are a few requirements:
- You must currently have the promoted job title and updated job description/responsibilities per your employment.
- The job title change should accurately reflect your new level or rank at the company, not just change wording on a similar role.
- You should update other LinkedIn profile sections, like skills and achievements, to align with your new position.
Assuming you meet these requirements, here are the steps to change your job title on LinkedIn:
How to Edit Job Title on LinkedIn
1. Go to your LinkedIn profile page and click “View Profile” to access the edit mode.
2. In the Experience section, click on the current/most recent position you want to update.
3. In the role entry, click on the Job Title field. Delete the old job title and enter your new, promoted title.
4. Next, update the Employment Date Range to reflect the date of promotion or when new title became effective.
5. In the Description field for this role, provide an overview of your new responsibilities and achievements in the promoted position.
6. Towards the bottom of the page, click “Show more” to expand the experience entry and add more details like:
- New projects
- Teams managed
- Accomplishments
- Skills built
7. Click “Save” at the bottom of the page to update your job title and description for this role.
Tips for Changing Job Title on LinkedIn
Here are some additional tips when updating your LinkedIn profile with a new job title:
- Proofread carefully – since your profile is public, you want accurate grammar and formatting.
- Add keywords – include keywords related to your new position in the job description that will be picked up in searches.
- Update headline – consider updating your LinkedIn headline to reflect promotion.
- Update experience order – if promoted at same company, you may want to keep experience entry there but move it above other previous positions.
- Expand experience details – use the “Show more” link to provide an overview of new responsibilities.
- Update skills – add any new skills developed in your promoted role to your Skills section so they appear in your profile.
- Customize URL – you can edit the custom URL for your profile to include your new job title.
Showcasing Promotion in Summary Section
In addition to updated job title and description, you can further showcase your promotion in your LinkedIn profile summary section. Here are some ways to highlight the promotion:
- Start summary with new job title and company.
- Mention date and details of promotion.
- Describe how new role aligns with career goals/trajectory.
- Discuss new responsibilities and projects.
- Share related accomplishments and quantifiable results.
Keep the summary concise, personable and engaging. Use first-person tone and avoid repetitive content from other sections.
Notifying Connections of Job Change
Once you’ve updated the experience section with your new job title and description, you can easily notify your LinkedIn network by sharing a post. Here are some tips for notifying connections:
- Draft post sharing news and background on promotion.
- Consider connecting post to updated experience entry by including company name and role.
- Share key takeaways from role change like new skills.
- Express appreciation to colleagues, manager, mentors who helped along the way.
- Indicate openness to connecting with others in similar role or industry.
The post provides a natural way to notify your network of the job change and engage with connections over this career update.
Updating Additional LinkedIn Profile Details
To fully optimize your profile for the promoted role, consider updating these other profile sections:
- Headline – Revise headline to reflect new position.
- Photo – Consider adding a new professional headshot to convey promotion.
- Skills – Add any new skills developed in promoted role.
- Accomplishments – Add specific achievements and projects from new position.
- Recommendations – Request new recommendations from colleagues familiar with your work in promoted role.
- Interests – Tailor interests to reflect industry topics and skills gained.
Updating these other sections helps reinforce your new title and professional brand throughout your profile.
Conclusion
Updating your LinkedIn profile to reflect a job promotion or title change is a key step for career visibility and advancement. Carefully edit the experience section using the new job title and description. Expand on the details of the promoted role across your profile including skills, accomplishments and recommendations. Notify connections through a post sharing the good news. Keeping your LinkedIn profile current ensures it accurately represents your latest skills and professional status.
Section | What to Update |
---|---|
Experience | Job title, employment dates, description |
Skills | New skills from promoted role |
Accomplishments | Achievements and projects in new position |
Recommendations | Recommendations for new role |
Interests | Related to industry/skills gained |
Headline | Update with job title |
Photo | New professional headshot |
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I delete my previous position when I update my job title on LinkedIn?
No, you should keep your previous job entry even once you update the title and description for a promotion. This shows the full progression of your roles and responsibilities at that company. You can move the promoted job above previous roles at the same company in the experience section.
What if my official job title hasn’t changed but my responsibilities have expanded?
If your job title is the same but role has expanded, update the description to reflect your new responsibilities, skills and accomplishments in the promoted capacity.
Should I notify my connections every time I get promoted?
Major promotions are worth sharing an update on your feed so your network is aware. But more incremental title changes may not need a notification. Use your judgement based on the significance of the promotion.
How soon should I update my profile after a promotion?
Ideally you should update your LinkedIn profile as soon as possible after taking on the new role or title change. This ensures your profile remains current and accurately reflects your most recent position.
What if my company hasn’t formally announced the promotion yet?
Wait until the promotion is formally announced by your company before updating your LinkedIn profile. This ensures all information is accurate and approved prior to sharing publicly.
Should I customize my LinkedIn URL when I get promoted?
It’s a great idea to edit the custom URL for your profile to reflect a new job title. This makes it easy to share and remember.
Is changing my job title on LinkedIn the same as officially giving notice?
No, updating your LinkedIn profile is not an official notice and separate formal notification is still required. Speak with your manager and HR department to give proper notice of a role change.
How do I notify my network when I take on a new position at a new company?
If you are changing jobs, use a LinkedIn post to announce the new company and position. Share your excitement about the new opportunity and highlight key details on the role and company.
Should I trim previous job descriptions when adding a new experience entry?
When adding a new role, you may need to consolidate previous job descriptions to keep your profile at a reasonable length. Trim descriptions to key responsibilities and achievements vs. comprehensive lists.
Key Takeaways
- Update LinkedIn job title, dates, and description to accurately reflect your promotion.
- Leverage full profile to reinforce new position through skills, recommendations, etc.
- Notify connections of promotion news using a LinkedIn post.
- Maintain detailed descriptions of previous roles to show progression.
- Proofread carefully and make sure information is fully accurate.