When drafting your LinkedIn profile, especially the Experience and Accomplishments sections, using bullet points can be an effective way to concisely communicate key information about your background. Well-written bullet points help you highlight your core skills, achievements, and responsibilities in a scannable format for recruiters and hiring managers reviewing your profile.
Why Use Bullet Points on LinkedIn?
There are several key reasons why bullet points are recommended for LinkedIn profiles:
- Scannability – Bullet points make information easy to quickly scan, which is essential given recruiters spend just seconds glancing at each profile.
- Brevity – Bullet points allow you to distill details down to concise, engaging phrases that get straight to the point.
- Formatting – The visual separation of bullet points makes details stand out and gives your profile an organized, professional look.
- Customization – You can use bullet points to tailor what you highlight for each position on your profile.
How to Write Strong LinkedIn Bullet Points
Follow these tips to craft bullet points that effectively showcase your background:
Lead with Action Verbs
Start each bullet point with a strong action verb that immediately signals what you accomplished. This creates a scannable format that draws the eye down the page. Effective action verbs include words like “created,” “launched,” “managed,” “led,” “designed,” “streamlined,” etc.
Focus on Quantifiable Achievements
When possible, include measurable details that quantify your results. This gives tangible proof of what you achieved. For example, “Increased sales by 30% over 2 years” or “Reduced costs by 15% through process improvement initiatives.”
Tailor to the Target Role
Determine the key skills and requirements for your target jobs, and customize your bullet points to demonstrate relevant experiences. For example, highlight software proficiencies, management capabilities, or other competencies sought for the types of roles you want next.
Vary Formatting for Visual Interest
Use a combination of bullet points, bolded text, italicized text, parentheses for qualifiers like (contract) or (part-time), and positioning on the page to make your profile visually engaging and easy to quickly parse.
Be Concise Yet Detailed
Craft bullet points that distill information down to concise phrases of 1-2 lines, while still providing important context and details. Get straight to the point to maintain scannability.
Include Both Responsibilities and Achievements
For each role, incorporate a mix of bullet points that concisely summarize your key responsibilities, as well as bullet points highlighting major achievements and results.
Leverage Numbers and Metrics
Include facts and figures to add tangible examples of success. For instance, “Managed team of 12” or “Oversaw budget of $500K” or “Ranked #1 salesperson for 5 consecutive quarters.”
Focus on Transferable Skills
Emphasize transferable skills applicable to a wide range of roles and industries vs. company or role-specific details. For example, communications, relationship building, problem solving, project management, etc.
Common Sections to Use Bullet Points
The key sections of your LinkedIn profile where bullet points are most effective include:
Experience
- Use bullet points to summarize responsibilities and highlight achievements for each position
- Lead with the most relevant and impressive details for your target roles
- Be selective – do not just include an exhaustive listing of every job duty
Accomplishments
- Showcase key career accomplishments, awards, certifications, publications etc. as bullet points
- Quantify results whenever possible – “Awarded ‘Top Performer’ 3 years in a row”
- Include honors that demonstrate capabilities relevant to your goals
Skills
- List key technical skills, soft skills, software proficiencies as individual bullet points under the Skills section
- Ensure ALL skills listed align with your target roles and qualifications
- ONLY include skills you are very confident in – do not overstate or embellish
Education
- You can use 1 or 2 bullet points to highlight relevant courses, activities, honors, or accomplishments
- Maintain focus on details applicable to your career goals and target industry
Volunteer Experience & Causes
- Use bullet points to summarize your contributions and responsibilities as a volunteer
- Quantify your impact if possible – hours volunteered, funds raised, people helped
Common Bullet Point Pitfalls to Avoid
When writing LinkedIn bullet points, be sure to steer clear of these common mistakes:
- Starting with weak action verbs like “helped” or “assisted” – use strong, specific verbs instead
- Overusing the same action verb – vary the wording
- Writing vague, generic bullet points lacking quantifiable details
- Using long, dense bullet points rather than concise phrases
- Repeating the same bullet points across multiple positions
- Listing unimportant or irrelevant responsibilities
- Exaggerating or embellishing achievements
- Including company-specific jargon or acronyms
- Copying and pasting bullet points from your resume rather than customizing
Tips for Mobile-Optimized Bullet Points
With much LinkedIn usage happening on mobile, ensure your bullet points display effectively on smartphones and tablets with these tips:
- Keep bullet points to 1-2 concise lines to prevent excessive vertical scrolling
- Use shorter bullet points for the top section(s) visible above the fold
- Add extra white space between bullet points to improve readability
- Use bolding, italics, and other formatting for visual contrast on small screens
- Stick to standard fonts and avoid thin, intricate fonts
Examples of Effective LinkedIn Bullet Points
Experience Section
- Managed public relations strategy for technology company including drafting press releases, securing media coverage, planning launch events, and more
- Increased social media engagement by 45% through launching targeted outreach campaigns
- Oversaw monthly newsletter with 25K+ subscribers and 30% open rate
Skills Section
- Public Relations
- Social Media Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Event Planning
- Media Relations
Accomplishments Section
- Received “Employee of the Month” 3x in 2016 for highest team sales
- Ranked #1 in customer satisfaction scores for Q3 – Q4 2018
- Increased client renewal rate by 20% through dedicated retention initiatives
Following these best practices for writing strong, engaging bullet points allows you to maximize your LinkedIn profile and showcase your top qualifications to stand out to recruiters and hiring managers.